Ryanair Lost Luggage

[wigvet]

My son recently went on a short five day break to Spain but Ryanair lost his luggage and now seven days later has still not been found. Is he only entitled to the cost of the contents or can he also claim compensation for a ruined holiday spent in one set of clothes? What is the procedure to initiate a claim or do Ryanair have a set format? No doubt there are financial limits on these types of claims.
Many thanks

[1stlifeline]

Im assuming your son did the correct thing and notify the airline whilst he was still at the airport and fill in the appropriate paperwork.

This is from the Ryanair website:-

Destruction, loss or damage to baggage
The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1,000 SDRs (appx. €1,050/£830). In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault.
Higher limits for baggage
A passenger can benefit from a higher liability by making a special declaration at the latest at check-in and by paying a supplementary fee of €100/£80.
Complaints on baggage
If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within 7 days and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger's disposal.

[wigvet]

Thanks for that – according to my son he did complain at the airport and was given a form to complete at his discretion – he was not told to complete any paperwork there and then – he was given a ‘claim’ number however – i presume he would be better sending a letter ASAP to register the claim rather than waiting to calculate the cost of his loss with any possible receipts etc . I presume the figure you quote refers to and covers baggage loss AND compensation for the ruined holiday – THANKS

[1stlifeline]

I can only speak for what happened to us when a case went missing, but it was not with Ryanair. We were given forms at the airport and a claim number and told it was imperative that we returned the forms within 7 days. He definatly needs to register the claim asap as the website says this must be done within 7 days. They should then send you a claim form and they will probably ask for reciepts. However in our case we did not have reciepts for many of our clothing and the claim was accepted. I dont think you will be able to claim for compensation for a ruined holiday though.
Its only a thought, but, did his travel insurance not give him the option to claim for clothing he would have needed to get if his case went missing on the flight out?.

[ChinaPlate]

RyanAir aren't the most helpful of airlines...all these low budget ones are pretty useless!

[wigvet]

as an update - my son who was sharing a case with a ‘mate’ as a mixed group of 4 submitted a claim on behalf of them both in the sum of £960 – I helped him prepare this claim and believe me it was correct – these youngsters do spend a lot on ‘gear’ – unfortunately I was not able to provide any receipts – come on lets face it how many ‘kids’ in their early 20s keep receipts?
Anyway he had a response today from Ryanair enclosing a cheque! I repeat - not an offer but a cheque – and the amount of that cheque?
£960? …..No £660…….. No £460……. No £260…… No!
A measly £212!!!!
This does not cover ‘emergency’ clothing bought & ruined holiday

This claim was based Ryanair inform us on ‘in the same way as lost air cargo, based on the standard weight of each un-receipted item, at the rate of SDR17/£16.48 per kilogram’
Suggestions please – accept or complain – if so to whom?
Thank you

[Heathrow Flyer]

It seems that the information provided by Ryanair is out of date, and that compensation is no longer weight-based:

The case for lost luggage | Money | guardian.co.uk
Information about how to claim lost baggage compensation

[Conniff]

Don't accept.

Be careful, if accepting any money from the airline, to ensure that you don't have to sign an indemnity waiver which says that, in accepting the money offered, you agree that this is a full and fair settlement and won't seek to get more money later. Sometimes you might have to refuse to accept an airline payment because it has 'strings attached'.

Have a read of this:

Your Rights if your Bags are Lost by the Airlines

[wigvet]

To ‘Conniff’ and’ Heathrow Flyer’
I wrote a strongly worded letter to Ryanair rejecting their pittance quoting the Montreal convention, Air Transport Users Council and stating that it was my ‘contention that to initially say the bag is ‘missing’ and then subsequently say it was ‘lost’ are two separate events, with two separate sets of circumstances and costs’
Response from Ryanair says ‘lump it or leave it!’
‘Please not that un-receipted items within your claim were processed in accordance with the Warsaw-Hague Convention limits of 17SDR’s (Special Drawing Rights) per kilo of checked baggage and processed in accordance with our conditions of carriage and IATA recommendations’
Given the above I regret that are unable to be of further assistance.
Comments please???

[Conniff]

The cases that the press have reported over the years all give the same response you have had, they even said it to the tax man until court papers arrived on the desk.

They have a very bad name for telling people to get stuffed and the courts are aware of it and they have only won on a few occassions that they have been taken, those were usually undefended or the defence was not properly researched so they didn't have legislation to quote to the courts.

One of those was when they refuse outright to refund the tax on flights which were cancelled by them, of course the courts took a different view.
They seem to be continually warned (and told to take down), their advertising but continue to do it.

Had you reasearched all you think you can about the regs?

I've been busy so haven't had any chance to look for something that could assist you, but now that you have reminded me, I will see what else I can find.