[01vinod]

Please note that my baggage has been lost during my flight from Delhi to Cape Town on the 13th April 2015. I am seriously disappointed and frustrated about how the matter was handled by the Etihad team.

My ordeal started when I was offloaded from the connecting flight from Abu Dabi. The reason was given to me was that the aircraft was changed due to technical reason and there was less number of seats in the new aircraft. The entire episode was very harassing when other passengers were boarding and 10-12 passengers were not let to board the flight. We figures out that all the passengers de-boarded belonged to India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. After understanding the situation we figured out a clear situation of racism done by your staff. The entire episode is been recorded on camera and will be handed over to the investigation team back in India and UAE.

I was made to sit at the airport lounge for 14 hours without providing any transit Visa or hotel to stay. I could not believe that Etihad have no policy to take care of the customers when they face such situations.

Now, after reaching Johannesburg, I found out that my bags have not arrived with me. Nobody at South African airline or Etihad airline had any clue about the bags and they could not trace the same till today. I was forced to board the onward flight to Cape Town without the baggage. The staff promised that the bags will reach me within 24 hours at my hotel in Cape Town.

I would like to highlight that my bags consists of material to be used at our stand at the Trade fair in Cape Town from 15th till 17th April 2015. The entire trade fair was a waste for us as we had no posters, brochures or marketing collateral at the show. I would like to state that due to this mistake from Etihad, we have incurred a loss of the following:

1. Entire cost of the stand at the trade fair.
2. Lost opportunity to have business from South Africa and other countries in the region
3. My entire travel expense was wasted (including flight ticket & stay)
4. I had to spend more than 5000 USD to make temporary posters for the show and that too came in after 2 days of the show.
5. I have spent more than 2000 USD to buy clothes for myself.
6. I had my I pad in the Baggage and about 1000 USD Cash in the bag along with my other cloths and business suits.
7. The second bag had posters and backdrop for the stand at the trade fair.

Now the trade fair is over and I am flying back from Cape Town to Delhi on Sunday (19 April) and I have no clue that I will ever receive these bags. I want you to let me know how do you want to deal with this situation. If I don’t find a solution and descent compensation to this situation, I will be filling a case under the consumer forum in India and our company lawyers will be dealing with you the same. Moreover I would like to let you know that the same ordeal will be posted on all the social channels wherever Etihad try to market themselves.

I suggest somebody look into this case as a matter of urgency or this could become very embarrassing for Etihad Airways!!

The reference number of the missing bags reporting: JNBSA13878
The baggage tag numbers: EY717715, EY717714.

Thanks

Vinod Singh
Address : 78D, Shivan Enclave PPA MIA Flats, Jhilmil Shadra, Delhi – 110032. India.
Ph.: +91 989 170 6999, +91 999 999 1113