Desperate mum left stunned after airline loses luggage during holiday – but spots its on TV 1,300 miles away
A MUM was left stunned after she spotted their lost luggage - from 1,300 miles away.
Laura Simpson, 35, and her family were six days into their week-long trip from Manchester to Menorca without clothes, toiletries and important medication after all seven of the group's suitcases were lost.
The mum-of-one, from Warrington, said she spent hours on the phone to TUI, who were unable to tell her where their luggage was or when they would get it.
But two days into their trip, Laura saw images of the travel chaos on other news publications, which showed dozens of abandoned suitcases lining Manchester Airport 's baggage hall.
And in a video clip, she claims to have spotted all seven of the group's missing bags.
She wrote in a Facebook post: "When Manchester Evening News do a better job at finding your luggage than TUI... 43 seconds into the clip and there are all of our seven suitcases. Day five into the holiday with nothing and no communication."
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She complained that while TUI gave the family €25 a day for each suitcase, that it didn't cover the costs as even a "swimsuit was €45 alone".
She said they all arrived with just jeans and jumpers, but temperatures were as high as 27 degrees at the holiday resort.
Not only that, but she said their suitcases had important items such as inhalers and eczema skin creams.
Laura said they even told TUI they could see the suitcases, but still "heard nothing".
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She added: "We are only here for a week and we are already on day six so if anything I want to make sure they stay in Manchester now for when we return.
"This holiday has been rearranged for the past three years because of the pandemic. There are bigger things happening in the world but you still don’t expect this to happen to you when you go on holiday."
A TUI spokesperson said they were aware of baggage delays at Manchester Airport, saying: "We’re working closely with airport staff, baggage handlers and our teams in resort to ensure customers receive their luggage as soon as possible.
"We’ll be in direct contact with customers once we have more information to share."
As travel chaos continues into the seventh day across the UK, experts are advising families to avoid travelling with checked luggage.
Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB union, told : “It is one less thing to worry about. If people can check in online and do not take [large] bags, that limits the disruption.
"It’s not a magic bullet but it does reduce the chance of there being problems.”
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PC Agency's Paul Charles said that where possible, “passengers should consider packing lightly and travelling with a small bag they can take on board the aircraft”.
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Furious Brits were even spotted climbing into the baggage carousel to try and find their missing suitcases.
