Bike Destroyed By Airline - Getting the Runaround
Hi all,
I flew out to Austin with my bike for a mountain biking race this Monday and on assembling my bike I found that the frame had been broken. As always, I took photos before / after the flight, and on checking them I can see clearly that the damage wasn't there beforehand. I've now made upwards of ten calls / had four online chats and still no-one has been able to give me a report number. The online stuff seems to rely on this number, so I've not been able to make any sort of progress there either. Can anyone here point me in the right direction? It's stressful enough trying to sort out a replacement bike for the race, without having to deal with BA's ineptitude at the same time. I'm currently an hour outside of Austin, so driving back to the airport isn't really a great option for me. Thanks. |
What part of BA have you called? Was it the baggage specific team?
BA.com/baggage |
Just a clarification : was the damage was only discovered subsequent to collecting the bike and leaving the airport ?
|
Driving back to the airport - if it's just an hours away - might actually be your best bet to log your report. If you do it, make sure you go around the time that baggage will start arriving so that the office is manned.
|
Originally Posted by Oxon Flyer
(Post 34726917)
Just a clarification : was the damage was only discovered subsequent to collecting the bike and leaving the airport ?
However, on double checking the photos you can clearly see that there's a difference before / after.
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
(Post 34726892)
What part of BA have you called? Was it the baggage specific team?
BA.com/baggage I was told specifically that one of the numbers I have was for baggage, and I've tried both UK and US numbers for that (no-one picked up the US line. The US recorded message repeatedly said it was for tracking missing luggage, and that I'd need a reference number. |
This is a list of the numbers tried...
020 8707 4463 (This gets to a message saying the number isn’t in use and the call the one below) 020 8707 4495 (BA Holidays, given a different number to call) 0344 493 0785 +1 (800) 828-8144 (Only for lost baggage with reference number) 0344 493 0787 0844 824 3115 (This was a call cannot be connected) 020 7646 0791 (Seemed to be London City Airport and they would have helped if it was flown from there) 020 3761 1800 (I think this was lost bags with no option to choose the damaged ones, cut off when I choose none) |
BA 191 arrives at 17:01 in Austin
Drive to the airport and go at 15:00 to the check-in counter. It happened to me with SAS, they damaged the bike bag but refused to file a report in ORD. Take everything with you, original bike bag and everything what was in there. Reagrding packing for next time, we can discuss this later. All my bags are always 100% full, if not with equipment they getting filled with bubble wrap. Nothing can move inside the bag and they can drop the bag from 6 feet or put many other 70lbs bags on top. |
Originally Posted by RG1X
(Post 34726987)
This is a list of the numbers tried...
They say file a claim Online to customer relations. That´s the only way they take these cases. So make all the photos and upload them with the report. |
I’ve always done this online without an issue.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...nts-and-claims Then click on “start a new claim”. They will want to see receipts for the damaged item and photos of the damage. I’ve never had a frame damaged, but they have paid £50 for a brake rotor and £200 for a rim before. All sorted very easily. As an aside, if you want to post some photos of the damage I could take a look and see what the score is? |
Originally Posted by TheFlyingCyclist
(Post 34727011)
I’ve always done this online without an issue.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...nts-and-claims Then click on “start a new claim”. They will want to see receipts for the damaged item and photos of the damage. I’ve never had a frame damaged, but they have paid £50 for a brake rotor and £200 for a rim before. All sorted very easily. As an aside, if you want to post some photos of the damage I could take a look and see what the score is? https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...af1afd1190.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fff527905f.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f4d04c9133.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ed69d420c2.jpg |
Originally Posted by RG1X
(Post 34726987)
This is a list of the numbers tried...
020 8707 4463 (This gets to a message saying the number isn’t in use and the call the one below) 020 8707 4495 (BA Holidays, given a different number to call) 0344 493 0785 +1 (800) 828-8144 (Only for lost baggage with reference number) 0344 493 0787 0844 824 3115 (This was a call cannot be connected) 020 7646 0791 (Seemed to be London City Airport and they would have helped if it was flown from there) 020 3761 1800 (I think this was lost bags with no option to choose the damaged ones, cut off when I choose none) |
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
(Post 34727036)
1-800-828-8144 should be able to raise a reference number. If not then call then call 0344 493 0785 for the UK. The other numbers can't help. You have a week to do this. You could try a DM on Twitter after Following BA.
Struggling to call US numbers right now, I'll have to get some Skype credit or something and call via my PC. |
Originally Posted by RG1X
(Post 34727054)
I've tried 0785 in the UK, they wouldn't / couldn't help.
Struggling to call US numbers right now, I'll have to get some Skype credit or something and call via my PC. |
Originally Posted by RG1X
(Post 34727054)
I've tried 0785 in the UK, they wouldn't / couldn't help.
Struggling to call US numbers right now, I'll have to get some Skype credit or something and call via my PC. Do the Claim online according the posting from TheFlyingCyclist Maybe we should do 2023 a FT MTB trip with BA to US. :) |
Originally Posted by klaus79856
(Post 34727117)
Do the Claim online according the posting from TheFlyingCyclist
Maybe we should do 2023 a FT MTB trip with BA to US. :) I just did the online claim thing, but annoyingly the reference it gives isn't the correct format to use in the baggage damage claim form. I guess I'll just have to wait to see if they get back to me re the claim? I'll try and find a way to call the US number all the same. |
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