Someone went thru my dirty laundry to steal one and a HALF pairs of brand new shoes. They were orthopedic, cant be replaced in the place we traveled to, and so our island vacation was totally wrecked. I spent so much preparing for this vacation— months making sure we had the right gear. Insult to injury, Vueling has a maddening, impossible system over the phone and website but is actually a black hole. When i finally did reach someone after 5 attempts, he told me to file a claim online, but in-fact there is no form for stolen items. The next day, after 6 attempts by phone, i reached someone in booking who said i would have needed to declare the items and their value within the bag at check in. Of course, no where is this stated on their website or the booking or the ticket. How do i know I’m not the only victim? I bumped into someone from the flight in Taormina, where we were staying.
Posted by
PA
2976 posts
I have to ask— is Vueling for certain the culprit? This could easily have been the baggage handlers at either of the airports. A problem that my home airport had for many year back about 25 years ago.
Posted by
Chicago
8448 posts
I worked for an airline before and the ground staff handling luggage behind the scenes were contractors that provided this service for multiple airlines.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
yes, it certainly is the baggage handlers. But the airlines are responsible. unfortunately Vueling has no process for this— which means they refuse to record every incident of theft.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, USA
1074 posts
In order to keep this thread as I think it is valuable for others to be aware of baggage theft issues and challenges with the airline about such issues, I've made edits to the OP's post in accordance with Guideline #9. Stick to the facts and avoid emotion (as hard as that is when you're the victim). Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7114 posts
Maybe edit the thread title to something like "Beware of carrying valuables in checked bags" since this is really not about Vueling specifically. Theft from checked bags can happen with any airline. The risks are probably somewhat higher, and also (as the OP has experienced) when you have trouble, any help after-the-fact is definitely thinner, with low-cost carriers, as they tend to dispense with anything that adds cost (things like employees and providing customer service). With LCCs, you are mostly left to tend to your own needs and troubles without a whole lot of support or help from the airline. Cutting out "unnecessary costs" (or the preferred term, "unbundling") non-essentials means you are largely on your own - but that's how they can offer tickets that cost no more than a fancy cup of coffee....it's gotta come from somewhere.
FWIW plenty of people have no trouble with Vueling and other LCCs (I've flown Vueling a couple times and had no issues). I'm not a fan of LCCs but will use them when they're the only way to get from Point A to Point B.
Bottom line: Never put something into a checked bag that you're unwilling to lose. There are bad people out there, and some of them work handing checked bags.
Posted by
Houston, Texas
1071 posts
- Did you file a police report as it was a theft? 2. Do you have travel insurance? If it is a theft a police report is necessary. A probably needs to be filed at your arriving airport.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
I’m trying to file a police report— idk if I should go thru the polizia or the caribinieri. It’s been really hard to figure out online. Can I do this when i get back home?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12577 posts
Which police agency to report to could depend on how many transfers your bag made between check in and retrieval.
Making a report to a European police dept from 'home' ( USA?) may be difficult.
Is Vueling part of you homeward bound trek? If so get to the airport extra early and get face to face with a Vueling employee, if your other efforts to communicate go into a black hole.
They were orthopedic, cant be replaced in the place we traveled to, and so our island vacation was totally wrecked.
Not to be unkind but I am puzzled how your vacation was 'totally wrecked'. What you were wearing on the plane was not suitable for your foot condition?
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4902 posts
You would have had the same problem if the airline lost your luggage. A lesson for us all-never put anything important in luggage that will leave your sight-and that includes your carryon if they may gatecheck it. Wear those shoes on the plane.