British Airways is experiencing serious problems with its automated baggage system in London Heathrow’s new Terminal 5. Thousand of suitcases are being sent to Milan warehouse simply because BA can’t manage to provide a screening service to at least 20,000 bags that missed flights from Terminal 5.
The Times reports that luggage belonging to domestic flight passengers are being driven to Manchester and Scotland, where after being sorted and screened they will be delivered to their owners.
However, many bags belonging to people travelling on holiday are likely to find their way to the correct hotels only after the owners have flown home. They may then be returned to Milan to be sorted again.
Yet even though this problem is not resolved, BA still says it plans to relocate 92 per cent of its Heathrow operations to Terminal 5 by today, Thursday April 3. It’s not yet clear whether the travelers will make another risk, however.
In the comments section of the Times article, Wilf from Billingham in the UK recounts his own experience.
“I entrusted my bags to BA on Saturday morning over two hours before my flight was due to depart. I arrived in Los Angeles only to find that I didn’t have a suitcase. Nor did about 50 other travelers. Since I didn’t have any clothes in my hand luggage I was in a fix. Luckily the local stores were still open and the hotel provided me with washing and shaving items. There is still no information on the whereabouts of this bag nor any real help from BA. Nor was an explanation of first need expenses made. Still don’t know what that is! But at least the Director of Operations has sent an email out to everyone.”
However, BA reports ” We are working hard to process delayed bags and get them customers as quickly as possible.”
Photo:© garybembridge
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