Lost Luggage
 

I recently flew YVR-DFW-SFO-LHR-HEL all in one go. My luggage was checked through. Perhaps not surprisingly, I didn't manage to get it at HEL.

The trip was done on a mixture of airlines, AA from YVR-SFO, BA between SFO-LHR and AY (although on a BA flight number) between LHR-HEL.

I'm pretty resigned to losing it, but I feel there's something more I can do. Your advice is much appreciated.

I've lodged a claim with AY. They've given me a reference number and a site where you can see the status. I've also filled in a form with them detailing the content. As I've already bought some clothes because of this loss, they've given me €100 as 'a start'. Everytime I've asked them, they said there's nothing more they can do, apart from keep checking the site for any updates. AY have been very friendly about it (as with all the Finns I've met), but there's still nothing they can do.

Where the luggage was lost would be anyone's guess. Did the TSA blow it up or was it just lost at the mess that is LHR? (Although, SFO from BA and HEL departures both operate at T1, so I thought that'd make it slightly easier.)

Anyway, is there anything else I can do, any questions I can ask? When should I just ask AY to just compensate me (if at all possible) and not drag this out? Is AY ultimately responsible being the last airline of that trip (despite being on a BA flight number)? Can I check with the individual airports/airlines?

Thanks.

P.S. Yes, I've started my insurance procedures already.
P.P.S. To those that have been reading my trip report. I haven't written much because some of the it is in my computer, and without my adaptor, I don't want to use any more power unless I absolutely have to. I'll complete it.

I really feel for you, especially since the USA doesnt do bag matching so there is no way that AA can assure you or anyone for that matter that they loaded your bag in the first place.

AA/ QF have lost my bag on 3 out of the last 4 flights back from the USA. In 2 cases the TSA failed to place the bag on the belt after screening and the item was located at the baggage screening point. In the third instance, AA in JFK didnt know where QF 108 left from and so my bag was in lost baggage in the AA terminal. It turned up with the original tag and a BA tag over the top.

On the last occasion the bag was "lost" for 7 days. The second occasion three days and the first 24 hours. In the case 2 and 3 the check in manager at LAX and JFK was sent looking for the bag by QF baggage.

Sadly, AY as the end carrier is responsible and I can share your frustration with what seems like a fruitless task. It is very rare for luggage not to turn up so hang in there.

Last year CX failed to take a bag from BA at DXB. Destination was BKK and when the belt emptied I filed a claim and got a similar site where bag status was supposed to be visible.

The site was useless. TG immediately told us the bag hadn't been loaded at DXB (duh!) and by telphoning the number they gave us it was easy to follow the journey of that bag. It's now got 1MM status with AA. It eventually got back to BKK (as we were leaving, but not too late). CX was useless in the process - they couldn't have cared less, even though we were traveling in A. And that web site was similarly useless. Stay on the phone.

Given your routing, I would bet the bag is still in LHR and didn't make the T4 to T1 transfer. This has happened to me on several occasions, and each time they have found the bag after a few days and delivered it to me. LHR baggage transfers are notoriously bad!

If I have the time, I seriously consider clearing immigration and collecting my bag at one terminal and lugging it to the other via HEX (free) and checking in again. If travelling in BA premium cabin and getting access to Fast Track for immigration, it is a fast and smooth exercise. Then having premium checkin at the other terminal makes that part of the exercise faster.

But the risk is running late for a connection if the inbound flight is late. Then again, if the connection time is tight I can almost guarantee the checked-through bags won't make it anyway.

last time through LHR my FRA-LHR flight (arrived T1) was delayed and I only just made my connection to LHR-MEL (departed T4). I make the transfer T1-T4 in less than 20 mins from touchdown. I knew then that there was obsolutely no chance my bags were on my MEL bound flight!