this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2023
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A Swiss International Air Lines plane arrived at its destination without a single checked bag onboard.

The plane arrived in Bilbao, Spain, on Saturday without any of the passengers' checked bags. The bags were left behind in Zurich, Switzerland, Kavin Ampalam, a spokesperson for Swiss, told the news agency AFP.

Passengers waited in vain for more than two hours at a conveyor belt for their suitcases, according to the Swiss-German newspaper The Blick.

"There was a shortage of ground staff," Ampalam told AFP. Ampalam said the flight departed without its 111 passengers' suitcases "for operational reasons," as the plane had to fly another set of passengers from Bilbao to Zurich Airport before it closed. Swiss was operating the flight on behalf of Edelweiss Air, Ampalam said.

Ampalam said the flight crew waited for "one hour and 16 minutes" for the ground staff to load the bags onto the plane before deciding to fly to Bilbao without them.

"We understand the situation is not favourable for the people involved, and of course we regret the inconvenience," Ampalam told AFP.

Several passengers said the pilot in charge of the flight was apologetic over the delayed departure, but never mentioned leaving their bags in Zurich, according to Blick's report.

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[–] maporita@unilem.org 168 points 1 year ago (6 children)

This is what bugs me more than anything. They "know" my bag didn't make the flight but instead of sending me a message (to the email / phone number I already gave them) they make me wait two hours on the ground after a one hour flight.

[–] RogueBanana@lemmy.zip 61 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Forget the contact details, captian could have informed it at any point during the flight but nope, can't cause any problems that may affect their schedule.

[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 31 points 1 year ago (5 children)

The actual right response should have been not to depart. Or cancel the flight. What are 111 passengers going to do without their luggage at the destination?!

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's not entirely fair. I would rather arrive at my location without luggage than not at all. I can always get some cheap shirts and shorts or whatever at my destination. I can't get my hotel, and other prepaid scheduled expenses fees back.

[–] sudo 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Which just reiterates the initial point, communication solves this.

'hey guys, so, basically we can't get your bags on the plane lolol wanna still go? Stay on the plane. Umad? Get off and get a refund'

Wow. Hard stuff.

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[–] elbarto777@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Sure. But that's you. And probably me. But we don't represent all possible, legitimate scenarios.

[–] jbloggs777@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 year ago

Go shopping at the airlines' expense!

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[–] XTornado@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

The crew fucking knew... like I kind of understand not saying it on the plane as some people might react badly or whatever but at least when they are on destination at least inform them....

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 6 points 1 year ago

Exactly. If they'd have just said outright "look, we fucked up, your bags aren't here, go to your hotels, and we'll have them sent on tomorrow", people would have been annoyed but could at least have enjoyed their holidays.

The complete lack of communication from transport companies is beyond maddening. And it's the same everywhere. When my train is "delayed", I've no idea if that's 5 minutes away or if it's an inferno lying on its side on an embankment. The automated announcements will be the same either way.

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[–] awwwyissss@lemm.ee 111 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ahhh, finally some truly important world news.

[–] XTornado@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

I clearly missed the memo where the world news need to be important and not just news from around the world like idk it says on the about part of the subreddit.

Maybe you should create /c/importantworldnews or something instead of complaining.

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[–] BertramDitore@lemmy.world 103 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Of course we regret the inconvenience” is so disingenuous. Just shows how procedural this response was. To me, it reads as “We regret the inconvenience because we have to, not because we actually give a shit.”

[–] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 50 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Some of you may be extremely inconvenienced, but that is a sacrifice we are willing to make.

[–] explodicle@local106.com 10 points 1 year ago

Once they minimize it as "the inconvenience", I'm already hopping mad. They don't know how badly I wanted the thing we agreed to before money changed hands. They act like the consumer surplus of the trade is zero; that all you've lost is some pittance and not the opportunity to solve your problem in a better way.

They won't say "our mistake" or "our choice" because that would be actually owning their own fuckup.

End all airline subsidies.

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[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 75 points 1 year ago

There is no such thing as a labor shortage. There is only a wage shortage caused by the airline. Stop pushing costs down to the point you can't operate, you twats.

[–] espentan@lemmy.world 69 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I can't recall the last time I traveled with checked luggage. It has its disadvantages, for sure, but flying is a terrible enough experience without having to stand in line waiting to check luggage, and then standing around waiting for it to (maybe) appear on a conveyor belt.

[–] Lemmylaugh@lemmy.ml 42 points 1 year ago (6 children)
[–] NightAuthor@lemmy.world 77 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I usually get my kids their own tickets to sit with me.

[–] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why bother? You can just rent them at arrivals

[–] agent_flounder@lemmy.one 13 points 1 year ago

They have those little kiosks now don't they? Headphones, movies, gaming system, kids...

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[–] ProvableGecko@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

AFIK they don't let you check them in, for obvious reasons

[–] espentan@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He, I suppose that's obvious :)

[–] stealthnerd@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I almost never checked bags prior to having a child but there's been plenty of times where the airline checked my bags at the gate because the overheads were full so I quickly learned it's something you can't count on.

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[–] Squirrel@thelemmy.club 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

My wife and I just flew with 2 kids and no checked bags. Yes, it was a pain to manage 4 carry-ons and 4 personal bags, but it was manageable, and it beat the hell out of paying another $200 to have those 4 bags checked.

Edit: They're 6 and 8 years old. It's impossible for me to say whether it would have been possible when they were younger, as my 8-year-old is only recently past her medical issues that necessitated considerable additional luggage -- so we just didn't fly.

[–] Ghoti_@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I went to Disney for a week with my 1 year old and wife. We used 2 carry one and a personal bag.

I refuse to take checked bags because I travel off and on for work and I’ve been burned too many times with checked bags.

It’s pretty easy to pull off if you just do things like sleep in the clothes you plan on wearing the next day or only bringing enough diapers and wipes for the plane and buying a weeks supply at your destination.

[–] stealthnerd@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Your didn't have a car seat with you? I can see getting away without a stroller if you use a carrier but no car seat isn't an option.

[–] taladar@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can't you rent those along with the car?

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[–] Thisfox@sopuli.xyz 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Great when you can manage it, they often take my carry on luggage from me and insist on checking it. Had musical instruments forcibly checked like that against written policy and paid-for permissions several times now.

Also, some people like owning scissors. Or just have kids and need the extra luggage space.

[–] DessertStorms@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago

Don't forget wheelchairs.
You are forced to check what is essentially your legs that in almost all cases is personalised for your specific needs (so you can't just sub in a generic chair) and often costs thousands if not tens of thousands, yet airlines lose or damage hundreds of wheelchairs and scooters every month in the US alone.

[–] Carighan@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Or just have kids and need the extra luggage space.

I wouldn't check my kids tbh. They're just going to cause a mess during loading.

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[–] ThePac@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

All it would take is a little COMMUNICATION and it wouldn't be an unacceptable situation, but here we are.

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[–] CrypticFawn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 1 year ago

Circumstances like this are why I fly with only 1 small carry-on. I'm too paranoid to ever check a bag and haven't in over a decade.

[–] Poiar@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This is why we need more high speed trains. Can't forget your luggage when you have it with you at all times

[–] IndefiniteBen@feddit.nl 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

And they are being built and encouraged in Europe. I'd recommend anyone travelling within Europe first check for train routes before booking a flight.

That said, while they are improving the situation, building new rail lines, tunnels, bridges, etc., and changing the regulatory environment to allow more competition, these are slow improvements to make.

I checked and Zurich-Bilbao has few high-speed sections. They're building new high speed lines near Bilbao, but infrastructure takes time...

[–] FiftyShadesOfLatte@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Last week, I flew with Swiss Air and it was the same story. They wanted me to check my carry-on bag, but I wasn’t having it—no telling what issues that could’ve caused. The flight was delayed for over an hour due to a lack of baggage handlers. Then, to add insult to injury, Zurich Airport apparently can’t handle wind coming from certain directions, leading to even more delays. I sprinted through customs to catch my connecting Swiss Air flight, only to find out it was also delayed. So much for Swiss punctuality.

[–] LordR@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago

Fun fact Swissair was the high quality Swiss airline for decades. Then they went bancrupt and Swiss was created. It is way worse. Air trafic wise Switzerland doesn't have a lot to offer.

[–] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Several passengers said the pilot in charge of the flight was apologetic over the delayed departure, but never mentioned leaving their bags in Zurich, according to Blick's report.

Yeah... that really sucks probably a good call on the pilots part to be honest.

[–] HubertManne@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago
[–] topinambour_rex@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Happened to a friend from europe to south America. He had less than a day for find equipments for the next gig of his crew.

[–] MonkCanatella@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

why the fuck is this newsworthy

[–] Decomaeker@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

it isn't, but ill admit it's a nice change of pace from the regular depressing news.

[–] MrsDoyle@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's novel. One bag left behind isn't news (looking at you Lufthansa you bastards); all the bags left is new, therefore news.

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