Family without airport luggage for TEN days
A FAMILY were left without medication and other essential items after arriving at Manchester Airport – and they were then told they would have to wait up to 10 days to receive their luggage.
Joanne Bladen-Kay, her husband Tony and their son, Owen, had spent an enjoyable two weeks in Portugal before returning to Manchester on Saturday.
Joanne says that when they arrived at baggage reclaim, a representative of TUI informed them that their luggage was not available.
She said she and other passengers were told that they’d have to submit an online form and luggage would be sent out within seven to 10 days.
Some of her husband’s medications were stored in checked luggage because it exceeded the quantity of liquid permitted within hand luggage.
They have managed to secure replacement medication after several phone calls to the doctor, but Joanne says the delay for the return of luggage is ‘absolutely ridiculous.’
TUI said it is working with baggage handlers to resolve the issue.
Swissport admitted staffing ‘remains a challenge at some airports’ but said its workforce in Manchester are ‘working incredibly hard.’
“We were greeted by a gentleman who told TUI passengers to gather around, there was three TUI flights landing at the same time,” Joanne said. “Jet2 and other flights were collecting their luggage fine, it just seemed to affect TUI.
“We were told we had to go online and fill out information to identify our luggage, and the baggage would be sent out between the next seven to 10 days.
“They explained that the bags were in Manchester, they just didn’t have the staff to get the bags from the plane to the carousel.”
Joanne said she asked whether they could get the bags themselves, but because they had passed through passport control this would not be permitted.
“I’m quite a reasonable person, I don’t normally complain,” Joanne said. “But in seven to 10 days I could walk (from Manchester Airport to Bolton) in that time.”
A spokesperson for TUI said: “We fully understand customers’ frustration travelling on TOM2537 from Madeira to Manchester who have experienced a delay in receiving their luggage, due to staffing issues at Manchester Airport.
“We are working closely with baggage handlers to help resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
A spokesperson for Swissport said: “We know the current situation around the shared airport baggage infrastructure at some airports in Europe and around the world have been causing frustrating situations. We continue to work closely with airports, airlines, and other partners to address the issues.”