strong text7am 1 September a friend flew into town on Qatar Airways. Chosen because of their fine reputation.
2 out of 3 bags didn’t make it here
Report filed
Promised to deliver in 24 hours made
Website says bags found same day
3 days later, no bags
No human to talk to
Chat on website doesn’t work
Phone numbers dont work
Emails elicit auto responses
Will have to go to airport and hope their office is open. They have few flights here so I suspect the office has limited hours, but no place to check on that.
Nice airline. Nope, Turkish Air for now on.
THE SAGA CONTINUES
Having failed to reach Quatar Airways it was time to return to the airport
A quick metro ride to Deak Ferenc ter and then out door "D" to the 100E Airport express bus stop.
Five minutes and I was sitting on the bus. No charge for old farts.
The bus fills up and there are some very mature ladies standing so I get up.
German couple cuts off the ladies and puts their twins of about 8 years of age in my seat.
Couple sitting across from me gets up for the ladies and the German parents nab that seat.
But reaches Kalvin ter, the only stop on the way to the airport and then is hit by a car.
Few minutes of confusion and we are all asked to leave the bus.
Five minutes later another bus arrives and we cram on the best we can. 45 minute trip like fish in a can. Except for the German twins and their 30 something parents who somehow nabbed seats.
Bus arrives at the airport and 150 people pour off on to the narrow sidewalk. No one is moving. Of course, the Germans were having family time in the middle of the sidewalk.
Inside the terminal I go up to the Quatar office, and its closed. Another is also there for the same reason and he asks in some other offices to be told the Quatar office doesnt open for customers. Rarely open.
I know the company that handles the baggage at the airport and they have an office where they sell tickets. Went to office and asked. Was told to go to the arrivals hall and search for a public phone and call a number. I suggested this has been going on for five days. Lady said I should not have lost my luggage. I controlled myself and left.
Found the phone and dialed the number. 30 rings later a nice gentleman in perfect English told me to go to the Spar Grocery store and wait outside. Someone would come and escort me into the baggage area where their office was located.
Five minutes later I am at their office. I described the situion to Peter. Great guy Peter. Big fan of San Antonio Spurs and Popovich. Nice conversation. Then he pointed to two bags and said they have been there for 5 days but didnt know where to deliver them. I showed him the Quatar Airways lost luggage form with the address and delivery instructions. Apparently Quatar didnt send it to them.
Can I take the bags. Yes, but only if they get an emial from the owner, with their passport number, my passport number flight number, etc, etc. Too much trouble even if I did have my passport on me. I didnt.
Can you deliver them? Sure, give me an address he says. So I can have him deliver them to my house, but I can not carry the to my house? The logic is the company's logic not his so I just smiled and gave him the address. He gave me an email address that I could use if there were any more problems.
I left, sat down and sent Peter an emial with all of the details just to be certain he had it correct. He wrote back and thanked me.
Waiting on delivery. Stay tuned for an update.
FINALLY
The flight arrived 9/1 at about 7am The luggage was delivered 9/6 at 17:40.
Never was able to communicate with Qatar Airways.
The company that handles Qatar's bags only has an office inside the baggage claim area and their phone number is not really available.
The staff at the baggage handling company was top notch. Very kind / helpful
