HELP! The airline broke my luggage!
You've just endured hours of a cramped flight. In the distance, a baby was wailing away the whole time; you got no sleep at all. At this point you just want to get to your final destination ASAP! Finally, you get off the plane and your mood begins to lift. There is no wailing within ear-shot and nobody is kicking your seat anymore. While waiting at the baggage claim you start planning where you're going to go eat; food always make you happy and you deserve it after that flight.
That's when it happens. At first everything seems alright, you see your bag coming towards you. "That was quick" you think, smiling to yourself. Then you see it. There is a huge crack all along the back of your suitcase. To add insult to injury, one of the wheels is nowhere to be found.
Now what?
Don't worry, you're not alone! We've all seen videos about how luggage gets treated during our travels. At Forero's we hear many stories about luggage that has been rendered unusable by some airlines. We have a few tips we would like to share with you which can help make this common experience a little more stress free.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing you have to do is make a claim with the airline. This is where many people go wrong, resulting in a downward spiral of bad experience after bad experience when trying to get their bag fixed. Find your nearest information desk and ask them about initiating a damaged bag claim. If this claim is not done right away (some airlines may allow a brief window of time, 24-48 hours, after arriving to make a claim) then they will most likely deny any responsibility and you are on the hook for the damages done to your luggage.
Each airline deals with these claims differently. Some may offer to repair the bag while some offer partial/full reimbursement. If there is no claim made with the airline, there is no possibility if getting any compensation for your damaged case; it is simple as that.
After filing the claim with your airline you should consider your options. Is the bag reparable? Is a new bag a better choice? With the airline claim on file, your next steps are much easier.
There is a common misconception that damage, either cosmetic or structural, is covered under warranty. This, unfortunately, is not the case for most luggage manufacturers. No matter where you go, you will be told that your damaged case will not be covered, this is why the airline damage claim is crucial. THEY should be covering the costs of your damaged bag, not YOU!
Make sure you fully understand what your warranty covers! At Forero's we are proud to carry suitcases that are engineered to survive the perils of air travel, some of our bags even come with a life-time warranty that INCLUDES airline damage (almost unheard of). Feel free to ask us any questions you may have regarding warranties and airline damage, we'd be happy to answer them and help you find the right bag!