FW: Christopher Elliott, Travel Troubleshooter, 2nd Request

FW  SHAME…SHAME….SHAME…SHAME ON ALL OF YOU

Shame on all of the agencies who backed away from this story and from all the other “Italian Airline,  A-late-alia Airlines” stories from passengers who lost their luggage and have still not been reimbursed.

Yes, all of you who claimed  you “couldn’t help” the consumers…. Andrew Cuomo, the Better Business Bureau, the State Consumer Board,  Christopher Elliott, Arnold Diaz/Fox News, Eyewitness News 7 on Your Side, American Express, Cheap Tickets, etc…….

Over a year ago, I purchased a ticket on an Italian Airline,  A-late-alia Airlines.  My intention was to visit the birthplace of my parents.

My daughter, a college student, was studying abroad in Italy, and so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to spend time with my daughter, while at the same time, visit the towns that my parents grew up in.   This was my first trip to Italy, and so naturally this was extremely important to me.

I purchased the ticket well in advance (May 2009) for the actual departure date of December 11, 2009 (because I had to ensure that I would be on the same return flight as my daughter [when her semester ended], and I knew that December would be a busy time to fly.)

When I landed in Milan on Saturday, December 12 (it was an overnight flight), after waiting 2 hours, it was determined that my luggage was lost. I then waited for additional hours at the lost luggage desk in Milan.   But then I was told to repurchase everything I would need to continue my week vacation because they could not get my luggage to me until Saturday, December 19, (one week later; and I was returning home December 20.) My vacation was a “city a day” trip, in which we were flying and taking trains throughout the week; and thus, I not only had to buy all of my clothing, shoes, boots (it was snowing), makeup, toiletries, but I also had to buy luggage! I was assured that I would be reimbursed as long as I kept all my (itemized) receipts and submitted a claim when I returned to the states. I did that, and I clearly itemized everything.  A-late-alia not only lied about the date that they received my claim (I have the [A-late-alia] signed dated postal receipt), but they [then] told me that I needed to wait 90 days for processing.  After almost 4 months, when I didn’t hear from them, and then I followed up, they lied and told me that my luggage was returned to me the following day, and then they denied my claim.  When I proved that was incorrect [that I received my luggage one week later, not one day later], then they made up a fake nonexistent reimbursement policy, (there is no such policy, I have all the paperwork from Italy, I was never told of any such policy, and there is no such policy on their website), and so then they offered me $225*, instead of the $1465* they owe me.  (Which, by the way, I have never received).

This appears to be standard “operating policy” for A-late-alia. They do not pay for lost luggage. I have found thousands, of cases online.

Not only is it insulting after 5 months of lies and disgraceful behavior to offer me $225, but I landed in Milan wearing a sweater, leggings and flip flops (easy for airport security rules).  I really had nothing with me except for my cell phone, a book, a pillow and my camera. When they lost my luggage, they ruined my entire vacation because everything was in that one piece of luggage. I had to repurchase everything, and I shopped during the Christmas rush in an unfamiliar country where I didn’t speak the language, and despite all of that, I was still trying to be cost conscious, and thus, I shopped in the least expensive stores I could find. We went to Parma, because it was less expensive than Milan. We shopped in a cheap drugstore and I only bought the absolute necessities* (my makeup/toiletries bag was also in my luggage.)

I had to buy a carryon tote bag from the Champion store in Parma to use as luggage so that we could fly on planes and take trains to continue the “vacation”….we didn’t have room for any souvenirs. Very upsetting- my first trip to Italy- no souvenirs.  They told me to replace my luggage, but I bought an inexpensive tote bag in a Champion store and used it as luggage.  I did nothing wrong – why should I be expected to pay for any of this? They lost my luggage. I had packed everything I needed for my trip in MY luggage. I didn’t want or need to shop for cheap replacements on my first day of “vacation” in Italy after wasting hours in the airport waiting for my luggage that never arrived.  I didn’t need to waste all that time shopping, and missing connections, missing trains, missing planned tours…..and yet, I was extremely accommodating but they insisted that they could not get my luggage to me in any of the cities I was going to be in within my vacation week. I packed beautiful clothes in MY luggage for my first trip to the birthplace of my parents, but I never saw my luggage until one week later when I put it on the return flight to NY!

I have all of the receipts and everything was sent to A-late-alia Airlines twice.

Here are just some of my expenses  (In US dollars after Euro conversion – 2009 prices).

• $123. 51 Inexpensive Drugstore:  All I purchased was necessities that I knew that the hotels would not provide to me: Toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, hairclip, hand cream, eye cream, eye shadow, mascara, makeup, deodorant.
• $147. 53 Champion store for sneakers and a carryon tote
• $568 .57 H and M for the following: Boots, sox, sweaters, t shirts, pajamas, underwear, tops, pants, belt, jeans.

 

Where on earth (especially IN MILAN??) would they expect me to spend $225 to replace what they took from me for an entire week, including luggage?

In addition, it cost me

• $32 .85 in cabs and buses to travel between stores to find these things. These stores were in different parts of the city!
• It cost me $41.28 in follow up phone calls while in Italy to track down my luggage. Should I be responsible for those expenses??

 

$225 doesn’t even cover the tote bag (as luggage) and toiletries! WHAT ABOUT MY CLOTHES!?

Seriously, should I be expected to walk around in the snow in Italy in flip flops and a sweater and leggings for a week?

Or am I expected to replace all of my clothes, boots, shoes, makeup, toiletries and luggage—

At MY expense, when THEY lost my luggage and refused to return it within 24 hours?

I am beyond frustrated because A-late-alia Airlines owes me $1465.00, but what is really more alarming is that this company just continues to do this every day and they get away with it because no one does anything about it.  Buyer BEWARE, [ESPECIALLY STUDENTS CONSIDERING TRAVEL ABROAD!] because…

NO ONE helps any consumers when it comes to A-late-alia Airlines.  The Better Business Bureau closed my case because A-late-alia Airlines didn’t respond. The Attorney General’s Office sent my complaint to the Consumer Board who sent it to him and it has been going around in a circle. Arnold Diaz, “Shame on You,” Fox News was not interested. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU.

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  

They broke their contract:

http://www.alitalia.com/IL_EN/Images/CGT_en_0605_final_tcm50-10352.pdf

see page 2 of THEIR document:

“…..provide the passenger with the agreed carriage according to the defined itinerary and

schedule, carrying the passenger and his/her baggage from the place of departure to the

place of destination…”

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  It seems so very simple yet no one helps the consumer.

And I am really beginning to wonder why that is………….

 

p.s.    I have received some sarcastic comments from some “savvy” travelers who said that I should have known better than to book on Alitalia….ok, noted NOW, thanks. But AT THE TIME, I needed to book MY FLIGHTS to coordinate with my daughters’ flights because she had ALREADY PURCHASED her tickets with students, as she was studying abroad, and as I said,  I NEEDED TO BE ON HER RETURN FLIGHT, to assist her with her luggage home.

I have also received some comments stating that if I received my luggage “what difference did it make?  HERE IS THE “DIFFERENCE”:  I received my [only] piece of [missing] luggage on the last day of my trip, as I was packing to return home, therefore, I was WITHOUT CLOTHES, SHOES, UNDERWEAR, BOOTS [it was snowing], TOILETRIES, AND LUGGAGE FOR MY ENTIRE “VACATION.” Therefore, I had to purchase, out of pocket, in a foreign country, ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS,  [which i did NOT NEED, nor WANT a duplicate set of!] in order to LIVE and TRAVEL for a WEEK in DEC in ITALY and FRANCE.  Getting “MY” lost luggage back on the last day of the trip had NOTHING to do with the fact that I paid $1465 out of pocket for LUGGAGE, TOILETRIES BOOTS AND CLOTHING, AND BY THE WAY, ALITALIA TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY EXTRA WEIGHT FEES AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE I WAS NOW OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT!! ]

FW: SHAME…SHAME….SHAME…SHAME ON ALL OF YOU

Shame on all of the agencies who backed away from this story and from all the other “Italian Airline,  A-late-alia Airlines” stories from passengers who lost their luggage and have still not been reimbursed.

Yes, all of you who claimed  you “couldn’t help” the consumers…. Andrew Cuomo, the Better Business Bureau, the State Consumer Board,  Christopher Elliott, Arnold Diaz/Fox News, Eyewitness News 7 on Your Side, American Express, Cheap Tickets, etc…….

Over a year ago, I purchased a ticket on an Italian Airline,  A-late-alia Airlines.  My intention was to visit the birthplace of my parents.

My daughter, a college student, was studying abroad in Italy, and so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to spend time with my daughter, while at the same time, visit the towns that my parents grew up in.   This was my first trip to Italy, and so naturally this was extremely important to me.

I purchased the ticket well in advance (May 2009) for the actual departure date of December 11, 2009 (because I had to ensure that I would be on the same return flight as my daughter [when her semester ended], and I knew that December would be a busy time to fly.)

When I landed in Milan on Saturday, December 12 (it was an overnight flight), after waiting 2 hours, it was determined that my luggage was lost. I then waited for additional hours at the lost luggage desk in Milan.   But then I was told to repurchase everything I would need to continue my week vacation because they could not get my luggage to me until Saturday, December 19, (one week later; and I was returning home December 20.) My vacation was a “city a day” trip, in which we were flying and taking trains throughout the week; and thus, I not only had to buy all of my clothing, shoes, boots (it was snowing), makeup, toiletries, but I also had to buy luggage! I was assured that I would be reimbursed as long as I kept all my (itemized) receipts and submitted a claim when I returned to the states. I did that, and I clearly itemized everything.  A-late-alia not only lied about the date that they received my claim (I have the [A-late-alia] signed dated postal receipt), but they [then] told me that I needed to wait 90 days for processing.  After almost 4 months, when I didn’t hear from them, and then I followed up, they lied and told me that my luggage was returned to me the following day, and then they denied my claim.  When I proved that was incorrect [that I received my luggage one week later, not one day later], then they made up a fake nonexistent reimbursement policy, (there is no such policy, I have all the paperwork from Italy, I was never told of any such policy, and there is no such policy on their website), and so then they offered me $225*, instead of the $1465* they owe me.  (Which, by the way, I have never received).

This appears to be standard “operating policy” for A-late-alia. [ok, we all know who I mean] They do not pay for lost luggage. I have found thousands, of cases online.

Not only is it insulting after 5 months of lies and disgraceful behavior to offer me $225, but I landed in Milan wearing a sweater, leggings and flip flops (easy for airport security rules).  I really had nothing with me except for my cell phone, a book, a pillow and my camera. When they lost my luggage, they ruined my entire vacation because everything was in that one piece of luggage. I had to repurchase everything, and I shopped during the Christmas rush in an unfamiliar country where I didn’t speak the language, and despite all of that, I was still trying to be cost conscious, and thus, I shopped in the least expensive stores I could find. We went to Parma, because it was less expensive than Milan. We shopped in a cheap drugstore and I only bought the absolute necessities* (my makeup/toiletries bag was also in my luggage.)

I had to buy a carryon tote bag from the Champion store in Parma to use as luggage so that we could fly on planes and take trains to continue the “vacation”….we didn’t have room for any souvenirs. Very upsetting- my first trip to Italy- no souvenirs.  They told me to replace my luggage, but I bought an inexpensive tote bag in a Champion store and used it as luggage.  I did nothing wrong – why should I be expected to pay for any of this? They lost my luggage. I had packed everything I needed for my trip in MY luggage. I didn’t want or need to shop for cheap replacements on my first day of “vacation” in Italy after wasting hours in the airport waiting for my luggage that never arrived.  I didn’t need to waste all that time shopping, and missing connections, missing trains, missing planned tours…..and yet, I was extremely accommodating but they insisted that they could not get my luggage to me in any of the cities I was going to be in within my vacation week. I packed beautiful clothes in MY luggage for my first trip to the birthplace of my parents, but I never saw my luggage until one week later when I put it on the return flight to NY!

I have all of the receipts and everything was sent to A-late-alia Airlines twice.

Here are just some of my expenses  (In US dollars after Euro conversion – 2009 prices).

• $123. 51 Inexpensive Drugstore:  All I purchased was necessities that I knew that the hotels would not provide to me: Toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, hairclip, hand cream, eye cream, eye shadow, mascara, makeup, deodorant.
• $147. 53 Champion store for sneakers and a carryon tote
• $568 .57 H and M for the following: Boots, sox, sweaters, t shirts, pajamas, underwear, tops, pants, belt, jeans.

 

Where on earth (especially IN MILAN??) would they expect me to spend $225 to replace what they took from me for an entire week, including luggage?

In addition, it cost me

• $32 .85 in cabs and buses to travel between stores to find these things. These stores were in different parts of the city!
• It cost me $41.28 in follow up phone calls while in Italy to track down my luggage. Should I be responsible for those expenses??

 

$225 doesn’t even cover the tote bag (as luggage) and toiletries! WHAT ABOUT MY CLOTHES!?

Seriously, should I be expected to walk around in the snow in Italy in flip flops and a sweater and leggings for a week?

Or am I expected to replace all of my clothes, boots, shoes, makeup, toiletries and luggage—

At MY expense, when THEY lost my luggage and refused to return it within 24 hours?

I am beyond frustrated because A-late-alia Airlines owes me $1465.00, but what is really more alarming is that this company just continues to do this every day and they get away with it because no one does anything about it.  Buyer BEWARE, [ESPECIALLY STUDENTS CONSIDERING TRAVEL ABROAD!] because…

NO ONE helps any consumers when it comes to A-late-alia Airlines.  The Better Business Bureau closed my case because A-late-alia Airlines didn’t respond. The Attorney General’s Office sent my complaint to the Consumer Board who sent it to him and it has been going around in a circle. Arnold Diaz, “Shame on You,” Fox News was not interested. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU.

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  

They broke their contract:

http://www.alitalia.com/IL_EN/Images/CGT_en_0605_final_tcm50-10352.pdf

see page 2 of THEIR document:

“…..provide the passenger with the agreed carriage according to the defined itinerary and

schedule, carrying the passenger and his/her baggage from the place of departure to the

place of destination…”

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  It seems so very simple yet no one helps the consumer.

And I am really beginning to wonder why that is………….

p.s.    I have received some sarcastic comments from some “savvy” travelers who said that I should have known better than to book on Alitalia….ok, noted NOW, thanks. But AT THE TIME, I needed to book MY FLIGHTS to coordinate with my daughters’ flights because she had ALREADY PURCHASED her tickets with students, as she was studying abroad, and as I said,  I NEEDED TO BE ON HER RETURN FLIGHT, to assist her with her luggage home.

I have also received some comments stating that if I received my luggage “what difference did it make?  HERE IS THE “DIFFERENCE”:  I received my [only] piece of [missing] luggage on the last day of my trip, as I was packing to return home, therefore, I was WITHOUT CLOTHES, SHOES, UNDERWEAR, BOOTS [it was snowing], TOILETRIES, AND LUGGAGE FOR MY ENTIRE “VACATION.” Therefore, I had to purchase, out of pocket, in a foreign country, ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS,  [which i did NOT NEED, nor WANT a duplicate set of!] in order to LIVE and TRAVEL for a WEEK in DEC in ITALY and FRANCE.  Getting “MY” lost luggage back on the last day of the trip had NOTHING to do with the fact that I paid $1465 out of pocket for LUGGAGE, TOILETRIES BOOTS AND CLOTHING, AND BY THE WAY, ALITALIA TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY EXTRA WEIGHT FEES AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE I WAS NOW OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT!! ]

Italy’s ALITALIA Airlines…..lost luggage nightmare

Over a year ago, I purchased a ticket on an Italian Airline,  A-late-alia Airlines.  My intention was to visit the birthplace of my parents.

My daughter, a college student, was studying abroad in Italy, and so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to spend time with my daughter, while at the same time, visit the towns that my parents grew up in.   This was my first trip to Italy, and so naturally this was extremely important to me.

I purchased the ticket well in advance (May 2009) for the actual departure date of December 11, 2009 (because I had to ensure that I would be on the same return flight as my daughter [when her semester ended], and I knew that December would be a busy time to fly.)

When I landed in Milan on Saturday, December 12 (it was an overnight flight), after waiting 2 hours, it was determined that my luggage was lost. I then waited for additional hours at the lost luggage desk in Milan.   But then I was told to repurchase everything I would need to continue my week vacation because they could not get my luggage to me until Saturday, December 19, (one week later; and I was returning home December 20.) My vacation was a “city a day” trip, in which we were flying and taking trains throughout the week; and thus, I not only had to buy all of my clothing, shoes, boots (it was snowing), makeup, toiletries, but I also had to buy luggage! I was assured that I would be reimbursed as long as I kept all my (itemized) receipts and submitted a claim when I returned to the states. I did that, and I clearly itemized everything.  A-late-alia not only lied about the date that they received my claim (I have the [A-late-alia] signed dated postal receipt), but they [then] told me that I needed to wait 90 days for processing.  After almost 4 months, when I didn’t hear from them, and then I followed up, they lied and told me that my luggage was returned to me the following day, and then they denied my claim.  When I proved that was incorrect [that I received my luggage one week later, not one day later], then they made up a fake nonexistent reimbursement policy, (there is no such policy, I have all the paperwork from Italy, I was never told of any such policy, and there is no such policy on their website), and so then they offered me $225*, instead of the $1465* they owe me.  (Which, by the way, I have never received).

This appears to be standard “operating policy” for A-late-alia. They do not pay for lost luggage. I have found thousands, of cases online.

Not only is it insulting after 5 months of lies and disgraceful behavior to offer me $225, but I landed in Milan wearing a sweater, leggings and flip flops (easy for airport security rules).  I really had nothing with me except for my cell phone, a book, a pillow and my camera. When they lost my luggage, they ruined my entire vacation because everything was in that one piece of luggage. I had to repurchase everything, and I shopped during the Christmas rush in an unfamiliar country where I didn’t speak the language, and despite all of that, I was still trying to be cost conscious, and thus, I shopped in the least expensive stores I could find. We went to Parma, because it was less expensive than Milan. We shopped in a cheap drugstore and I only bought the absolute necessities* (my makeup/toiletries bag was also in my luggage.)

I had to buy a carryon tote bag from the Champion store in Parma to use as luggage so that we could fly on planes and take trains to continue the “vacation”….we didn’t have room for any souvenirs. Very upsetting- my first trip to Italy- no souvenirs.  They told me to replace my luggage, but I bought an inexpensive tote bag in a Champion store and used it as luggage.  I did nothing wrong – why should I be expected to pay for any of this? They lost my luggage. I had packed everything I needed for my trip in MY luggage. I didn’t want or need to shop for cheap replacements on my first day of “vacation” in Italy after wasting hours in the airport waiting for my luggage that never arrived.  I didn’t need to waste all that time shopping, and missing connections, missing trains, missing planned tours…..and yet, I was extremely accommodating but they insisted that they could not get my luggage to me in any of the cities I was going to be in within my vacation week. I packed beautiful clothes in MY luggage for my first trip to the birthplace of my parents, but I never saw my luggage until one week later when I put it on the return flight to NY!

I have all of the receipts and everything was sent to A-late-alia Airlines twice.

Here are just some of my expenses  (In US dollars after Euro conversion – 2009 prices).

• $123. 51 Inexpensive Drugstore:  All I purchased was necessities that I knew that the hotels would not provide to me: Toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, hairclip, hand cream, eye cream, eye shadow, mascara, makeup, deodorant.
• $147. 53 Champion store for sneakers and a carryon tote
• $568 .57 H and M for the following: Boots, sox, sweaters, t shirts, pajamas, underwear, tops, pants, belt, jeans.

 

Where on earth (especially IN MILAN??) would they expect me to spend $225 to replace what they took from me for an entire week, including luggage?

In addition, it cost me

• $32 .85 in cabs and buses to travel between stores to find these things. These stores were in different parts of the city!
• It cost me $41.28 in follow up phone calls while in Italy to track down my luggage. Should I be responsible for those expenses??

 

$225 doesn’t even cover the tote bag (as luggage) and toiletries! WHAT ABOUT MY CLOTHES!?

Seriously, should I be expected to walk around in the snow in Italy in flip flops and a sweater and leggings for a week?

Or am I expected to replace all of my clothes, boots, shoes, makeup, toiletries and luggage—

At MY expense, when THEY lost my luggage and refused to return it within 24 hours?

I am beyond frustrated because A-late-alia Airlines owes me $1465.00, but what is really more alarming is that this company just continues to do this every day and they get away with it because no one does anything about it.  Buyer BEWARE, [ESPECIALLY STUDENTS CONSIDERING TRAVEL ABROAD!] because…

NO ONE helps any consumers when it comes to A-late-alia Airlines.  The Better Business Bureau closed my case because A-late-alia Airlines didn’t respond. The Attorney General’s Office sent my complaint to the Consumer Board who sent it to him and it has been going around in a circle. Arnold Diaz, “Shame on You,” Fox News was not interested. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU.

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  

They broke their contract:

http://www.alitalia.com/IL_EN/Images/CGT_en_0605_final_tcm50-10352.pdf

see page 2 of THEIR document:

“…..provide the passenger with the agreed carriage according to the defined itinerary and

schedule, carrying the passenger and his/her baggage from the place of departure to the

place of destination…”

I packed my clothing in my luggage.  They lost my luggage.  It seems so very simple yet no one helps the consumer.

And I am really beginning to wonder why that is………….

 

p.s.    I have received some sarcastic comments from some “savvy” travelers who said that I should have known better than to book on Alitalia….ok, noted NOW, thanks. But AT THE TIME, I needed to book MY FLIGHTS to coordinate with my daughters’ flights because she had ALREADY PURCHASED her tickets with students, as she was studying abroad, and as I said,  I NEEDED TO BE ON HER RETURN FLIGHT, to assist her with her luggage home.

I have also received some comments stating that if I received my luggage “what difference did it make?  HERE IS THE “DIFFERENCE”:  I received my [only] piece of [missing] luggage on the last day of my trip, as I was packing to return home, therefore, I was WITHOUT CLOTHES, SHOES, UNDERWEAR, BOOTS [it was snowing], TOILETRIES, AND LUGGAGE FOR MY ENTIRE “VACATION.” Therefore, I had to purchase, out of pocket, in a foreign country, ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS,  [which i did NOT NEED, nor WANT a duplicate set of!] in order to LIVE and TRAVEL for a WEEK in DEC in ITALY and FRANCE.  Getting “MY” lost luggage back on the last day of the trip had NOTHING to do with the fact that I paid $1465 out of pocket for LUGGAGE, TOILETRIES BOOTS AND CLOTHING, AND BY THE WAY, ALITALIA TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY EXTRA WEIGHT FEES AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE I WAS NOW OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT!! ]