US Airways and BMI
 

I recently flew to London Healthrow and connected to a BMI flight to Glasglow. US Air decided that my bag would continue on from Healthrow to Rome. So I am stuck in Scotland with a pair of shorts, tennis shoes and and shirt. It was a Saturday, with constant rain and cold. I went to my hotel and stayed in until Sunday. My bag was suppose to arrive on Saturday night. So now I keep getting fed false information from the BMI baggage service so I figure the only way to go the my meeting on Monday is to buy a suit coat, pants, shoes and shirt. Good thing because on Monday they told me my suitcase would arrive on Thursday in Glasglow. Unfortuantely, I would be in London on Wednesday. Meanwhile after much arguing, I 70 pounds from BMI for my trouble. My pants alone cost 90 pounds as my selection was limited and I still don't know if I will get that. BMI claims it is US Air's problem and I need to address the problem with them. US AIR cites an international argreement that gives responsibility to BMI. Meanwhile the 7 day window is up so I guess now I am not following the claim rules even though each service has taken days to respond. Meanwhile, since I am traveling for the entire week without clothes, I buy a pair of jeans and a shirt. But I now need something to put my stuff in so I have to buy a little suitcase. My suitcase shows up in my hotel the last day I am in London and I don't even open it. I get to the ticket counter and I am told that based on the date of my ticket, I will need to be charged for a second bag. Let's see, if we lose people's bags and make them buy new and we charge them for the second bag, we could make a lot of money. I will end up being a chairman this year based on what I still have booked. Any thoughts on how to get reimbused for my costs and if you were to switch airlines, what would you fly if you were in Pittsburgh?

When you got the bag was it tagged for GLA or FCO? Since US Airways doesn't fly from LHR to FCO i was probably handed off to BMI @LHR who then sent it off to FCO by mistake. Unless it was tagged to FCO to begin with which I highly doubt since the bag tags are printed from your reservation when you check in.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but traveling to Glasgow in the Autumn wearing only shorts and tennis shoes? What were you thinking? :)

Shorts and tennis shoes
 

I was thinking I would have my bag on the other end. I have the baggage tag with a Rome sticker on it. I have to look at it when I get home.

I try to travel light and I am generally too hot and not cold.

Any other good blogs to post on? I spent too much money and got way too much run around with both airlines pointing fingers at each other!

Post on My3cents also. Keep your receipts.. but you are only entitled to payment for your actual reasonable expenses.

BMI are now part of Lufthansa, so they do have deep pockets, but don't expect them to be too generous. Glasgow in shorts and a t-shirt... that was brave, even in summer, but at this time of the year it's bonkers. I also have to tell you £90 for a pair of trousers is ludicrous.. were they Armani? You could have got some at Marks and Spencer, which has a massive store in central Glasgow, for £20. You could have bought a suit, two shirts and some underwear for £90!! I think you can make a reasonable case for replacement clothes but I suspect anything over £200 would be deemed excessive.

If they are not helpful, you can file a smalls claims court claim entirely online. The link is here:

www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

You will not be required to appear and the cost is minimal, a lot less than you paid for those trousers! I am not 100% sure if foreign nationals can use this, you will have to check, but I can't see any reason why not. If BMI fail to respond they will enter a default judgement. You could then have the fun of having the bailiff's go and seize an aeroplane until the settlement is paid. What fun!!

Shopping
 

Thanks for the information. I believe I overpaid but it was just because I was told the bag was coming and was given specific flights, etc. Telling me early on would have given me time. Therefore here I was having to make a decision on late Sunday afternoon. Not being familiar with the stores regarding which are the best ones, the driver dropped me off at a mall and I ran into the first place that looked decent. The pants came apart on the first wash. Sounds like no matter what happened, I should have known to do the most optimal solution. I have a feeling I will be eating this one.:mad:

You should ask the store for a refund while you are at it, if they fell apart after one wash. You are legally entitled to your money back in the Uk if the goods are not fit for the purpose. If they fell apart at the first wash, they fall into that category as long as you followed the correct procedures. If you want someone to help you, you can click on this link. http://www.scotss.org.uk/scotss2.htm This is a free service to assist you with any claim you have against a trader. It operates in a similar way to the BBB, but is a government agency. They may also be able to help you with BMI. If the shop also refuses to refund your money, you can file a claim at the same Small Claims Court link I just gave you!!

US Airways is correct that BMI is the one to handle this. This is an IATA rule. The final carrier is to handle the claim. It's actually meant to be to the passenger's benefit so that BMI would not be able to tell you to take it up with US Airways in this case. There are cases where you wouldn't be able to talk to the first airline because they don't fly to that city.

So, to sum this up, BMI is fully responsible to handle your claim. They will deal with US Airways.