Who is responsible the passenger or the airline?
By terrych
@terrych (1227)
United States
September 21, 2007 2:17pm CST
Well here is what happened, for the summer I went to Chile to visit my family, I got a ticket with Aerolineas Argentinas, so the plane started in Miami and have one stop in Buenos Aires, and then Santiago, Chile.
First the Airline change the day and time of my flight, from saturday 21 july 8 pm. to sunday 22 july 4 am... no convenient at all (to say the least).
Then I arrived to Buenos Aires at 2 pm that sunday, and from the plane we had to walk to the bus that will take us to the terminal. Then the recepcionist in the airline told me that my plane was delayed and that I have to wait until 9 pm for my plane... so of course I complained, she said, Ok, I will get the book so you can write the complain there... but then suddenly she found one sit in a plane living at 4 pm (the plane finally left from Bs Aires around 6 pm).
And this is just the beggining because this lady also told me that my luggage will get to santiago in the original plane.
So I arrive to Santiago without my luggage around 7 pm, and my luggage got there around midnite. My surprise was when I open my suitcase and I find out that someone opened and stole all the electronic devices I had in it, including 2 digital cameras, one GPS watch, ans a PDA (about 1,200 US dollars).
The airline said that is my fault because I shouldn put all those valuables on my suitcase, they said I should take them with me. But in the other side on their website they say that you can only carry one small digital camera... and I had 3...
Any way, I believe they went over my rigths, because nobody should open my suitcase without my permission...
And a month after this happened there was a report on the news about the thefts at the Ezeiza Airport (Bs Aires), they show how the people encharged of the review all the luggage under the Xray stole the cameras, ipod, computers, etc.
I found out I am not the only one affected... please comment here you oppinion!
8 responses
@laurika (4532)
• United States
16 Oct 07
I read about one month ago very similar discussion and could not believe how many people were talking about many times stolen things from their luggage.What i know they open your luggage, because of security.But it is very sad since they stole some things from there.It never happen to me, but I also take all my things with me to the plain.But I also understand when you had three cameras you coudn't took them all with you.Also I have one bad experience.No with stolen stuff but when we come from Europe to USA all my luggage was broke, all dirty and stuff what I had there was broke too.And on the luggage was a sticker saying fragile.But it seems like people don't care today anymore.
@terrych (1227)
• United States
16 Oct 07
I think that airlines do whatever they want, they do not care about the costumers, and they are also protect by the law... because you can not probe what you had in your luggage before, or in what condition it was...
So they just wash their hands... and forget about it...
I mean if they want to figure who stole my stuff it is easy for them, just go and check who has that turn on that day... and that's it! but th airline do not care, and that is the main problem!
@terrych (1227)
• United States
22 Sep 07
I really want to do to do that, but in Chile when I went to the police and filled out all the paperwork, they said I will get the citation to go to court, and then I got a letter telling me that there is not enough evidence, because I can not proof that my stuff was on the suitcase.
and well I am a student, so even if I want I donot have the money to get a lawer!
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
21 Sep 07
that's terrible... i would file a formal complain to the airline and make sure that i fight for my right 'til the end... if they won't listen and don't want to compensate me accordingly, then i will put it in the news on the newspaper of how bad the airline service is... anyway, i'm sorry that you have to go through such a bad experience travelling with this airline... hope you will get back your goods soon... good luck...
@terrych (1227)
• United States
22 Sep 07
Thaks for your answer, actually I did all you propose, but still I did not get any solution from them. Because, they keep telling me that is my fault.
Anyway I am not travelling in that airline again, I am spreading this information around, that way if someone else decide to travel in this airline, they know the risk.
@sheerjane (112)
• China
22 Sep 07
I think they should take on burden!Theirs action was irresponsible.I dislike persons such lik that.
@buliangxianren (425)
• China
22 Sep 07
it's a pity to hear you lost your things.but i'm happy to know you didn't plan to travle without plane because you were so disappointed about the airline.i don't know whether it is common there and how people there thoght about you.in my view, i will say it is a pity that the quality of airline there is bad.maybe there is no worst than them.they didn't think for you,but try to find a fault of you when they have the responsibility to compensate. it is common except those people with very honest. what they shoud do is to beg your pardon and pay for your unconvenience and your lost before the thefts were caught.
@terrych (1227)
• United States
22 Sep 07
Oh... believe me I am not traveling with them again!
I know things like that happeneed all over the world, I read about Madrid airport also... but again not because this happened to other persons and they no do anything I am going to shut up, this shouldnt happen!
@nicolec (2671)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Tough times on your travel. First, I do believe the airline reserves the right to open all luggage, espcially if they suspect something. Which is why they tell you not to lock it. However, I would still file a formal complaint with the airlines about the stolen goods. since I am unfamiliar with this particular airline carrier I don't know what they will do about it. But you have the right to put what ever in your suitcase you want (assuming we are talking illegal things here) with out the worry of some one walking off with it.
I personally do not put anything valuable in my suitcase. In fact, I usually don't even check one, I bring it on the plane with me. I think it's good advice. Anything valuable, you carry with you.
good luck with this,
@terrych (1227)
• United States
21 Sep 07
In Argentina where all this happened no body can open your suitcase if you and 2 other persons are there to verified what is happening...
I filled formal complains, but the airline said that they only pay if there is any difference in weight, and as you know electronics are not heavy at all... and they will peay 10 dollars per lb.
For now so far no luck!
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
21 Sep 07
well here i do believe they have to right to open and check someones luggage if they suspect something,i would file a complaint but dont know how far you will get with this because stuff like that they seem not to care and you never get back what you lost or someone has stolen.i had this happen before and they did nothing,so i gave up.now i know to carry the stuff with me that i feel is very valuable to me or important.take care and i wish you luck hon.pattie
@terrych (1227)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Pattie, the thing here, is that even they got caugth there are still people complaining about stoolen goods.
And over all, the worst thing is that the airline wash their hands... If I trust them with my luggage, they suppose to give it back to me in the same conditions.
Usually here in US when they open you suitcase for security reasons they put a paper inside saying what they did... but this was not the case, it was not a security reason... was a thief reason!
