Susan Smith, Staff Reporter
Workers clear luggage from an arriving US Airways flight at the Norman Manley International Airport recently. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
AN ACTIVE travel season along with the new baggage regulations may have been the cause for the long delays airline passengers have experienced in retrieving their luggage, says president of the Jamaica Travel Agency Association (JTAA), Pamela Fenton-Reece.
She said the JTAA has confirmed that since the start of the Yuletide season, a number of airline passengers have complained about not receiving their luggage until days or even weeks after they have arrived. These include passengers who travelled on Air Jamaica, American Airlines and U.S. Airways to Jamaica from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Financial Gleaner understands that hundreds of pieces of luggage belonging to Jamaicans remain stuck overseas.
"What we've had a problem with is passengers not receiving their baggage," Mrs. Fenton-Reece, speaking of the complaints travel have been receiving. "It can be very upsetting when you don't get your luggage," she added.
LEFT BEHIND
A passenger on the Air Jamaica flight JM078, which arrived in Jamaica on Saturday, December 10, said he received his luggage one week after he came back from Toronto. He said he had been told by an airline staff member that his luggage was among the 700 pieces left behind.
"I was disorganised for a whole week," said the passenger who further explained that the tools he uses in his job had been locked in his luggage.
Linking the delays to changes in airline baggage regulations, Marjorie Robinson from Air Jamaica rejected Mrs. Fenton-Reece's views. She explained that excess bags for passengers is not carried on the same flight with passengers and should take a maximum of three days to arrive.
New baggage regulations approved by the International Air transport Association (IATA) in September placed an embargo on excess baggage for the period December 1-31.
But even some passengers who travelled between this period and checked on regular baggage complained of delays.
SEND LUGGAGE AHEAD
It was unclear up to press time how the cost of these delays is affecting airlines.
In the case of Air Jamaica, The Financial Gleaner was told that cash was paid out to those passengers who suffered delay in retrieving their luggage. A minimum of J$1,200 was paid out to persons living in the Kingston and metropolitan areas while visitors to the island were reimbursed US$25 per day, by the national carrier, Air Jamaica.
Mrs. Fenton-Reece's advise to passengers is to "send your luggage ahead of you and ensure your suitcase is locked and insured." She said it is perhaps better to take the money and give it to relatives instead of buying up items which can be purchased in Jamaica.
The best advice is to travel first class coming to Jamaica and then fly economy class going back during busy periods, Mrs. Fenton-Reece said. This ensures your luggage will be given top priority.
