Help with getting a sensible answer on baggage tracking
Mar 3, 2018, 2:54 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
The Montréal Convention makes "not arrived after twenty-one days" equivalent to "lost".
Article 17.
(3) If the carrier admits the loss of the checked baggage, or if the checked baggage has not arrived at the expiration of twenty-one days after the date on which it ought to have arrived, the passenger is entitled to enforce against the carrier the rights which flow from the contract of carriage.
Those "rights" being the ones that are injected into the contract of carriage by the Convention.
(3) If the carrier admits the loss of the checked baggage, or if the checked baggage has not arrived at the expiration of twenty-one days after the date on which it ought to have arrived, the passenger is entitled to enforce against the carrier the rights which flow from the contract of carriage.
Mar 3, 2018, 3:17 am
#18
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,800
I am a bit late to the party and kind of reluctant to be seen to pile in, but my input would be
1) Keep WorldTracer up to date but otherwise get on with your life. It really helps if you get a Tracer report at the airport but what you have done is the next best thing. No one looks for bags, except at very small airports.
2) Buy whatever you need to do your activities, in several years in this forum I'm only aware of one person not getting a fairly swift refund of purchases on BA (other airlines are very different!) and that was a case of someone taking the mickey frankly.
3) Bear in mind however that the £1200 or so limit is for the total claim, so you need to take that into account if you are claiming both for immediate needs purchase as well as fully lost baggage.
4) Fully lost baggage is now extremely rare, and generally happens when switching between airlines on complex itineraries, labels falling off, no address in the bag etc. Assuming you did properly label your bag on the inside and it's just a LHR-SJC I would be frankly amazed if it got lost totally. Due to the snow there is backlog at LHR but I guess by the middle of next week it will be sorted out.
5) Photo receipts and store them somewhere: finding a receipt after travel can be tiresome.
6) Twitter can be useful for specific, problematic situations (e.g. checked in at the gate and then not making transfer connections properly, perhaps the label fell off).
In terms of the next time:
1) If it's an item which is critical to your trip AND irreplaceable in a short time span, always take it hand luggage
2) Always expect a 1 or 2 day delay on baggage so take some provisions with you for that
3) Always put an A4 sheet on top of checked bags (inside it) with contact details, particularly SMS and email.
4) Personally I would not lock your bag, or instead to use zip ties, but I know some people just can't bring themselves to do this.
5) Insure, or self insure, if travelling with significantly more than £1200 worth of items
6) Photo your items before travel so you know what you're expecting, or photo once in a while, if mostly you'll be taking the same stuff. Just place all the items on a bed, photo, then pack (it will usually pack better that way too).
7) One of the airlines irritating little habits is asking for the original receipts of things lost. Point 6 will partly help with that, but for the 6 or so most valuable items there may be a case for retaining/photo the relevant receipts.
8) Be aware of the difference between replacement value and "as new" value, and if necessary insure / self insure for that. Realistically a 4 year old pair of jeans may have cost £40 when purchased, but the airline is unlikely to give you a tenner for that now.
9) Be aware of the usefulness of retaining information in the Cloud / Google Documents / Drive etc - you can then access receipts, photos etc from any computer anywhere.
1) Keep WorldTracer up to date but otherwise get on with your life. It really helps if you get a Tracer report at the airport but what you have done is the next best thing. No one looks for bags, except at very small airports.
2) Buy whatever you need to do your activities, in several years in this forum I'm only aware of one person not getting a fairly swift refund of purchases on BA (other airlines are very different!) and that was a case of someone taking the mickey frankly.
3) Bear in mind however that the £1200 or so limit is for the total claim, so you need to take that into account if you are claiming both for immediate needs purchase as well as fully lost baggage.
4) Fully lost baggage is now extremely rare, and generally happens when switching between airlines on complex itineraries, labels falling off, no address in the bag etc. Assuming you did properly label your bag on the inside and it's just a LHR-SJC I would be frankly amazed if it got lost totally. Due to the snow there is backlog at LHR but I guess by the middle of next week it will be sorted out.
5) Photo receipts and store them somewhere: finding a receipt after travel can be tiresome.
6) Twitter can be useful for specific, problematic situations (e.g. checked in at the gate and then not making transfer connections properly, perhaps the label fell off).
In terms of the next time:
1) If it's an item which is critical to your trip AND irreplaceable in a short time span, always take it hand luggage
2) Always expect a 1 or 2 day delay on baggage so take some provisions with you for that
3) Always put an A4 sheet on top of checked bags (inside it) with contact details, particularly SMS and email.
4) Personally I would not lock your bag, or instead to use zip ties, but I know some people just can't bring themselves to do this.
5) Insure, or self insure, if travelling with significantly more than £1200 worth of items
6) Photo your items before travel so you know what you're expecting, or photo once in a while, if mostly you'll be taking the same stuff. Just place all the items on a bed, photo, then pack (it will usually pack better that way too).
7) One of the airlines irritating little habits is asking for the original receipts of things lost. Point 6 will partly help with that, but for the 6 or so most valuable items there may be a case for retaining/photo the relevant receipts.
8) Be aware of the difference between replacement value and "as new" value, and if necessary insure / self insure for that. Realistically a 4 year old pair of jeans may have cost £40 when purchased, but the airline is unlikely to give you a tenner for that now.
9) Be aware of the usefulness of retaining information in the Cloud / Google Documents / Drive etc - you can then access receipts, photos etc from any computer anywhere.
Mar 3, 2018, 3:28 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Perth (PER)
Programs: VA Gold
Posts: 263
It is designed for lost bags. Once your bag is located and put in the system by someone, it will show.
Mar 3, 2018, 5:36 am
#20
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...-lost-luggage/
Mar 3, 2018, 7:53 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: A3 *G, Amex Plat, BA Bronze
Posts: 63
Thanks all, mainly the frustration is not knowing what to do due to a lack of information available - I know there is far more real time tracking information available but clearly they choose not to publish it. I have had this happen before but that time the airline was able to tell me "your bags weren't loaded at X, they will be here on plane Y at time Z" at the point of time of discovering the incident and that's what I was hoping for here but on reporting it I just got handed a sheet of paper at the airport that didn't even have the tracking number on it when I checked the internet at the hotel.
With regards taking things like the boots in carry on - it would be nice but there is other stuff that is far more valuable that travels in my hand luggage and there is only so much room so they have to be consigned to the hold. I have insurance and i can go out and buy stuff, that's really not a problem as nothing in there is irreplaceable - just somewhat hard to easily source due to sizes etc not being readily available in stores.
What I was really hoping to find out is some idea of when I'd get my bag so I can purchase and plan accordingly but i guess thy are just not interested in making that info available - the flight from heathrow to here has already departed the UK so if my bag was on it I kinda hoped I'd know by now!
nothing I can do now but wait i guess - once again thanks all.
With regards taking things like the boots in carry on - it would be nice but there is other stuff that is far more valuable that travels in my hand luggage and there is only so much room so they have to be consigned to the hold. I have insurance and i can go out and buy stuff, that's really not a problem as nothing in there is irreplaceable - just somewhat hard to easily source due to sizes etc not being readily available in stores.
What I was really hoping to find out is some idea of when I'd get my bag so I can purchase and plan accordingly but i guess thy are just not interested in making that info available - the flight from heathrow to here has already departed the UK so if my bag was on it I kinda hoped I'd know by now!
nothing I can do now but wait i guess - once again thanks all.
Mar 3, 2018, 8:05 am
#22
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,800
BA are looking into this area, and we were promised a tracking tool last year (it didn't happen), plus they have done trials on RFID baggage tags (no word on that either). But realistically I think we are probably 5 years away from seeing this end to end tracking being made available to the customer globally.
Mar 3, 2018, 8:16 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: A3 *G, Amex Plat, BA Bronze
Posts: 63
That's pretty interesting, I've got a fair amount of experience with the systems they do parcel tracking with and I always assumed the airlines used similar systems as i'm familiar with being able to use the united app to track my luggage - didn't realise BA were still in the stone age.
Thanks
Thanks
Mar 3, 2018, 9:46 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I think that "Stone Age" rather overstates the case. From what I've seen of the system, on any flight BA knows which bags are on board and in which cans. This is why the delay when a passenger with a checked bag fails to board an A380, it typically only takes about 15-20 minutes to unload enough cans to get at the correct can, and then to identify the bag and offload it, before reloading all the bags into that can and all the cans back onto the aircraft.
My guess is that - like so many other airline systems - this one is designed to provide information to those who are despatching and operating that individual flight, but was never designed to link to all the other systems to which it would have to talk in order to publish the information in real time to all parts of the airline and to the WorldTracer system. That's why within one specific part of operations, staff have access to all of the information needed (which is why, if you ask at the gate, you can be told whether or not your bag has been loaded) - but it's the devil's own job trying to find out this information from other parts of the airline.
My guess is that - like so many other airline systems - this one is designed to provide information to those who are despatching and operating that individual flight, but was never designed to link to all the other systems to which it would have to talk in order to publish the information in real time to all parts of the airline and to the WorldTracer system. That's why within one specific part of operations, staff have access to all of the information needed (which is why, if you ask at the gate, you can be told whether or not your bag has been loaded) - but it's the devil's own job trying to find out this information from other parts of the airline.
Mar 3, 2018, 10:02 am
#25
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
Are you going to Tahoe? If need be I can get the names of some good boot fitters at the lake (depending upon which end of the lake you’re headed to)
Mar 3, 2018, 10:47 am
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
First, just make certain that BA has the proper contact, including your mobile number and the proper delivery address.
Second, do not torture yourself by sitting on the phone. As others note, there is no other system than WT and you have access to that online. The system does work, but it means that your bag went missing. Perhaps it was sent off to the wrong destination or perhaps it is sitting somewhere at departure. It may even be at LAS. Once it is located, it will appear in the system and wend its way to you. Until then, there is absolutely nothing you can do to make it reappear and no secret system which knows more than you do. When you do call, you are simply being told what you yourself can see with added soothing words to make you feel as though everyone is out looking for your bag. They are not.
Third, while one hopes that you can find alternatives, including high-end rentals, I do understand that handmade boots can take a good while, even when expedited. You may be surprised by what some of the high-end places have on offer, including items which are not generally for sale.
Finally, not to berate OP, but for the benefit of others, this is what hand luggage is for. In this case, boots and perhaps the first 2-3 days of clothing. Then there is nothing to worry about and the rest can be checked and show up when it does.
Second, do not torture yourself by sitting on the phone. As others note, there is no other system than WT and you have access to that online. The system does work, but it means that your bag went missing. Perhaps it was sent off to the wrong destination or perhaps it is sitting somewhere at departure. It may even be at LAS. Once it is located, it will appear in the system and wend its way to you. Until then, there is absolutely nothing you can do to make it reappear and no secret system which knows more than you do. When you do call, you are simply being told what you yourself can see with added soothing words to make you feel as though everyone is out looking for your bag. They are not.
Third, while one hopes that you can find alternatives, including high-end rentals, I do understand that handmade boots can take a good while, even when expedited. You may be surprised by what some of the high-end places have on offer, including items which are not generally for sale.
Finally, not to berate OP, but for the benefit of others, this is what hand luggage is for. In this case, boots and perhaps the first 2-3 days of clothing. Then there is nothing to worry about and the rest can be checked and show up when it does.
Mar 3, 2018, 11:22 am
#27
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
<snip>Third, while one hopes that you can find alternatives, including high-end rentals, I do understand that handmade boots can take a good while, even when expedited. You may be surprised by what some of the high-end places have on offer, including items which are not generally for sale.
</snip>.
</snip>.
Mar 3, 2018, 1:48 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: A3 *G, Amex Plat, BA Bronze
Posts: 63
@Tiger_lily - We are headed up to Tahoe, north lake and I've rented a tank with 4WD, all weather tyres (not as good as true snow tyres but best I was going to get) and chains and I've got a fair bit of experience driving in the snow around canada etc so I can cope with an R1/R2 restriction level so long as they don't close I-80 so if you can pass on a few good names it would be very useful in case of my bag not turning up this week.
And just to pick up on the hand luggage bit, yes i could have carried my boots in hand luggage, of course then because of space restrictions I may have had to check my laptop, or camera or one of the other truly valuable things that I really don't want to go missing. Clothes I can buy in Walmart for not much money (and the amex travel insurance covers it) so it's not a problem and as Tiger_lily has pointed out I can get a new set of boots fitted if I want. My main frustration was an abject lack of any information on where my bag is as with that I'd be able to make informed decisions about what to do instead of just "wait and see". There's a lot of other stuff in there that it's really irritating to be without that I can't quickly replace like my dance shoes but there is only so much one can carry in hand luggage.
That's why my initial question was "does anyone know how to get a sensible answer out of BA" because someone on some system somewhere has this information but it seems the answer is, as it always seems to be with airlines, "No, you just have to dance to their tune." I
Someone build a rail tunnel under the atlantic!
And just to pick up on the hand luggage bit, yes i could have carried my boots in hand luggage, of course then because of space restrictions I may have had to check my laptop, or camera or one of the other truly valuable things that I really don't want to go missing. Clothes I can buy in Walmart for not much money (and the amex travel insurance covers it) so it's not a problem and as Tiger_lily has pointed out I can get a new set of boots fitted if I want. My main frustration was an abject lack of any information on where my bag is as with that I'd be able to make informed decisions about what to do instead of just "wait and see". There's a lot of other stuff in there that it's really irritating to be without that I can't quickly replace like my dance shoes but there is only so much one can carry in hand luggage.
That's why my initial question was "does anyone know how to get a sensible answer out of BA" because someone on some system somewhere has this information but it seems the answer is, as it always seems to be with airlines, "No, you just have to dance to their tune." I
Someone build a rail tunnel under the atlantic!
Mar 3, 2018, 2:10 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
80 was closed at Colfax earlier in the week due to whiteout conditions, and Squaw had an inbounds avalanche yesterday. It’s a bluebird day up there today though.
Start Haus in Truckee might be your best bet for high end boots on the north side.
Hopefully they’ve found your your bag and have stuck it on an SFO flight.
Start Haus in Truckee might be your best bet for high end boots on the north side.
Hopefully they’ve found your your bag and have stuck it on an SFO flight.
Mar 3, 2018, 2:27 pm
#30
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
One recent example, although not BA, is SQ WorldTracer still showing "Tracing Continues" long after I got my bag back. BA's was the same whenever they 'lost' (delayed) my bag.
However, it is important for you to keep the WorldTracer system updated with your whereabouts and contact details because they are used by the airline to reunite you with your bag.