 Poster: A snowHead
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Got back from skiing last Sunday to find that, although my skis were undamaged (thankfully!!) the ski poles I had to buy quickly in resort now look like this:-
http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/showphoto.php/photo/12208/ppuser/1051
Luckily (although not when I got there!) I had forgotten to pack my more expensive Scott poles and therefore had to get these Leki ones a bit quick in Val for 20 Euros-cheaper to buy a pair than hire some for 2 weeks.
Because they were only cheap it's not the end of the world and I'm not fussed about trying to claim for 20 E but it did make me wonder how you go about claiming for damaged stuff when it is being transported by plane. I would have been really pi$$ed off if they had done this to my Scotts or if my skis were wrecked.
I do have a Sportube but it only takes one pair of skis and poles, I had to carry 2 pairs of skis for this trip so had to take a double ski bag instead, it wouldn't have happened if I had used the Sportube.
Has anyone else experienced similar problems and have you managed to get any money back as a result?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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VolklAttivaS5, Turn the grips round on one of the poles and you will have a pair for downhill racing that streamline behind you. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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VolklAttivaS5, thanks mate. That's one of the biggest laugh out loud moments of the year so far.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nickski, yes I thought it was quite amusing myself. You have to laugh really don't you but it doesn't excuse the baggage people from slinging people's gear around right left and centre. Just as well my skis were alright, it does pi$$ me off though. It must have been quite some force from someone else's skis crashing down on those poles to cause that kind of deviation!
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sun 27-04-08 21:34; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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JP, they are going out with the rubbish tomorrow. I'm just glad they were only a cheapie pair bought quickly.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Last time I saw a deviation like that it was light going through a prism! Baggage Handler F*ckwits!
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VolklAttivaS5, Baggage handlers broke the toe wing on one of my bindings this season.
It wasn't last Sunday though.
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VolklAttivaS5, I assume the minute my main bag goes out of side some disgruntled neverwas is kicking the shoite out of it. It's a bit like speeding. I thank my lucky stars I've only been stiffed once.
I'd still pursue a claim if I was you.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Whats a toe wing? How do you claim for damage done by them lot? Do you know? I'm not bothering this time but I've been going skiing quite a bit lately so law of averages and all that makes me wonder what's going to happen next. I think I will just drive to France next time I go for a fortnight-don't have to worry about any of that then or the stingy luggage allowance. The lauderettes in resort are not cheap when you want to wash your stuff after the first week.
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VolklAttivaS5, to be honest it's probably not worth the hours of your life you'd lose pursuing it. I spent about 20 hours in dispute with BT, in the end merely to save £60. I sometimes ask myself whether it was worth it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Nah, I'm not worried about the 20Euros for the ski poles. I got a fortnights use out of them anyway and as I said it was cheaper to buy than hire in that instance. They did rip a hole about the size of an egg in the top of a new Dakine bag I took on holiday with me this time though as well!
Oh well I'll have to put some tough tape over it I suppose!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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VolklAttivaS5, Duct tape. Never go on holiday without it. Brialliant stuff. For 20 euros (where from ??) I'm surprised they lasted that long.
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VolklAttivaS5, your pic is exactly why I use carbon poles protected by pipe insulation when in transit.
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You know it makes sense.
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VolklAttivaS5, I would e-mail that photo and a photo of the damaged bag to the airline. BA damaged a bag of mine a few months ago and replaced it without fuss, even though the most likely source of damage was the baggage handling. Pity the replacement bag got damaged yesterday...I shall be letting them know, though, since they undoubtedly pass such comments on to the handlers and can change handling co if necessary.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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spyderjon, yeah. Don't worry though, me "posh" carbon Scott poles were safely at home in my lounge-forgot to pack them in the bag in the first place(!) hence why I had to get some poles quick in Val. I don't normally have any trouble carrying the lot in my Sportube but course couldn't get 2 pairs of skis in there for this trip.
Thing is, I don't think even pipe insulation would have stopped the damage this time, looks like a hell of a weight came crashing down on top of my bag to do that.
Nickski, yes I was surprised at the price too although I have seen some online for about £15 before now in the UK in the sales so that's comparable with 20 Euro. Asked the woman in the shop across the road from the hotel how much it would be to rent some poles for a fortnight, she said "20 Euro so you're better off buying a pair to be honest", so I did. Thought they were cheap quality though as I bent one of them a bit when I fell down the first couple of days. Have had loads of falls with my Scotts and have never bent them yet.
vetski, thanks for that, I'll do that and see if they'll give me a new bag. Tis a shame it being brand new and all, its not damage you can darn either because the fabric piece is actually missing.
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Poster: A snowHead
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VolklAttivaS5, I had a bag damaged so that it was pretty much unusable. I reported it in the baggage hall and received a cheque for the (very modest) replacement cost within a few days. The same should work with damaged kit if you know that it's been dameged before you shove off. I assume that you didn't notice until you got home, but I don't see why they will believe you any less at that stage than any other. Drop the airline a note with a 'photo and see what happens.
I must say, they've done a very neat job on your poles.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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VolklAttivaS5, At least you now know your Sportube is worth the extra money over a normal ski bag.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Doesn't matter if it was the baggage handler at departure or destination. You have a contract with the airline, and your luggage is in their custody, even if they subcontract the actual handling of it. If your bags / skis / poles whatever get damaged then report it and aim to get the highest amount you can.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Find the baggage handler in question and place the pole somwhere very uncomfortable 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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spyderjon,
I've found carbon poles snap horribly easily if loaded from the side. Looking at that picture I reckon the forces aplied might well have snapped carbon poles even in pipe insulation. I snapped one of my swix CT4 poles the first time I used it when I stuck it down a drain, double poleing to allow a car past, and loaded it side ways. I've done similar things to my alulights and they've survived fine. Still prefer the carbon poles (for xc) as my technique is getting better and I can no put rather large forces through the poles when skating such that alulights might not cope.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Deleted cos of I mistake with my thick fingers - which lost me a large amount of text i was writing in another thread.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Mon 28-04-08 13:40; edited 1 time in total
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I've just rung BA to report damage done to the bag they sent me to replace the last bag they damaged...no probs, they say they'll get back to me with a reference number which I can use to claim a new bag from Antler. You'll need your flight number and a baggage tag number.
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We went to Selva in February this year. When we landed in Innsbruck, I was sitting at the part of the plane where I could see the baggage handlers unload the luggage - the way they throw boot bags, ski bags and any other sort of bag  about is really really bad.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Possibly the worst example I have seen is from a plane window, watching whilst baggage handlers "made" skis fit upright into hold containers by bending the bags (and their contents) and pushing them in nice and tight.
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Result - got my code from BA yesterday, rang Antler today, new bag will arrive tomorrow. Always worth chasing these things up. Wonder how many trips the new bag will last for (the other one managed 2 return flights and got damaged on the second return leg)?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi there. Yes, thanks for all of your advice. I haven't kept the baggage tag numbers as I had chucked them out before I had opened my ski bag. Won't do that again! Have got the flight details though so I have completed Flybe's feedback form with those details to tell them and have asked them for a proper email address so I can attach the photos of the damaged stuff. I also told them that on the exact same flight back to Birmingham a few months earlier in January my skis got left behind in Geneva presumably by the same baggage company so they don't seem to be very good. Their website doesn't give an email address for customers to contact regarding baggage and I've been away on a works seminar for the last few days so I have sent their form off this morning. It does say though that you have to report damage to baggage within 7 days and I got back on the 20th, although I did tell them I have been away since as well so I'm only just outside their timescales. It will be interesting if they use that as an excuse not to pay anything out.
Will only take one pair of skis from now on so that I can get them into my one pair of skis Sportube uktrailmonster! Am going to look into getting a suitcase made of the hard plastic material that Sportubes are made of so it is completely bomb proof.
richmond, I know, they couldn't have got them identically bent like that even if they tried! Yes, I did notice the rip in the top of the pocket of my bag just as I was bringing it through the front door!
snowbunny, jb1970, yes I have to agree with you, I have seen them chucking ski bags and boot bags around without a care in the world. Boots are going in my case next time I think after what has happened, or I might pack some bubble wrap round my boots before I put them in the bag so the clips don't get damaged. I always make sure all the clips are done up before packing them so there are no clips sticking out that might get caught on something.
Pity for the single person driving to France is more expensive than flying or I would do that to stop damage to my gear or it getting lost.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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If either one of your two pairs of skis have easily detachable "system" bindings, you can indeed fit two pairs of skis in a single Sportube. I did it once. It's a bit of a hassle unfortunately...
I'll see if the airline find my Sportube (been 3 days since I arrived). If not, I'll use the claim money to "upgrade" to a double.
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abc, sorry to hear you STILL haven't got your stuff. Does the airline (BA?) think it even knows where it is?
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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abc, don't know if you've seen the posts from a compatriot of yours in Jackson Hole, but I'm rapidly going off Americans who have access to powder at this time of year...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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VolklAttivaS5, Next time you're up my way I'll cut them down/re-grip them & for use on big moguls 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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they have suggested I claim on my travel insurance
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cheeky b*ggers... you only get a month to do that and it's too late. Anyway, great photo of the bent poles. Truly artistic, made me laugh and well worth 20 Euros of fun. I've had loads of luggage damaged by baggage handling. What can you do? All part of travel. Best laugh about it and move on cos you only get stressed out and obsessed with "getting even" - they win. Think of it as a kind of natural balance to those times you get lucky... like getting upgraded.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm fed up with these airlines making bucket loads of money charging for this that
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today's Ryanair figures and their projections for next year suggest otherwise. Lots of airlines are going to the wall or being rescued via mergers, route consolidation etc.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Bode Swiller, yes, I suppose you're right considering the return flights I have taken during the last 12 months, I have had 1 pair of skis lost (which were subsequently returned the next day mind you) and then of course the bust bag and ski poles incident described above.....so 80% of the flights have been with no problems with baggage.
I am very tempted to drive next time I go skiing (if it's for a fortnight rather than a week) but for one person it still works out at costing about £300 for fuel, the ferry crossing but not including tolls, which is more than the cost of a return flight to Geneva (at the moment anyway and not at peak times eg February). Would work out cheaper to drive if there are 4 people in the car though I expect.
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today's Ryanair figures and their projections for next year suggest otherwise. Lots of airlines are going to the wall or being rescued via mergers, route consolidation etc.
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I wonder if less people chose to fly with Ryanair because of their 15kg luggage allowance, it always used to put me off going with them.
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VolklAttivaS5, Might be worth contacting trading standards just on principle. They made it difficult for you to report it within the 7 days and then took so long to tell you about the rule that you couldn't claim on your insurance smacks of a failure on the 'Treating Customers Fairly' front. Not sure if this applies to airlines but its certainly not good customer service.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Charli939, yes it is rubbish. Thing is, because I didn't open my ski bag and put my skis away until the following weekend-being a lazy cow!-they could turn around and say "Well you could have damaged the poles by accident yourself by then". I should have checked the ski bag when I saw my main kit bag was ripped and wrote off to them straight away by post, but you know what it's like, first day back at work was the next day, I got back late on the Sunday, I was going away with work the week after as well so was getting all the washing done etc etc etc, yawn! 
I don't mind so much about the 20 Euros for the poles, they were cheap anyway, I suppose I could darn up the hole in my bag with some black cotton and it will probably blend in ok.
You never know, they might come back to me saying "We have reviewed our decision and on this occasion we have agreed to reimburse you....." tra la lah lah lah.
Both flights (lost skis and this baggage thing) were Flybe flights chartered by Mark Warner. I wrote to MW at the time as well to tell them I wasn't impressed much with their hotel for the money they charge but they didn't give a s**t about the baggage thing either when I mentioned it, in fact they didn't even reply about the baggage complaint part at all or suggest that I needed to contact Flybe as a matter of good customer service.
Thing is, it seems these days that a lot of companies are after your £ but don't really care anymore if they p**s you off, if they lose one person's custom then so be it, you're just a drop in the ocean.
Thanks for the advice about Watchdog etc.
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FAQ
