And when AssAyeAir = Budget Airline in India. Serve the Papayas' right!
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Luggage missing, but SIA staff don't seem to care
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I HAVE always thought Singapore Airlines was one of the best airlines in the world and flew SIA whenever I had the chance. As a result, I am currently a Gold KrisFlyer. However, my recent experience with SIA makes me wonder if I had made a mistake.
I was booked on SQ501 and SQ02 last Friday, Bangalore-Singapore-San Francisco. After almost 24 hours, when I landed in San Francisco, I found my checked-in luggage (which contained everything except my laptop, mobile phone and passport) had not arrived. I immediately notified the airport staff and completed a form. I was assured that the luggage would reach me by the next day's flight and was told I could spend up to $80 the first day on essentials. I went to sleep that night not seriously worried - I am a frequent flyer and understood I had to face the law of averages some day.
My horror started the next day. I had been provided a number in San Francisco that I could call to check the status of my luggage. Of the 20 or more calls I made to that number over the next two days, the phone was not picked up more than two or three times. Voicemails were just not responded to. Finally, I reached someone from lost and found in SFO around noon on Sunday and he didn't have a clue about my problem. He said he would send an e-mail and check. I asked him to call, but he said he didn't have the contact numbers in Singapore. I thought SIA was not seriously concerned with my problem.
Given this, I became very worried. There was tremendous stress leading to major mental agony (for me and my family). In fact, I was almost in tears. I then browsed the SIA website - and found not a single contact number for lost luggage. I called every number I could find on the website, including reservations and Changi Airport. Finally, I called SIA Bangalore and was told the baggage had been loaded. I was given Singapore numbers and finally SIA Singapore confirmed the luggage was there. I begged for it to be put on the next flight to San Francisco. Finally, I got the luggage almost 48 hours later.
I spent hours and hundreds of dollars to track down my luggage - and I realised SIA had not done anything to help. Is it the responsibility of the passenger to make international calls to track down luggage SIA has misplaced - it was clearly SIA's fault? Also, the apathy of SIA staff was clear - and totally unexpected.
Rajesh Krishnaier Bangalore, India
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Luggage missing, but SIA staff don't seem to care
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I HAVE always thought Singapore Airlines was one of the best airlines in the world and flew SIA whenever I had the chance. As a result, I am currently a Gold KrisFlyer. However, my recent experience with SIA makes me wonder if I had made a mistake.
I was booked on SQ501 and SQ02 last Friday, Bangalore-Singapore-San Francisco. After almost 24 hours, when I landed in San Francisco, I found my checked-in luggage (which contained everything except my laptop, mobile phone and passport) had not arrived. I immediately notified the airport staff and completed a form. I was assured that the luggage would reach me by the next day's flight and was told I could spend up to $80 the first day on essentials. I went to sleep that night not seriously worried - I am a frequent flyer and understood I had to face the law of averages some day.
My horror started the next day. I had been provided a number in San Francisco that I could call to check the status of my luggage. Of the 20 or more calls I made to that number over the next two days, the phone was not picked up more than two or three times. Voicemails were just not responded to. Finally, I reached someone from lost and found in SFO around noon on Sunday and he didn't have a clue about my problem. He said he would send an e-mail and check. I asked him to call, but he said he didn't have the contact numbers in Singapore. I thought SIA was not seriously concerned with my problem.
Given this, I became very worried. There was tremendous stress leading to major mental agony (for me and my family). In fact, I was almost in tears. I then browsed the SIA website - and found not a single contact number for lost luggage. I called every number I could find on the website, including reservations and Changi Airport. Finally, I called SIA Bangalore and was told the baggage had been loaded. I was given Singapore numbers and finally SIA Singapore confirmed the luggage was there. I begged for it to be put on the next flight to San Francisco. Finally, I got the luggage almost 48 hours later.
I spent hours and hundreds of dollars to track down my luggage - and I realised SIA had not done anything to help. Is it the responsibility of the passenger to make international calls to track down luggage SIA has misplaced - it was clearly SIA's fault? Also, the apathy of SIA staff was clear - and totally unexpected.
Rajesh Krishnaier Bangalore, India
