colden

mccartje

The twitter team (7am - 7pm Irish time) tend to be quick following items up and getting back to you once you give them information. But whether or not they will have any additional information for you versus the EI helpline is unlikely but anyway you could keep up the pressure maybe. Some of the twitter team seem better than others in knowledge and following things up.

irishguy28

Were you self-connecting, or was this all on one ticket?

Presumably you have the lost baggage report with the reference where you can check the worldtracer.aero website, right?

ROKNA

This could be easy enough

1. SAS and EI have a eticket agreement so I am assuming this was all on a single ticket?

2. At the CBP inspection in Dublin you are shown your luggage on the screen and asked to verify it is yours. Did you see your bag. The photo is taken by the baggage system in Dublin when the bag is routed to a US bound flight at T2. This process is separate from the normal baggage tracing

So
If your bag was shown on the screen, SAS got it to Dublin and transferred
If your bag was NOT shown, then SAS either didn't load the bag in ARN or didn't transfer in Dublin


As the last carrier EI is the tracing party
You can claim for reasonable expenses, clothes etc

irishguy28

This is why I suspected self-connection; the OP would surely have mentioned if they'd been queried and shown their bag on screen at CBP prior to boarding their Aer Lingus flight to BDL.

But perhaps the OP will elaborate and explain the discussion regarding checked luggage that they had with USCBP at DUB. They identify each bag with a passenger, so the OP should have had some discussion regarding baggage shortly before boarding.

colden

irishguy28

It seems, then, that the bags were not forwarded to Aer Lingus at all.

Whether that means they were never loaded onto the SAS flight, or whether they got "lost" somewhere in DUB in the handoff between SK and EI, who can tell.

However, you can certainly rule out that they are "stuck in US customs" - USCBP doesn't "hold" bags. At DUB, they reconcile every bag tagged for the US with its passenger, and that this didn't happen with your bag means they never got it.

Of all the places your bag could be, I would expect "stuck in US customs" in DUB is the last place. They are not going to hold an unclaimed piece of luggage indefinitely.

mccartje

Given the delay it's likely not in DUB, I imagine EI even in their lethargy for returning luggage aren't that bad if it is in DUB.

irishguy28

This is unusual. They should have asked to see the baggage claim receipt at this stage.

I have learned (the hard way) that even on interlined tickets, it is ALWAYS a good idea to pro-actively show the baggage claim receipt to the ground staff of the second airline in good time ahead of boarding. Very often, the second airline isn't aware that there is a bag in transit. Having had the bag tagged all the way through isn't, of itself, always enough to make sure that it gets through.

From what you have written, it sounds like EI had no idea that there was a bag in transit. And even after the brief discussion, it seems like the necessary steps to ensure the bag got transferred - seeing the baggage claim receipt and looking up the bag - didn't happen.

colden

Often1

None of this matters. EI is the last delivering carrier and it is solely EI's responsibility to deliver the bag and make interim and permanent compensation if necessary.

Calling (or tweeting) EI is useless. Staff are looking at the same WorldTracer screen you are looking at. As always, the best advice with delayed luggage is to just make certain that your contact information is correct in WorldTracer (a current mobile number).Then go about your life stress free.

Above all else, stick to EI. For better or for worse, dealing with anyone else simply complicates things and increases the chances of mishandling if the bags are located.

At 21 days, the bag is considered lost and you may claim for the loss up to approx. EUR 1,150 in fair market value. In the meantime, purchase what you need, keep receipts and hold them until the bag is returned or 21 days have passed. Do remember that should be bag be lost, the EUR 1,150 will be reduced by interim purchases.

Alternatively, you may find that your baggage insurance is easier to deal with and, if so, deal with your the policy issuer.

irishguy28

When your bags are eventually noticed as being out of place, someone will scan the tag and find your details on Worldtracer. That is why it is important that you keep your contact details and forwarding address updated on the Worldtracer website.

It is my understanding that the bag isn't just simply "routed" the way it should have been; the details in Worldtracer determine what happens and where the bag will be routed, and it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be passed onto Aer Lingus to deliver. For example, by the time your bag is located you may no longer be in BDL (not clear if this is home, or whether you are returning to Sweden) and in that case it would clearly be incorrect to send the bags onwards to the US. In theory, your bags will be forwarded anywhere in the world that you request - keep the forwarding details up to date in Worldtracer.

This is why you should always have your contact details inside the bags as well - and/or fill out the Name and Address panels provided in any luggage, or at least use a number or email address where you can be contacted - just in case the luggage tag gets torn off or lost.

colden

irishguy28

Good luck and let us know how it works out!

blagger

This is not absolute. I was not asked to identify my bag on-screen at USPC the last 3 times I've checked a bag.