[terrimac62]

I travelled to Greece with my family for the first holiday in years. Aer Lingus lost my luggage. I reported it immediately and told them where I was staying in Greece. The luggage call centre do not speak English very well and did not understand I was in Greece. They located my bag and sent it to Gatwick in the UK. Then they sent it to Porto in Portugal. When I rang them they told me adamantly that Porto was a Greek island! I asked them were they were based - they refused to answer. I asked if they were in Dublin. The customer service rep did not understand. I explained Dublin was the capital of Ireland - the country where Aer Lingus is based - he still did not understand!! He then told me "Yes, Dublin is in Portugal!" To say I was disgusted is an understatement.

I had medication in my bag, without which I could not eat. So for 7 days I stayed in my hotel room feeling sick (I have a history of stomach ulcers) whilst my family tried to have a good time without me (they felt guilty). I had enough medication for 2 days but ran out and although I asked at various pharmacies, I was staying on a small Greek island and could not get replacement meds.

I rang Aer Lingus 42 times - not once did they call me to apologise. I sent 100s of tweets too. I was contacted by the Irish Independent and my story appeared in the paper the next day. I was contacted by the Irish Times too.

It has been 16 days and although the note on the online tracking system says my bag was finally returned to Dublin yesterday, Aer Lingus refuse to return it because I went to the press. I am at a stalemate with them. They have my bag and will not hand it over. They deny having it, but the online tracker system says otherwise. It lists the flights the bag was on - from Porto to Lisbon to Dublin.

I am filing a complaint for compensation but the most I can get is 1350€ which is a fraction of the value of the items in my bag. I have lost personal items too, plus my coursework for a thesis I have worked on for the past 3 years - all gone!

Aer Lingus have still not phoned me, emailed me or contacted me in any way. I fly with them approx. 10 times per year for work, and have done for the last 20 years - I will never fly with them again.