On 29 May I arrived at Doha International Airport via British Airways. However, my one suitcase that was checked in did not arrive at that time. I made the official report at the lost baggage section. I had to catch the military bus back to Al Uedid Airbase to catch a military flight to Bagram Airfield Afghanistan because my vacation time had expired.
After a couple of weeks of hearing nothing from British Airways, I tried to call them at the number they had provided. I got nothing after dialing the number (no busy signal, no ring, nothing). I then tried dialing a military base in the U.S., connected with my calling card, and tried dialing the number British Airways had given me (this is the same as calling from a phone in the U.S. (again nothing, no busy signal, no ring, nothing).
I then tried calling British Airways toll free number, and they told me they had sent the suitcase to Al Uedid by military bus (1st Lie). I then called Al Uedid passenger terminal and Transportation Management Office (TMO) and found out that they did not receive anything from the Doha International airport. I then called British airways again, and was told that they had sent my suitcase by military helicopter to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan (2nd lie).
When I checked at the helicopter terminal, I found out that they had never received anything from Doha International Airport and that military helicopters do not go there. I then started asking for a supervisor each time I called British Airways (at least 10 times) and never got to talk to a Supervisor. (I do not think they have any supervisors at their call center). I WAS told by one agent, that a supervisor gave her permission to use a number they are supposedly not allowed to give out, but it was the same number I had for British Airways at Doha International and it does not work in any form or fashion. I got told that the suitcase was shipped to Afghanistan by DHL (3rd lie).
Next call I was told that it was sent to me via Fed-Ex (4th lie). I finally got an answer from someone at Doha International after I spent $50.00 to send them a letter via DHL.in the letter I authorized them to take my suitcase through customs and ship it to me via DHL express. I am not sure whether they are to lazy, to dumb, or both, because they did not take the suitcase through customs and ship it to me as requested, nor did they refund me any of the expenses they promised to refund (I had to buy an entire new wardrobe, or go to work in dirty clothes every day).
On July 27th, I ended up having to travel back to Doha at my own expense. When I got to Al Uedid Air base, I got a number from the PERSCO there for lost luggage at Doha International and confirmed that they still had my suitcase. When I got to the airport I was at first told that the suitcase was picked up two months prior by someone from the air base. I then mentioned that I had called two hours ago and confirmed that my suitcase was still there. The person I was speaking to disappeared for 5 minutes, then came back with another person, who finally found my bag.
This was too much for one person to handle. If an airline loses luggage, they should be responsible for returning that luggage to the appropriate owner in a timely manner, without the owner going to extra expenses that will never be refunded. Also, talking to other people that flew British Airways, I believe British Airways should be known as the Airline that GIVES YOU 100 % GUARANTEE TO LOSE YOUR LUGGAGE.
Richard
APO
Afghanistan
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