Damaged suitcase
Apr 5, 2017, 12:55 pm
#1
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Damaged suitcase
I flew LHR-AUH in J. Upon arrival my suitcase's (Rimowa Topas Titanium 78cm) frame was bent. The lock was also wedged open and hinge had one rivet fallen out.
I showed it to baggage claims, they told me to send an email and pictures.
I did so, after over a month and they come back with an offer of 5,000 miles and say its minor damage!?
Nor is it minor damage nor does 5,000 miles compensate for an almost £1,000 unusable suitcase. Rimowa Dubai (Jashanmal) were able to replace the rivet and slightly straighten the frame but told me that they could not fully fix it and said I should take it to Rimowa in 'Europe' (I live in London so its possible).
It was clearly mishandled, its quite a new suitcase, but its been on 6 flights before this one and has had no such issues. Not only that, but they claim that minor damage is things like wheels and handles. A bent frame and the suitcase's hinge being massacred is hardly minor damage, and frankly I'm pretty insulted that they called an unusable almost £1,000 suitcase 'minor damage'.
At the very least they should get the suitcase repaired for me and I don't think its out of line to replace the suitcase.
I showed it to baggage claims, they told me to send an email and pictures.
I did so, after over a month and they come back with an offer of 5,000 miles and say its minor damage!?
Nor is it minor damage nor does 5,000 miles compensate for an almost £1,000 unusable suitcase. Rimowa Dubai (Jashanmal) were able to replace the rivet and slightly straighten the frame but told me that they could not fully fix it and said I should take it to Rimowa in 'Europe' (I live in London so its possible).
It was clearly mishandled, its quite a new suitcase, but its been on 6 flights before this one and has had no such issues. Not only that, but they claim that minor damage is things like wheels and handles. A bent frame and the suitcase's hinge being massacred is hardly minor damage, and frankly I'm pretty insulted that they called an unusable almost £1,000 suitcase 'minor damage'.
At the very least they should get the suitcase repaired for me and I don't think its out of line to replace the suitcase.
Apr 5, 2017, 1:07 pm
#3
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The fact that they don't want to pay doesn't mean they shouldn't have to does it?
I'd accept the £150 to pay the repair bill, that would be fair I guess. Really though they should put their hands up and say the case shouldn't have been treated in this way and replace it (I'll happily give them the old one.)
Apr 15, 2017, 5:51 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Just read a report on these Rimowa suitcases and how Cathay were stamping them fragile automatically for the sheer number of claims on them as they can rarely be repaired and cost a stupid amount of money.
They've since rescinded the fragile sticker thing but still
I remember seeing many many years ago a sign at a baggage handlers claim point that the luggage is there to protect the items within it and not in itself be a protected item.
I kind of agree with that and think that the idea of putting very expensive vanity luggage in the hold gets a deserve what you get. It has to go through rollers and conveyers and low piad baggage handlers so why spend $1250 on it. We aren't on a steam ship crossing the Atlantic
For example how often do people put $1250 worth of stuff in their checked luggage ? You keep the expensive stuff in the carry on !
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...agile-tags-due
They've since rescinded the fragile sticker thing but still
I remember seeing many many years ago a sign at a baggage handlers claim point that the luggage is there to protect the items within it and not in itself be a protected item.
I kind of agree with that and think that the idea of putting very expensive vanity luggage in the hold gets a deserve what you get. It has to go through rollers and conveyers and low piad baggage handlers so why spend $1250 on it. We aren't on a steam ship crossing the Atlantic
For example how often do people put $1250 worth of stuff in their checked luggage ? You keep the expensive stuff in the carry on !
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...agile-tags-due
Apr 16, 2017, 1:09 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
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A few months ago they also heavily damaged my Rimowa suitcase and called it 'minor damage' for which they were not willing to provide any compensation. The damage was so sever the suitcase wasn't even square anymore. However, under the Montreal Convention Article 17 the airline is certainly liable for damage to baggage. Despite arguing my rights Etihad wouldn't butch.
I was 'lucky' that I missed my flight and was rebooked on Airberlin. As they were now the last leg of my journey and thus officially responsible for the luggage, I filed a claim with AB who repaired my suitcase no questions asked.
I was 'lucky' that I missed my flight and was rebooked on Airberlin. As they were now the last leg of my journey and thus officially responsible for the luggage, I filed a claim with AB who repaired my suitcase no questions asked.
Apr 16, 2017, 1:56 pm
#7
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Just read a report on these Rimowa suitcases and how Cathay were stamping them fragile automatically for the sheer number of claims on them as they can rarely be repaired and cost a stupid amount of money.
They've since rescinded the fragile sticker thing but still
I remember seeing many many years ago a sign at a baggage handlers claim point that the luggage is there to protect the items within it and not in itself be a protected item.
I kind of agree with that and think that the idea of putting very expensive vanity luggage in the hold gets a deserve what you get. It has to go through rollers and conveyers and low piad baggage handlers so why spend $1250 on it. We aren't on a steam ship crossing the Atlantic
For example how often do people put $1250 worth of stuff in their checked luggage ? You keep the expensive stuff in the carry on !
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...agile-tags-due
They've since rescinded the fragile sticker thing but still
I remember seeing many many years ago a sign at a baggage handlers claim point that the luggage is there to protect the items within it and not in itself be a protected item.
I kind of agree with that and think that the idea of putting very expensive vanity luggage in the hold gets a deserve what you get. It has to go through rollers and conveyers and low piad baggage handlers so why spend $1250 on it. We aren't on a steam ship crossing the Atlantic
For example how often do people put $1250 worth of stuff in their checked luggage ? You keep the expensive stuff in the carry on !
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/e...agile-tags-due
Its still pretty crass and disrespectful to throw things around, its like asking for someone to pass you something and they throw it to you instead of hand it to you. Their sole job it to 'handle' the luggage.
Imagine it was a glass of water or a plate of food being thrown instead of passed. That is to say, knowing that throwing it would result in considerable damage in 99% of cases.
The fact is if the suitcase is damaged the contents are no longer protected. My suitcase was bent out of shape and the lock had 'burst', if this was mishandled any more, the contents would have no longer been in the bag.
As for the value of the contents, I don't think £900 (and considerably more) is that uncommon.
You'd struggle to buy a branded suit for less than £1,000, and a M&S suit is at least £300... That's just one suit. The majority of women's handbags cost in excess of £2,000. Again just one bag. Add to that some shoes, t shirts, jeans, etc etc. and depending on the length of the trip, I don't envisage that many people having less value in their case.
The only exceptions I envisage would be people travelling to beach resorts and perhaps people who are very savvy at shopping in Asian markets...
Rimowa isn't really considered 'luxury' luggage anyway, its more so meant to be considered high-end, durable, robust luggage. Rimowa is to Audi what Bentley is to LV.
The electronic tag is pretty useless at the moment by the way.
Apr 16, 2017, 2:00 pm
#8
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A few months ago they also heavily damaged my Rimowa suitcase and called it 'minor damage' for which they were not willing to provide any compensation. The damage was so sever the suitcase wasn't even square anymore. However, under the Montreal Convention Article 17 the airline is certainly liable for damage to baggage. Despite arguing my rights Etihad wouldn't butch.
I was 'lucky' that I missed my flight and was rebooked on Airberlin. As they were now the last leg of my journey and thus officially responsible for the luggage, I filed a claim with AB who repaired my suitcase no questions asked.
I was 'lucky' that I missed my flight and was rebooked on Airberlin. As they were now the last leg of my journey and thus officially responsible for the luggage, I filed a claim with AB who repaired my suitcase no questions asked.
I didn't have the luck of flying another airline on this trip, so my claim lies with Etihad and would like to present them with this information.
Apr 16, 2017, 3:07 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2010
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Can you direct me to which part of Montreal Convention Article 17 covers this, from what I saw this Article seems to be about personal injury.
I didn't have the luck of flying another airline on this trip, so my claim lies with Etihad and would like to present them with this information.
I didn't have the luck of flying another airline on this trip, so my claim lies with Etihad and would like to present them with this information.
Originally Posted by IATA
]Article 17
Death and Injury of Passengers — Damage to Baggage
1. The carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of
death or bodily injury of a passenger upon condition only
that the accident which caused the death or injury took place
on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations
of embarking or disembarking.
2. The carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of
destruction or loss of, or of damage to, checked baggage
upon condition only that the event which caused the
destruction, loss or damage took place on board the aircraft
or during any period within which the checked baggage
was in the charge of the carrier. However, the carrier is not
liable if and to the extent that the damage resulted from the
inherent defect, quality or vice of the baggage. In the case
of unchecked baggage, including personal items, the carrier
is liable if the damage resulted from its fault or that of its
servants or agents.
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 ß ow from the contract of carriage.
4. Unless otherwise speciÞ ed, in this Convention the term
“baggage” means both checked baggage and unchecked
baggage.
Death and Injury of Passengers — Damage to Baggage
1. The carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of
death or bodily injury of a passenger upon condition only
that the accident which caused the death or injury took place
on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations
of embarking or disembarking.
2. The carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of
destruction or loss of, or of damage to, checked baggage
upon condition only that the event which caused the
destruction, loss or damage took place on board the aircraft
or during any period within which the checked baggage
was in the charge of the carrier. However, the carrier is not
liable if and to the extent that the damage resulted from the
inherent defect, quality or vice of the baggage. In the case
of unchecked baggage, including personal items, the carrier
is liable if the damage resulted from its fault or that of its
servants or agents.
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 ß ow from the contract of carriage.
4. Unless otherwise speciÞ ed, in this Convention the term
“baggage” means both checked baggage and unchecked
baggage.
Apr 17, 2017, 12:44 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2013
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You'd struggle to buy a branded suit for less than £1,000, and a M&S suit is at least £300... That's just one suit. The majority of women's handbags cost in excess of £2,000. Again just one bag. Add to that some shoes, t shirts, jeans, etc etc. and depending on the length of the trip, I don't envisage that many people having less value in their case.
My hard sided Samsonite is from circa 1984 still going very strong, yes there's wear and tear but the wheels work as do the handle just as they did on day one.
Apr 17, 2017, 2:05 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,481
Anyway, since that incident I don't use suitcases any more, that are made of aluminium. I've bought two Salsa Deluxe instead and I'm happy with them.
Last edited by thbe; Apr 17, 2017 at 2:10 am
Apr 20, 2017, 12:26 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston
Posts: 282
Currently only LH is using this system and I think UA and NH are the ones following "under test" (Star Alliance???) I do have one of these babies and like the OP got damaged in my last flight with QR. however the damage was on the combination pad and they agreed to fix it because I am gold, flying in J and my company buys bulk with them... however they did try to say it was not their fault as I notice the damage back home. (As I don't check the bag at airport and customs did not ask me to open the back there was no need to open the bag at the airport... sometimes airlines are silly)
Airlines always try to walk away from damaged bags as I believe most of the damage is done by airport services...
Last edited by LoungeBum; Apr 20, 2017 at 12:31 am
Apr 20, 2017, 1:05 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Just found a second one...used..on ebay...bought it immediately.
MOST womens handbags cost more than GBP 2000? Really? (I'm a bachelor..im asking..REALLY?)
Apr 20, 2017, 1:36 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston
Posts: 282
Apr 20, 2017, 12:57 pm
#15
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