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Airline Leaves Passengers’ Luggage Behind Without Warning

Passengers travelling from Australia to Bali arrived at their destination without their checked-in baggage, The West Australian reports. Air Asia flight QZ535 arrived at Denpasar Airport on Saturday afternoon local time, having left most of the passengers’ luggage back in Perth.

The airline released a statement saying that they had to comply with weight restrictions due to runway changes. Shortly before the flight was due for take off, the flight was moved to a much shorter runway because the usual runway was closed for upgrade works.

“In order to account for weight restrictions, 104 pieces of check-in baggage was off-loaded from the aircraft prior to departure,” the statement read.

However, the passengers say that no announcement about the change was made and they only found out that their luggage had stayed behind when they arrived at the airport in Bali. Dennis McDougall, one of the passengers, said that his wife’s luggage was one of the few that made it to Bali, but most passengers had to spend the night with the clothes on their back and the contents of their carry on luggage.

“We were watching them unload the plane before we boarded but we assumed that it was from the flight that just landed. They could have said in Perth what was happening but they said nothing,” McDougall said.

“The staff were polite but little they could do other than take names and addresses … there were two people that needed their medication that night,” McDougall said.

Air Asia said that the lugagge from flight QZ535 was sent over to Bali on the next flight out, which departed from Perth at 5:10pm that Saturday. The passengers received their baggage the next day, April 10, nearly 24 hours after their arrival.

McDougall commented that the airline offered no compensation for the trouble.

[Photo: Dennis McDougall]

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5 Comments
D
davistev April 13, 2016

Would an announcement in Perth made any difference other than being upset during the flight? Better in Bali with a new pair of flip flops, shorts and T-shirt than crashed at end of runway in Perth.

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Penguinmoon April 13, 2016

IB just did this to me and several other passengers. I was in paid C and an OW Emerald. Not a word to us at take off, let us stand around baggage claim for 30 minutes waiting, wasn't told until I went to customer service!

J
jaimelobo April 12, 2016

And, I liked... ------------------- “The staff were polite but little they could do other than take names and addresses … there were two people that needed their medication that night,” McDougall said. ------------------- Who doesn't know to keep important medication in the carryon?

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98103 April 12, 2016

This isn't necessarily unique. I've had a similar incident with Air Namibia from Windhoek to Jo'burg. For weight restrictions (they told us upon LANDING), they removed all baggage except those checked onto connecting flights. Bummer was, I only checked to JNB because my flight home was not until mid-day the next day. I even paid the extra for an overweight bag. I finally got my bag at home a week later, and one bottle of wine lighter as well as a destroyed luggage strap, zipper and retractable handle. Because I never checked in for my return leg home, neither of the last two carriers was willing to pay for the damage, and all messages to Air Namibia were unanswered.

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UncleDude April 12, 2016

This must be the Ultimate Non-Story, having been based at Denpasar Airport you soon realize that most OZ Passenger on LCC vacation with a few paif of shorts. some light casual T shirts and Flip Flops. If you study the photograph you will notice that this is also their Fashion Wear when they fly. Being with Air Asia they also pack as much as they can in Carry-ons to avoid check Bags charges. Its likely that the only essential baggage not on the same flight was their Surf Boards or Golf Clubs. If couple have not yet learned to pack their back Half His and Half Hers, I despair.. They are also in Bali so a whole new set of clothes for a night on the town or daytime relaxation is only going to cost them $10 . Flips Flops are little over $1 a pair. Its must have been a slow News day at The Perth Newspaper.