Today’s article is by Callum, the newest member of the TLFL writing team. You can read all about him here.
Lufthansa and Thai Airways lost my bags: here’s what happened next
It was bound to happen. Last week, I started my trip to the Philippines on an ex-EU flight to Bangkok. My trip was not simple, but thinking that this summer would be okay, I decided to book a rather complicated itinerary for my trip to Asia consisting of the following:
British Airways Heathrow to Stockholm (Business Class return £200) Lufthansa/Thai Stockholm to Bangkok via Frankfurt and Brussels (Approx £1200 booked in February return on business, inbound in January 2023) Gulf Air Bangkok to Bahrain, followed by one day in Bahrain and then Singapore (Business Class error fare at £250) Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Manila (acquisition with KrisFlyer)
I always knew this was a complex itinerary, but I built enough buffer time along with protected connections between Stockholm and Bangkok. I could have chosen a simpler route on Lufthansa or Swiss, but I decided I wanted to try Thai Airways first, thinking I have less chance of getting a cheap fare with them in the future.
Doomed from the start?
The trip was first time out of sync with British Airways canceling my flight to Stockholm, with the option of either taking the last flight of the day with BA, which presents inherent risks when you’re leaving at 6am from the ex-EU or Finnair via Helsinki. Knowing that I could use the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Terminal 3 as well as the earlier departure, the latter felt like a safer bet. The first legs of my journey were successful. I knew something was wrong when I checked into the SAS offices the night before my flight. The airline couldn’t print my boarding passes because they required a visa for Bangkok, however, they advised me to go to the boarding gate in Frankfurt to sort it out the next day. I arrive in Frankfurt with the first agent constantly telling me that I need a visa for Thailand. Another, more helpful agent was able to help. Due to my outbound flight in July and inbound flight in January, I needed to provide the airline with either a visa for this length of stay the proof that I left the country within the visa-free period. After 45 minutes of my 80 minute connection, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief – or so I thought.
AirTags – friend or foe?
Realizing the current chaos at airports, I decided to invest in Apple AirTags for my two checked bags. These are both a blessing and a stress, thanks to knowing that your luggage is on the plane as well as that it is not… The pilot in Frankfurt came on the speakers to note that there would be a delay in loading the aircraft due to staffing issues at airport. I thought the bags were close to the aircraft however upon arrival in Brussels it was clear they were miles away in Germany. At this point, there wasn’t much I could do to solve the problem other than knowing that the luggage didn’t make the flight. Brussels airport was much worse than Frankfurt due to the chaos at the Schengen border for both EU and non-EU passengers which took over sixty minutes. Angry passengers almost led to fights with staff and fellow passengers – it was a far cry from the holiday spirit. I headed to the irresistible lounge in the non-Schengen zone to refresh and recover from the stressful hours. A positive of this lounge was the excellent view of the runway where you could see the Thai Airways A350 standing position. Knowing this, I headed to the gate to see if the agent could check if the luggage was going to be rescheduled to another flight – after a few minutes, she advised that it had been loaded onto the plane. This answer is best rephrased as “they were loaded one plane’ – probably the one I had boarded in Stockholm. I boarded the flight to Bangkok, knowing that my bags would be stuck in Europe for an unknown amount of time. After arriving in Bangkok and with an Airalo eSIM pre-installed for a data connection, I checked the ‘Find My’ app to confirm that the luggage was still in Frankfurt – which it was. Clearing immigration within 15 minutes and with a cursory glance at my Covid Pass, a far cry from the December Test & Go experience, I sought out the Thai/Star Alliance baggage desk. Waiting in a branded envelope, a helpful member of staff had already printed out all the details for baggage claim. Having AirTags saved me from unknowingly waiting at the baggage carousel for bags that never arrived and gave me a few more hours in Bangkok during my 12 hour connection. As my ultimate destination was Manila, and even though they were on separate tickets, Thai Airways agreed to deliver the luggage to my address in the Philippines – which was a surprise. I went on my trips to Bahrain with the excellent Gulf Air, along with a stopover in Singapore and an awful 2am departure/ 5am arrival in Manila. Two days passed after my luggage arrived at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport with Dnata’s promises of luggage delivery coming to naught. Even with Manila traffic, it made more sense to take a £6 Grab taxi across town and own it myself. This was not without its challenges and required me to speak to several airport officials and go through a bureaucratic process before gaining access, but finally, the luggage was back in my hands.
My advice for those traveling this summer and beyond
Although I did break this, if you are traveling within Europe for an extended stay over the weekend or week, try to keep carry-on only. It will save you a lot of trouble. If, like me, you need checked baggage, then be practical and don’t pack valuables in your checked baggage. While it would be upsetting if my baggage were lost for good, there was nothing in me that couldn’t be replaced. Pack a few days worth of clothes in your carry-on so you can at least cover yourself in case of delayed or lost luggage. AirTags are not a necessary item, but they provide some convenience and information to prove if your luggage is not where it should be. If you have an Android phone, then alternatives include Tile, but I haven’t tested the effectiveness of their trackers – Apple AirTags benefit from a wide variety of devices that can broadcast location information for tracking. As members of the frequent flyer community, we are all aware of the pressures European airports are currently under, even if some of them are self-inflicted by management decision, but it is not the fault of the staff you speak to. Taking a calm approach to both reporting and reacting to a lost baggage situation will make the whole scenario easier on everyone involved – despite the frustration. How did you find your luggage experiences this summer? Let us know in the comments below.
