Delays in baggage arrivals at NAIA hound holiday travelers

Several travelers were forced to return to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to claim their baggage that arrived late, according to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday.

Passenger Marcela Jaurigue, who landed from Los Angeles, returned to the airport the next day and was lucky to find her balikbayan boxes.

“A little upset. Dahil [mayroong] importante [roon] minsan medication at saka Christmas items na pasalubong,” Jaurigue said.

Passenger DJ Gabriel, who arrived from San Francisco, was still looking for his baggage.

“Dalawang bagahe, sabi nandito raw pero wala naman. Kailangan ko muna pumunta doon at kapag wala doon kailangan ko na ireport dahil pabalik balik ako. Yung renta ng van P7,000 so P21,000 na nagagamit ko ngayon,” Gabriel said.

Based on the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, which was released by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), passenger shall have the right to have his or her baggage carried on the same flight, subject to considerations of safety, security, or any other legal and valid cause.

“In case of a checked-in baggage that has been off-loaded for operational, safety, or security reasons, the air carrier shall inform the passenger at the soonest practicable time and in such manner that the passenger will readily know of the off-loading,” it stated.

“For every 24 hours of delay in such delivery, the air carrier shall tender an amount of P2,000 to the passenger as compensation for the inconvenience the latter experienced,” it added.

Meanwhile, local and international airlines have different policies in baggage claims.

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it is part of its policy to pay for any lost luggage.

“PAL will ask the passenger to itemize the contents of his or her luggage and put the cost of the items,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

Villaluna said some baggage arrive late or are missing due to being loaded in the wrong flight, not placed in the connecting flight, put in the wrong carousel, or taken by another passenger.

“Now that we’re at the peak of the peak, during the holiday season, we are now reaching 90% passenger load capacity lalong-lalo na sa flights from destination that are filled with OFWs,” Villaluna said.

“Ang bagahe, parang pasahero. Mayroon siyang sariling booking record. It’s part of the baggage system that you can actually trace. I can actually trace where it was misrouted. There is an international system across airlines,” she added.

Passengers are advised to put a mark or tag on their baggage to avoid being mistakenly taken by others. They are also reminded to check in early.

“If it’s less than three hours, like one and a half or two hours, there’s the possibility that the luggage may be left behind,” Villaluna said.

“The cargo loading at the time the passenger is checking in is about to end,” she added.

Passengers may also contact the Civil Aeronautics Board Hotline (24/7 public assistance) at 165-66 for concerns and questions.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA Integrated News