Question on fair compensation

So...here's the scenario...

I arrived back from LAX on 20/12, but my luggage didn't. It arrived in the country on the 22nd, and to cut a very long story short it arrived with me on the 5th of Jan. This was quite a big inconvenience for me as I had a bunch of christmas presents, plus essentials like shaver, most of my clothes etc. in the bag that I didn't get back for a fortnight.

I've emailed VS to ask for compensation - my question for you experts is thus: what would you feel fair compensation to be? 5000 miles? 15000?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Jon

Do you not hold an insurance policy that would have paid out for 'essential' emergancy & temporary replacement ? I doubt Virgin will compensate you and urge you to claim appropriately. I have always just rang my insurer (NatWest) - spent what I needed to do then claim it back - never asked, expected or indeed received any compensation as these things happen.

My insurance covers me for that in the foreign locale but not at 'home'. Sigh.

quote:Originally posted by jmechan

I've emailed VS to ask for compensation

BTW what did you ask for ?

Miles or money....I wasn't specific. Just said I didn't feel this was acceptable treatment blah blah blah and how were they going to compensate me for my inconvenience. Or something.

Having Xmas presents on in the luggage is a real spot of bad luck, but given the weather in the days after you landed Virgin were on a hiding to nothing with the ice and snow.

Of course you didnt have any expensive gifts valued in excess of your customs allowance or you would have notified Virgin of your intention to pay duty when your bags were recovered [:w]

Personally I would just see what they give you and take whatever (if anything) is offered.


We arrived at LAX in 2001 - and apart from a 4 hr entry delay one of our party lost all 3 of his bags - never to be seen again!
Another reason I wont fly LAX through choice, though it was 2003 the last time I went via LA and it is just possible things have changed since then

I thought there were standard compensation limits for lost / delayed bags either from the airline or insurance company.

tontybear is I believe right that there are standard EU regulations however they only kick in after 21 days. Before that it's by airline. It's really very open as to how they can deal with this. They have no legal obligation, I'm sure you've looked at this but in case you haven't;

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... aggage.jsp

I would suggest you check the wording of your policy, as the bags were lost they were still insured for the days until they ended the trip therefore should be covered under the delayed baggage!

I think a gesture of goodwill would not be out of place or an unreasonable thing to ask and you are entitled to be displeased and express your displeasure, compensation is not a requirement on VAs part though and depends entirely on wether those dealing with your request have any sympathy or empathy with your inconvenience which as I say isn't a requirement.

Good luck and my sympathies for your inconvenience.

Funnily enough when you email them I would use the exact phrase 'gesture of goodwill' it seems too work wonders as they are not admitting any liability and instead are being nice/

Well, I received a letter yesterday that said they weren't going to pay compensation but would give me 5000 miles as you say, as a gesture of goodwill.