LOST BAGGAGE... and no travel insurance =(

pinkie19 · Jun 17th, 2008, 02:55 AM

Has anyone been in a more miserable situation than me?

I've just come back from Macau... upon arrival there it turned out that my baggage has gone MIA!

Macau airport officials were no help... coupled with their smattering of English and my complete lack of Cantonese / Mandarin.... SIGH.

It was the worst holiday of my life... Imagine wearing the same pair of jeans and underwear for 3 whole days...!!! I didn't have the mood to shop and didn't want to buy something just for the sake of buying it.... yes... including underwear!!!

Anyway... has anyone of you been through this? And what to do if I did not activate my travel insurance for this trip (I usually do!). Can I even hope to claim against the airline? I travelled on Jetstar.... budget! But the stuff in my bag amounts to at least USD 1,000... with a few brand new tops that I as hoping to wear there!

VPT · Jun 17th, 2008, 03:15 AM

Yes thrice in my life of traveling. Singapore Airlines, United, and one other I think British Airways.

The airline company will usually reimburse you, despite the fact you didn't get insurance.
You need to get to their lost baggage claim office and fill up a form. Have your passport and the sticky baggage tags ready (the long strips with bar code they stuck on your ticket or intinery).

Edit:
Oops Jetstar... budget airline, I doubt you can claim for much. Maybe US$25 at most!

pinkie19 · Jun 17th, 2008, 04:03 AM

USD 25?!?!?!
That's disgusting.

VPT · Jun 17th, 2008, 04:28 AM

Surely airline can't cover your lost baggage for more than the price of the ticket?

Airline reimbursement isn't much anyway, maybe at most US$500, US$250 Economy Class per bag lost is quite common practice already. That's why travelers often purchase insurance, for a measly sum, their coverage is greater.

pinkie19 · Jun 17th, 2008, 04:39 AM

I know its an airline, but surely buying a budget ticket doesn't mean that the probability that you lose a bag is higher???

In that case, a lost baggage is a lost baggage, regardless of what class or air ticket price?

I am so going to create a ruckus if they even dare to offer less than USD 500! I am ssooo angry!!! Furious!!!

VPT · Jun 17th, 2008, 04:48 AM

I never mentioned about the probability of losing bags. As you can see the airlines I flown in where I have lost baggages were top notch airlines, SQ being one of the world's best!
Why don't you give them a call and see how much you can claim? As far as I know claims are based on a % of the cost of the seat. If you flew first class you will get higher compensation than economy, applies to any airline. I don't fly budget airlines other than city hopping where bigger jets are not available, so I don't know their policies. I hope you can get some decent compensation. Next time stash your priceless items in your carry on bags :)

chigirl · Jun 17th, 2008, 05:56 AM

From their website:

For International Travel, Jetstar Asia's liability for loss or major damage to baggage is limited to SGD5 per kilo for checked baggage, not including items in the baggage. If the weight of your Checked Baggage is not recorded on the baggage check, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance.

aklein · Jun 17th, 2008, 08:35 AM

Is it possible you are covered by your credit card that you used to purchase the ticket with? I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you. I usually try to carry on my luggage and I always pack an extra set of clothes (and a few pairs of undies) in my carry on.

pinkie19 · Jun 19th, 2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chigirl

From their website:

For International Travel, Jetstar Asia's liability for loss or major damage to baggage is limited to SGD5 per kilo for checked baggage, not including items in the baggage. If the weight of your Checked Baggage is not recorded on the baggage check, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance.

This really sucks... I'm going to send in my claim tomorrow... let's see what happens. Fingers crossed.

It was a unofficial company trip, so my CC was not used... Having said that, being an unofficial trip, those who booked the ticket did not buy travel insurance...

Oh well... I'e been grumpy the whole entire week over this... even my new LV Multicolour Kate clutch didn't make me smile for long... Ggrrr....

I'm soooo upset...

Anyway, thanks for all the kind words... we'll see what Jet "lose-your-luggage" star says.

chigirl · Jun 19th, 2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkie19

This really sucks... I'm going to send in my claim tomorrow... let's see what happens. Fingers crossed.

It was a unofficial company trip, so my CC was not used... Having said that, being an unofficial trip, those who booked the ticket did not buy travel insurance...

Oh well... I'e been grumpy the whole entire week over this... even my new LV Multicolour Kate clutch didn't make me smile for long... Ggrrr....

I'm soooo upset...

Anyway, thanks for all the kind words... we'll see what Jet "lose-your-luggage" star says.

It still may show up. I rarely hear of bags being lost forever. I am sure it happens but the people I know who have lost bags have always eventually gotten them back.

I am living in Asia too (only for 7 months) and these cheap carriers scare me a bit. Fortunately I think most of the rest of my trips will be with Bangkok Airways and they seem to be a good airline.

Jun 17th, 2008, 02:55 AM	#1
pinkie19 Member Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 116	Has anyone been in a more miserable situation than me? I've just come back from Macau... upon arrival there it turned out that my baggage has gone MIA! Macau airport officials were no help... coupled with their smattering of English and my complete lack of Cantonese / Mandarin.... SIGH. It was the worst holiday of my life... Imagine wearing the same pair of jeans and underwear for 3 whole days...!!! I didn't have the mood to shop and didn't want to buy something just for the sake of buying it.... yes... including underwear!!! Anyway... has anyone of you been through this? And what to do if I did not activate my travel insurance for this trip (I usually do!). Can I even hope to claim against the airline? I travelled on Jetstar.... budget! But the stuff in my bag amounts to at least USD 1,000... with a few brand new tops that I as hoping to wear there! __________________ Bag Hag ~~Dog Hag~~ ^^Food Hag^^

Jun 17th, 2008, 03:15 AM	#2
VPT i ♥ blood oranges Joined: May 2008 Location: Vanc, WA Posts: 1,701	Yes thrice in my life of traveling. Singapore Airlines, United, and one other I think British Airways. The airline company will usually reimburse you, despite the fact you didn't get insurance. You need to get to their lost baggage claim office and fill up a form. Have your passport and the sticky baggage tags ready (the long strips with bar code they stuck on your ticket or intinery). Edit: Oops Jetstar... budget airline, I doubt you can claim for much. Maybe US$25 at most! __________________ Last edited by VPT; Jun 17th, 2008 at 03:19 AM.

Jun 17th, 2008, 04:03 AM	#3
pinkie19 Member Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 116	USD 25?!?!?! That's disgusting. __________________ Bag Hag ~~Dog Hag~~ ^^Food Hag^^

Jun 17th, 2008, 04:28 AM	#4
VPT i ♥ blood oranges Joined: May 2008 Location: Vanc, WA Posts: 1,701	Surely airline can't cover your lost baggage for more than the price of the ticket? Airline reimbursement isn't much anyway, maybe at most US$500, US$250 Economy Class per bag lost is quite common practice already. That's why travelers often purchase insurance, for a measly sum, their coverage is greater. __________________

Jun 17th, 2008, 04:39 AM	#5
pinkie19 Member Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 116	I know its an airline, but surely buying a budget ticket doesn't mean that the probability that you lose a bag is higher??? In that case, a lost baggage is a lost baggage, regardless of what class or air ticket price? I am so going to create a ruckus if they even dare to offer less than USD 500! I am ssooo angry!!! Furious!!! __________________ Bag Hag ~~Dog Hag~~ ^^Food Hag^^

Jun 17th, 2008, 04:48 AM	#6
VPT i ♥ blood oranges Joined: May 2008 Location: Vanc, WA Posts: 1,701	I never mentioned about the probability of losing bags. As you can see the airlines I flown in where I have lost baggages were top notch airlines, SQ being one of the world's best! Why don't you give them a call and see how much you can claim? As far as I know claims are based on a % of the cost of the seat. If you flew first class you will get higher compensation than economy, applies to any airline. I don't fly budget airlines other than city hopping where bigger jets are not available, so I don't know their policies. I hope you can get some decent compensation. Next time stash your priceless items in your carry on bags :) __________________

Jun 17th, 2008, 05:56 AM	#7
chigirl Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,543	From their website: For International Travel, Jetstar Asia's liability for loss or major damage to baggage is limited to SGD5 per kilo for checked baggage, not including items in the baggage. If the weight of your Checked Baggage is not recorded on the baggage check, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance. __________________ "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime." Mark Twain

Jun 17th, 2008, 08:35 AM	#8
aklein Member Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,534	Is it possible you are covered by your credit card that you used to purchase the ticket with? I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you. I usually try to carry on my luggage and I always pack an extra set of clothes (and a few pairs of undies) in my carry on. __________________ Meez are scary, so back to the kitties ....