[Henry Domzalski]

On the gangway, boarding my connecting Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Lilongwe, Malawi, the staff insisted that my hand luggage be checked into the hold. The same bag had been allowed on the incoming ETHIAD flight.

I removed my laptop, it being the most valuable item, but upon arrival in Malawi, in addition to the non-arrival of my three checked bags, the hand bag was found to have been opened (the zipper was in an unusual position) and a $400 camera was missing. I reported the theft at the airport, but the baggage claims staff said they only dealt with missing bags, not thefts.

I wrote to Ethiopian Airlines and they noted how their baggage liability is limited to $20/kg. I replied noting that my hand luggage hadn't been weighed, so there was no way to determine the difference between the departure weight and the arrival weight. Ethiopian Airlines also said that a $20 recovery was somehow insignificant, implying that it would be more trouble than it was worth (for both the airline and me).

I cannot tolerate thievery or thieves - and in this case that is the label I have to apply to Ethiopian Airlines.

[claurenzo]

Hi there,

Can you please give me more detail about your trip? Where did you start originally? I am flying this week from Tampa to Accra via Air Canada and Ethiopian Airlines. I heard they had crazy strict carry on policies and I am traveling with a lot of travel products unfortunately. I heard only one laptop (no charger) and one small camera were allowed. I have 2 laptops, one ipad, a DSLR camera with lens, a point and shoot camera, an mp3 player and a dvd player. We are donating about half of this to the school I work with there, however the two laptopls, ipad and DSLR and valued at nearly $3,000!

Please tell me how your entire experience went, when and wehre they checked your baggage, etc.

Thank you!

[Henry Domzalski]

My flight started in Thailand. Theft was in transit in Addis. Discovered theft on arrival in Lilongwe.

My roll-on bag was, as with others, judged too bulky. The plane was jam-packed and I was probably boarding in the last quartile. Early boarders I am sure got on with such bags.

If you can break up your stuff into smaller 'modules' that could help. I'd just say, don't allow any valuables not to enter the cabin without you. The policy allows you to keep valuables, so it shouldn't be contentious.

I was probably somewhat negligent to only protect my laptop, forgetting about my camera, when my carry on bag was diverted to the hold.

Keep your stuff close.