d1191

Good morning,

I am after a little help please.

We flew on the 28th Aug from Chicago to Dusseldorf with American Airlines and then were to fly with Flybe from Dusseldorf to Manchester. The Flybe flight to Manchester 10.20am was cancelled and we ended up flying Dusseldorf to Birmingham at 5pm and then Flybe provided us a taxi back to Manchester.

Our 3 suitcases did not arrive at the other end. They were checked in at Chicago to go through to Manchester! I have filed a delayed baggage report at Birmingham. Just wondering what I do now? do we just have to wait and see or can I personally do any chasing?... (our life is in those cases and for all 3 of them to be missing makes me wonder if they were ever on the American Airlines flight in the first place)

Also as our Flybe flight was cancelled by them (we do not know why and when we asked they could not tell us) would you know if we are eligible to claim compensation - Up to 1,500km, (all flights) 2 hours+ €250

I would be really grateful for any advice. Many thanks.

acvitale

You normally would need to clear customs at the first point of entry to the uk. Then hand the bags back to the recheck desk. likely stuck in customs expect 5 to 10 days before you see them again best case

d1191

American Airlines in Dusseldorf have just rung me, they have found our 3 cases. I am so relieved.

d1191

Have learnt my lesson, will never do connecting flights again unless they are with the same airline

JPG3392

Sticking with one airline may make things easier, but it doesn't guarantee that bags will arrive on time. Last June I flew DCA-PHL-MUC on US, with 2-3 hours to make the connection. My bag was left behind in PHL. The agent at MUC was very helpful, and the bag was delivered to where I was staying in Innsbruck/Austria a day and a half later.

d1191

Glad to hear you got your bag ok. I`m just so relieved to know that ours have been found and are on the way back to us, just hope it doesn`t take too long.

jackal

I wouldn't suggest going extreme like that. Taking that position is going to severely limit where you can travel in this world. Connecting flights are a necessary part of travel, and thousands of FlyerTalkers connect between different airlines every day without incident.

Anyway, (mod hat on, now): normally, international standard is that your final carrier is responsible for handling your lost luggage claim (regardless of which airline's fault it is), but since AA has already contacted you about the lost luggage and arranged to get you taken care of, I'll go ahead and move this thread to the AA forum.

jackal
Moderator, Information Desk

Dave Noble

That is not normal. It is quite common to clear customs at final point; unlike USA , it is quite possible to check bags through to a domestic flight in the UK

In the OP's case, I don't see that there was any domestic flight anyway; US-Germany-UK is purely international flights

There is no lesson to learn.

Once in a while bags fail to get on the flight, this happens whether it is one airline or 2. Just make sure to have some things in hand luggage to handle an initial luggage delay. Travel insurance will cover purchases where luggage is delayed by more than a few hours ( the AMEX I use pays out $700 for a 6 hours luggage delay towards purchases )

If your flight was cancelled, then you are very likely to be eligible for compensation under EU261

Dr. HFH

I'm pretty conservative on this, myself, having had bags chase me around the world, always one city behind. I'm willing to have my bag(s) connect in nearly all cities to which I fly provided that everything is on one itinerary. If there are separate PNRs, I claim my bag and recheck whenever I change PNRs.

d1191

Great news... 3 suitcases landed in Birmingham on the Lufthansa flight this afternoon and I have just had a call to say expect them at midnight.

Am definitely going to apply for compensation under EU261 but not sure what to put in the letter where it says ``This flight was cancelled [insert the number of days or hours] before flying`` as we don`t actually know when it was cancelled. The flight from Manchester to Dusseldorf that we were due to return on was also cancelled.

pauleeepaul

And never check anything that is truly irreplaceable. Doo doo happens.

d1191

Thanks, we have things in hand luggage on way out in case of a luggage delay on the way out. Don`t usually bother for return journey.

Didn`t realise though until this happened that your travel insurance only covers delayed baggage for outward flight and not inward.

Dave Noble

In my experience it covers any journey portion other than that which returns you to your starting location. Once back at the start, then it is taken that you have clothes etc at home ( or as a last resort if you packed everything, I assume that they expect that you have washing machines et al )

d1191

Our 3 cases have arrived... I honestly thought on Friday night I would never see them again. Luckily they are hard sided ones so apart from being a bit grubby and having a few extra scratches everything seems ok. I am so relieved.

Thank you all for your advice, I have learnt a lot over the past few weeks.

d1191

Please could someone tell me if this is all the information I need to put into my letter for compensation to Flybe:

I am writing regarding flight BE 7214 on 29th August 2014, due to depart from Dusseldorf to Manchester at the scheduled departure time of 10.20 am. Booking reference is ...........This flight was cancelled by you on Thursday 28th August and I am seeking compensation under EC Regulation 261/2004.

The passengers in the party were ..............

My scheduled flight length was 655km, and the first alternative flight back to the UK offered to us was BE7046 which left Dusseldorf at 5.00pm which was 6 hours 40 minutes later, also this flight flew into Birmingham and we then had an additional 2 hours travelling time to take us from Birmingham Airport to Manchester Airport which was our final destination (in total 8 hours 40 minutes). I’m therefore seeking compensation of €250 per passenger in my party. The total compensation sort is €750.

I look forward to hearing from you in response to this letter within 14 days. If I do not receive a satisfactory response I intend to pursue my complaint further.

Yours faithfully,

Not sure what I need to copy and send with it? I have expedia booking, boarding passes, prints showing the previous flight Manchester / Dusseldorf as cancelled and also our flight as cancelled and the paperwork they gave us in Dusseldorf showing the other flights from our holiday.

Would be grateful if anyone can please offer any advice as I want to make sure I get it right. Am going to send this letter recorded delivery tomorrow to the UK address and will email the address in Finland the same letter (this is the address on their passenger charter).

Thank you.