My grand tour in tatters

So I was supposed to be starting my tour of Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia tomorrow.

I got to Stansted this morning at the time the airline said, queued for ages to check in, then took my bike to oversize luggage check-in. They insisted on searching it, even though the flight was leaving in 20 minutes, because it wouldn't fit through the scanner.

I had to accompany it into the searching room, which meant I needed a very thorough search. A big, burly man touched my crotch. Happy holidays.

After opening all my carefully-prepared boxing they casually glanced at the bike for a second and shoved it back in. They told me they had nothing to seal it back up with. Eventuallz they found some parcel tape, but I wasn't allowed scissors so had to cut it with my sunglasses and cut my hand too. It didn't look strong enough to last the flight, but I had to run to catch it myself.

I SPRINTED to the gate, finally made it as they were closing the doors. Cue filthy looks from delayed passengers and cabin crew. Landed in Cologne, four-hour wait, flight to Sarajevo, waited for luggage - no bikes. Was told they were in London. Was also told they wouldn't make it until Tuesday.

Now we can't make the planned route to Slovenia in time, and are stuck paying for hotels with nothing to do in Sarajevo until then. Also have the fear that when the box arrives it will be empty and all my gear will be lost.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm pissed off and annoyed. Any thoughts? Any idea what compensation I can seek when I get back home?

That fucking sucks. I was meeting a friend from Toronto once in Lyon for an Alpine tour and his bike didn't arrive. It took 3 days to locate and get delivered to him. He got no compensation but they did deliver the bike to the hotel we were in (he'd travelled there by train whilst I rode).

Fingers crossed they do turn up.

The box has my Thorn tourer, one Ortlieb pannier with Sidis in, sleeping bag, silk liner, bivi, Thermarest and stuff sack. If it all gets lost I've lost a lot of dough.

I've been looking forward to this for ages. Really shit. How can customs cut open bike boxes and not even offer some tape to fix it again?

I've had lost luggage before and thankfully it turned up intact. Have you any travel insurance? I'd definitely put a formal complaint in but I think you'll have to fight very hard to get as far as compensation.

All I can suggest is enjoy Sarajevo while you're stuck there, but yeah, it really sucks.

i had a bag damaged on a flight once. had no insurance but made a claim at the airport when i got there. Usually there's a special desk for it

took a while but i got a new, and better, bag sent to me without too much hassle

You haz travel insurance?

Never travel without travel insurance.

Sarajevo is a beautiful place...i could think of worse places round there to get stuck...but then i guess that doesn't help the lack of bike and stuff...

No let me guess...

The airline Rhymes with..." High On Air" ?

I am sorry you have had this issue. These days, air-travel is not what it used to be.

When travelling with bikes or even loads of camera gear (as I often do) you have to allow double the time they say.

Take tape. Zip ties. if you don't use them ? so what.... ?
but when you need them... priceless...

Good thing is..they do normally turn up... have a great trip....

No let me guess...

The airline Rhymes with..." High On Air" ?

wait wait, i fucking know this one...emirates?

Aer Lingus?

That sucks though, hopefully everything is intact. Good luck dude.

wait wait, i fucking know this one...emirates?

Aer Lingus?

dont be such a pair of dicks.

it's blatantly lufthansa.

on a serious note however, that is awful luck mate - really feel for you. hopefully your travel insurance (please tell us you have travel insurance) will cover the cost of hotels/lost time etc. really shitty luck though mate - hope the holiday takes a turn for the better asap!

'Take tape. Zip ties. if you don't use them ? so what.... ?
but when you need them... priceless...'

bit like a condom, better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it !

I have travel insurance - do you think it will cover this sort of thing? Going to write letters of complaint to everyone when I get back.

Bikes are on their way to Cologne this afternoon, which is useless but at least feels like progress. No flight from there to here until Tuesday though.

Off now to hike up the hills around the city and get some snaps.

And thanks for the kind words. Nice to have a bit of British collective-whining, it's good for the soul.

bad luck man I'd be fuming.

You should be able to claim for another holiday, keep receipts for everything, everything!

'Take tape. Zip ties. if you don't use them ? so what.... ?
but when you need them... priceless...'

bit like a condom, better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it !

How do you get the zip tie off your member after the act though?

Dude, that sucks!

This from the HighOnAir website:

"Baggage delays

In the case of baggage delay, the air carrier is liable for damage unless it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage or it was impossible to take such measures. The liability for baggage delay is limited to 1,131 SDRs."
(http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions)

Not sure what an SDR is, but call them and ask what you're entitled to - i.e. they should cover reasonable expenses, for example clothes/toiletries if yours are delayed bike hire (not the same as your own I know, but...). It might be like getting blood out of a stone but they have to do this. If they do give you any money now they'll subtract it from any compensation you get later though.

Document all of the inconvenience and extra expense they've put you through, write to them and demand compensation - be ready for it to be a frustrating process though... I used to work at BA in the lost baggage and complaints depts (getting bad flashbacks just typing this...) and it could take them a month to reply depending on how busy they were.

With delayed baggage, airlines are governed by the Montreal Convention, info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Convention
http://www.montrealconvention.org/

Good luck.

Is it actually Ryanair? If it is then you'll find most insurance companies won't pay out..

Nah, I'm kidding but flying ryanair is asking for trouble.

Bad luck, Sparky. Make sure you get down to the coast as much as you can while waiting for the bikes!

If you'd booked with a BA AMEX then you get a silly amount of money to spend on replacement stuff if your bag is lost. it's about £300 per day per passenger. Always a good addition to travel insurance.

It wasn't Ryannair it was Germanwings. We spoke to them earlier today and asked if they could send our boxes to Split in Croatia. We would then get the coach and meet them and be back on track. Called them just now to see if there was any news and they said they hadn't received those instructions. Last thing they heard the bikes were still in London.

We're getting really behind, and a scout about today for ways to catch up, like trains and coaches, came up useless. Nobody will carry a bike with us. It's looking increasingly like we're scuppered, wasting time and money in Sarajevo when I could be at home with the missus and facing a nightmare to get to our flights home.

Bugger.

I got a really, really cheap insurance package from Virgin Money. I think it was 14 quid for the year. Not sure if that will cover anything at all.

Nah, I'm kidding but flying ryanair is asking for trouble.

Oh God, not this again!