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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Airlines attacked over lost bags | Airlines attacked over lost bags |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Some of the biggest no-frills airlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet, are the slowest to pay up when they lose or damage baggage, a report has said. | Some of the biggest no-frills airlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet, are the slowest to pay up when they lose or damage baggage, a report has said. |
| The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) study said passengers were not being fairly compensated for lost luggage. | The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) study said passengers were not being fairly compensated for lost luggage. |
| AUC chairman Tina Tietjen said: "Airlines are still too quick to load the risk onto the passenger." | AUC chairman Tina Tietjen said: "Airlines are still too quick to load the risk onto the passenger." |
| Airlines around the world 'mishandled' 42 million bags in 2007 and irretrievably lost more than a million. | Airlines around the world 'mishandled' 42 million bags in 2007 and irretrievably lost more than a million. |
| Depreciating value | Depreciating value |
| The AUC report said that airlines were too often acting like insurance companies, instead of paying for lost baggage. | The AUC report said that airlines were too often acting like insurance companies, instead of paying for lost baggage. |
| Some airlines were trying to improve baggage handling but passengers were not being fairly compensated, it said. LOST LUGGAGE Ryanair "often limits passengers to £15 whatever the length of the bag delay"Jet2 airline "refuses to reimburse passengers for claims under £30"A passenger claimed £1,120 for a lost bag, but had no receipts. The airline paid £79.34A claim for a surfboard crushed during a flight totalled £768.99. The passenger was offered £66.95 because he had no receipt and the board was three years old From cases cited in the AUC report 'My lost luggage headache' | Some airlines were trying to improve baggage handling but passengers were not being fairly compensated, it said. LOST LUGGAGE Ryanair "often limits passengers to £15 whatever the length of the bag delay"Jet2 airline "refuses to reimburse passengers for claims under £30"A passenger claimed £1,120 for a lost bag, but had no receipts. The airline paid £79.34A claim for a surfboard crushed during a flight totalled £768.99. The passenger was offered £66.95 because he had no receipt and the board was three years old From cases cited in the AUC report 'My lost luggage headache' |
| Carriers like Easyjet and Ryanair, with their simple point-to-point networks, were less likely to mislay baggage - but once lost, their passengers found it harder to get compensation. | Carriers like Easyjet and Ryanair, with their simple point-to-point networks, were less likely to mislay baggage - but once lost, their passengers found it harder to get compensation. |
| Complaints showed travellers were sometimes asked for receipts for each item of lost luggage, the AUC said. | Complaints showed travellers were sometimes asked for receipts for each item of lost luggage, the AUC said. |
| In other cases, airlines were taking into account the depreciating value of items. | In other cases, airlines were taking into account the depreciating value of items. |
| The report added that the problem was the worst it had been in recent years. | The report added that the problem was the worst it had been in recent years. |
| Ms Tietjen said: "If something goes wrong, airlines should be prepared to compensate their passengers fairly. | Ms Tietjen said: "If something goes wrong, airlines should be prepared to compensate their passengers fairly. |
| "Complaints to the AUC show that passengers often struggle to get reasonable redress from airlines after the event." | "Complaints to the AUC show that passengers often struggle to get reasonable redress from airlines after the event." |
| Even with delayed baggage, passengers could be left out of pocket, she added: "Airlines will not reimburse them fully for expenses they incurred buying essential items whilst they are without their bag." | Even with delayed baggage, passengers could be left out of pocket, she added: "Airlines will not reimburse them fully for expenses they incurred buying essential items whilst they are without their bag." |
| Ms Tietjen commended the efforts of airlines to improve their baggage handling performance, but said they also needed to turn their attention to what happens when things go wrong. | Ms Tietjen commended the efforts of airlines to improve their baggage handling performance, but said they also needed to turn their attention to what happens when things go wrong. |
| Figures published in the AUC report showed 42 million bags were mishandled in 2007 compared with 34 million in 2006 and 30 million in 2005. | Figures published in the AUC report showed 42 million bags were mishandled in 2007 compared with 34 million in 2006 and 30 million in 2005. |
| The AUC said that, with the number of air travellers expected to double in the next decade, airlines could be mishandling as many as 70 million bags a year by 2019. | The AUC said that, with the number of air travellers expected to double in the next decade, airlines could be mishandling as many as 70 million bags a year by 2019. |