British Airways Cavalier attitude in handling lost baggage claim New York Texas United Kingdom

On November 7, 2005 my father passed away in India and I had to leave immediately to attend his funeral. I chose to fly British Airways as I wanted to stop over in U.K. to see a friend who was not well.

I boarded the plane at Baltimore, Maryland. From the time I arrived in India on November 9, 2005 to date, I have not seen the suitcase I checked in at BWI.

I followed up with British Airways in India, in the U.K. and on my arrival in U. S. A. Throughout the ordeal, I have yet to find someone sympathetic to my case. The attitude has been one of disinterest and indifference.

I sent in a formal complaint through a lawyer and I did get a response from British Airways. Thereafter, I did reply to their letter and have still to hear from them.

The baggage claims department does not have a telephone number where they can be reached. The only way to correspond with them is by sending a fax or by mail.

I am extremely frustrated at the blatant way that British Airways is behaving. I did expect a lot more from one of Europe's leading airlines. My family and I will never again fly British Airways.

The reason that I am so discouraged by this experience is that when I flew British Airways in September 2004, my father had a stroke and was not given much chance of surviving it, the British Airways agent in Pune, India, explicity implied that unless my father died, I would have to pay the $200.00 charge to change the date on my ticket. I did pay up, albeit reluctantly.... the latest experience does not make things any better.

I desperately want a telephone number for the Lost Baggage department and I would like to speak to a warm human being. Given the fact that British Airways has been having a lot of problems with lost baggage, it is no wonder that they are hiding behind fax machines and toll free numbers that are answered in Canada. I guess they cannot have a number in U.S.A. since irate passengers just might storm their office and they will have to talk to us face-to-face, something they are scared of dealing with.

Still, I will not stop trying to get compensation for my lost baggage. I would appreciate any feedback on how to deal with this airline.

Cheryle
Ellicott City, Maryland
U.S.A.