I flew from Palermo to Rome on October 1. My luggage never came onto the belt and after 11 days there’s no news of its whereabouts. I’ve become accustomed to the idea that is lost forever.
I won’t begin to list the various frustrations I’ve been through since October 1st trying to resolve this problem.
But I’m hoping somebody has even a bit of advice. I’ve spoken to them on the phone daily, I’ve sent a picture of my luggage, I’ve sent pictures of its content but nothing, nada, niente.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23319 posts
Unfortunately it could be dead issue with you. Alitalia is in a great confusion these days as they prepare to shut down as Alitalia and restart as something else. You are probably lucky that someone answered the phone. Good luck !!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11222 posts
But I’m hoping somebody has even a bit of advice.
Resign yourself to it being GONE. Hopefully nothing more than clothes in it.
They cease existence on Friday; I have doubts anyone is truly motivated at this point.
Whether you can get any compensation from a bankrupt, out of existence entity is questionable. If you are still in Italy, you might go to an office/airport to get an official claim initiated before they close up ( if you have not already done so), in case there is some fund set up to handle your kind of situation.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23319 posts
Double check the credit card you used ---- some credit cards do have limited coverage for lost luggage and other travel hic-ups.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7432 posts
That’s a shame. I wonder whether it ever left Palermo. Does the airport in Sicily perhaps have a room where “abandoned” luggage gets stashed? If Alitalia never got yours on a plane, could it still be there, with other bags, awaiting an owner before some authority decides to destroy it?
Does your baggage have external I.D. tag(s)?
Posted by
California USA
3964 posts
See if this thread from a month ago can give you any more ideas for dealing with Alitalia.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/alitalia-lost-our-luggage-yesterday
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15238 posts
If you are back in the US you can file a claim after 45 days from the travel date.
https://www.alitalia.com/en_us/support/baggage-assistance/lost-baggage.html
Unfortunately I'm not sure what will happen after Oct. 15, and ITA takes over. I think the international treaty requires that airlines reimburse you only up to $20 per kg of luggage.
When it happened to me with AirFrance several years ago, they reimbursed me the max weight (32kg) for a bag, therefore $640 for the whole bag, although it was certainly under 20kg. But it was a lot of headache with emails, letters, calls to AirFrance USA (at the time located in Hollywood, FL) etc.
Good luck. Hopefully you had no valuable items inside.
Posted by
OP
New Mexico
52 posts
Viva Italia!!
My luggage has been found, I was returning from Assisi when I got the message. The woman from Airbnb was very gracious & was here to receive it.
Thank you everyone. I felt like you were all in my corner and I really needed someone to hold my hand.
Rick Steves travel form rocks!