[shagai]

I had the worst experience flying Etihad airways from Sydney to Delhi on 2nd Feb.My ref no was YYSDH5.When I reached Sydney airport one and a half hours before departure, the check in staff surrounded me and v rudely started shouting at me to open my suitcase or just go back.Then they forcibly took out whatever they wanted from my 2 suitcases all the while shouting at me.They took out my small electric griller, cooker and coat.I am a high b.p. patient and because of this horrible behaviour,I was v sick throughout the flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi.They did not issue any baggage slips to me.They also changed my seat no without telling me.It was only at Abu Dhabi that the airport staff on my request gave me my baggage tags.When I reached Delhi, I weighed my luggage it was only 15 kgs whereas a person is allowed 30kgs.They behaved in a terrible manner forcefully taking these things out and forced me to just leave it and go.Being a sick person,I could do nothing.
I have written to customer complaints at their head office requesting them to send back my things as their check in staff has intentionally misappropriated my luggage.I have got an automatic reply from them saying they will take 20 days to reply.

[Silent Bob]

You travelled with an electric grill, internationally, and you wonder why you were surrounded by the staff???? Who travels with an electric grill????

[shagai]

Look it was a small electric toaster/griller only one foot in length and I had checked with the airlines office earlier whether it was permissable and they had said yes.The check in staff also took out other items???And they told me that I dont have the "luxury" of taking out things myself from my suitcase!This comment was in addition to many other rude and abusive comments of theirs.

[Cicero]

With regard to the post above by Silent Bob Jerkero, please understand that he is a great guy and very knowledgeable about airline law. But he had an unfortunate experience with an electric grill as a child. He was running and fell on a hot electric grill and it burnt off his penis.

We work together and he has taught me all that I know. I can tell you that on your journey the Montreal Convention applies. There is a two year limitation to bring your claim. You can bring it either in Sydney, or Delhi or where Etihad has its head office. I'm not sure where that is, but I just asked Silent Bob Jerkero and he says that would that be Abu Dhabi.

India has a very highly developed court system, and if that is where you reside, that is the place to bring the claim. In Delhi there is also a working Consumer Dispute Commission which may entertain your claim.

The airline had no right to remove your electric grill from your luggage. That is really outrageous. It is not a dangerous appliance (Silent Bob Jerkero just looked into his pants and shakes his head in disagreement with my last statement). A grill is a simple kitchen appliance and no airline prohibits carrying such item in checked luggage.

The Montreal Convention provides for loss of items from luggage, so it should cover a deliberate act of airline check in staff removing items. However there is a common law tort (civil wrong) of trespass to property, so Silent Bob Jerkero suggests that you bring the claim under two heads, both the Montreal Convention as well as under the common law claim in the alternative, in case the airline argues successfully that their removal of dangerous items is not a cause of action under the Montreal Convention.

[Silent Bob]

With regard to the post above by Silent Bob Jerkero, please understand that he is a great guy and very knowledgeable about airline law. But he had an unfortunate experience with an electric grill as a child. He was running and fell on a hot electric grill and it burnt off his penis.

Now I know you're stupid Jerkero, I mean you're really stupid. Sorry but you don't know me, you'll never know me, but please share more bad advice to the op, to show off those great law skills that you so wish to share with them. So let me guess, you send the OP a PM leading to that website of yours where you say you make six figures and all that garbage? you are awesome...ly stupid.

And to think everyone, this is gonna happen in every post, so stay tuned for the next edition of return of Sinfail.

[shagai]

Thanks Cicero.I am definitely thinking on those lines. Thanks once again.

[Cicero]

Glad to know you. And Silent Bob Jerkero is pleased we were of assistance. Best of luck in getting back your electric grill. If you are holding a barbecue with your grill, feel free to invite us. But Silent Bob Jerkero (looking down) says he'll keep a little distance from your grill. He suffers from grillophobia.

[Etihad Representative]

Hi there OP,

Sorry to hear about your recent troubles at SYD. Could I ask, did the device in question use gas? I know you said in your first post it was electric, but I just wanted to clarify that. As if so that may be a reason it was not allowed onto the aircraft.
Dangerous goods and all that Jazz.

This would then need to be carried as Cargo in this case.

However this does not excuse the percieved bad actions of the Staff members.

[shagai]

No it is a simple electric toaster grill. No question of usage of gas.

[shagai]

In fact there was more.When I reached Abu Dhabi and went to get my boarding pass, I was told after 45mins, that my reservation was not there in the connecting flight of Jet Airways.And when I asked how was I given a confirmed ticket by Etihad, they had no answer and said that anyway the gates have closed so there is no point.I then somehow managed to talk to the duty manager of Jet Airways and he confirmed that Etihad had forgotten to book me with Jet.The next flight was after 24hrs.However Jet was good about this, they did my booking,got the gates opened and I finally managed to catch the flight.They gave me my baggage slips.

[shagai]

The beginning of the trip was also lousy.The flight was for 14th early morning but after lots of excuses and more excuses, it finally left on 16th and my vacation was cut by 2 days. They really ruined my whole vacation.And the icing on the cake was their check in staff at Sydney airport.Just took away my things......!

[Silent Bob]

Next time, limit what you take on, especially an electric grill. With security heightened as it is, I'm not surprised by their reaction. You should have simply checked it in and saved yourself the hassle. I agree with Cazz the attitude was unnecessary, then again I am told that Australians have a thing against foreigners, so that is something to be wary of if you ever take that route in the future.

[shagai]

I told you earlier, this was part of checked in baggage which was weighing 15 kgs on the whole.And whats this about security-my coat also goes and as i told you earlier it was a small electric toaster so where are security issues in this! After such terrible behaviour dont I have a right to get my things back?

[shagai]

Lets face it.Etihad is solely accountable for actions and misbehaviour of their staff.If their check in staff are a bunch of theives,Etihad is to blame.They should have some control over such staff.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Silent Bob Jerkero

Next time, limit what you take on, especially an electric grill. With security heightened as it is, I'm not surprised by their reaction. You should have simply checked it in and saved yourself the hassle. I agree with Cazz the attitude was unnecessary, then again I am told that Australians have a thing against foreigners, so that is something to be wary of if you ever take that route in the future.

Please excuse Silent Bob Jerkero for this slip up. We knew it was in baggage you were checking in. However yesterday was Superbowl in the US and we were all at my place having a good time and he maybe had too much to drink.

The airline had no right to take these items from your bags and they have to return them to you. If they can't return it, they have to pay you the value. And we are talking the value in Delhi, not what you paid for it in Australia. I presume it was advantageous to you as you were in Sydney to buy it there and take it back with you. They can't deprive you of that advantage. So look around the shops in Delhi for an equivalent grill, and use that price for your claim. By all means have your receipt ready to show what you paid for it. But the Court sometimes gives "replacement cost" for assessing damages. Had the airline staff not taken these items, you would have had them with you in Delhi. So you are entitled to be restored to the same position if you had not suffered at their hands - which is to have the items in India. And if we are talking money, it's the cost of replacing them in Delhi.

Also with regard to the two days lost at the start of your vacation, Silent Bob Jerkero says you are entitled to damages for this as well.

Good luck.

[Silent Bob]

No association with prickermo (Cicero), I don't hang with kiddies nor do we work together. Makes my skin crawl thinkin about it. But if that's the childish game he wants to play, have at ya douchie.

To the OP, my own apologies I misread your complaint. First, and this is the big question, why did they surround you "all of a sudden" and ask you to remove things. Agreed they should be accountable for their actions, however what would make them take such actions is the big question. I'm gonna take the "there's more to the story than this" stance.

Oh and if Jerkero decides to "apologize" for me, please not he's not doing it on my behalf. And any replies to this nature will come directly from me. Not some ****** who wants to be a lawyer, but can't hack it. Sad sinfail, just sad.

[mars6423]

well i know that many people would question an electric grill being allowed on flights these days with enhanced security measures, not saying that your not allowed to bring it, it is prob one of those items where it can be a eyebrow raiser and have people believing oh wait a min this cant be allowed without knowing the policies

did the people who surrounded you all come at once? or did one come over and over some time some more? It creates a scene and makes other people look, did you raise your voice or say anything?

Since you said you have high blood pressure did you order a special meal? and was it delivered?

also i dont think that they "forgot" to book you with Jet, maybe the reservation didnt go through or whatnot, maybe that was Jet's fault but they wont own upto that, otherwise i dont think they would just say oh yeah your on our flight without a money transaction, they must have known prior and you just didnt show up in their system

[Etihad Representative]

It is my feeling that there is more to this story, and that the OP is not giving us the whole truth and nothing but the truth

Were you maybe overweight upon late arrival to check in?

Were the staff maybe offering to help repack your luggage in order to help you make the flight in question, and not miss your connection in AUH?

Were the staff maybe hurrying you, which then in turn came across as being rude/a bit short?

What happened to the Excess Luggage you left behind?

Did they offer to let you pay for your extra kilo's they said you had?

The bagage allowance on Etihad Airways is 20kgs. If your bag were 15kgs, why did they ask you to remove items?

I am not in any way siding with the airline, however I personally believe there is more to this than meets the eye.

These are just questions that upon answering truthfully, may hold the all important conclusion to this story.

[Silent Bob]

From the OP:

Lets face it.Etihad is solely accountable for actions and misbehaviour of their staff

I'd say you were right, HOWEVER, you're leaving something out. Why and how would they suddenly surround you and demand you take stuff out of your bag?

Just somethin to think about.

[Ulysses]

Originally Posted by Silent Bob

Next time, limit what you take on, especially an electric grill. With security heightened as it is, I'm not surprised by their reaction. You should have simply checked it in and saved yourself the hassle. I agree with Cazz the attitude was unnecessary, then again I am told that Australians have a thing against foreigners, so that is something to be wary of if you ever take that route in the future.

This remark about Australians is uncalled for and especially so on a site that appears to be an international forum.

I am an australian now living in New York and used to be an airline employee at Sydney airport. Etihad employees at that site are not Australians. They appear to be mid eastern.

It is also somewhat rude and insulting to suggest that the OP is not giving the whole story or that she should be called upon to explain the behaviour of the airline staff. What she describes here is indeed their modus operandi of Etihad staff at Sydney. I personally witnessed an incident where a passenger began screaming at Etihad staff. It turned out that what had happened was that the passenger's bag was about 6 lbs overweight. She asked to be allowed to remove the six pounds. The staff surrounded her, leaving their posts, and shouted and her that she was not entitled to remove anything. She had to pay a penalty of the equivalent of about US$100 or not be permitted on the flight.

Her screaming attracted the attention of other airline staff and airport security who called in the city police. It was only when the police threatened to arrest all the Etihad staff present, that the staff permitted her to remove six pounds and be allowed to fly

So do not be too quick to insinuate that the complaining member is concealing something. It is down right rude of you Mr Silent Bob. Having read the posts on this site, you should be more like your namesake Silent Jerkero whose advice appeared helpful to the complaining member.

[shagai]

Crazzi B or airline sympathizer.Your name says it all.Why would I scream?Were you there that you heard me screaming? Crazy as your name.And its 30kgs checked in + 7 kgs hand baggage.I mentioned the time I came.If the staff was being so helpful, I should have been happy.And no I was not overweight.