Thomson's and liquids in your suitcases!

[disgruntled herts.]

I returned from Naples airport on Friday 11 August having been on a package trip to Sorrento with Thomsons. On the transfer coach we were all told by the rep that unless we removed all liquids and lotions from our hold luggage we would not be allowed to board our flight back to Luton. The whole coach load of us had to dump hundreds of pounds worth of Limoncello, other alcohols, cosmetics and perfumes. The rubbish collectors had a field day! On arriving in the departure lounge we came across other travellers who had not been told to do this and still had all their goods in their cases. Thomsons are refusing to offer any compensation for their instructions, despite the captain of our return flight making a public apology to passengers saying we had been given the wrong information by Thomsons.
As far as I am aware it was only Thomsons who were telling their clients to dispose of such goods, unless anyone else knows different? Was anyone else travelling home that day told to leave their goods behind? Is there anyone out there who has had any compensation from Thomsons, or any other tour operator, for similar incorrect instructions?

[CattleBat]

I travelled with BA to Hannover at 11am on Thursday 10 August (the day it all started). We had seen on both News 24 and were told by staff at the airport that any essentials for the flight were to be put into a clear bag. There was to be no liquid whatsoever allowed in hand luggage but it was not a problem in the hold luggage. So shower gels etc. were fine in the hold luggage. (Luckily a friend phoned us at 6am to tell us what was happening and that gave us time to repack in one of our bigger suitcases).

Now, bearing in mind the news broke on the Thursday, and you flew on the Friday, it would appear that your tour operator were at best ill informed and at worst incompetent or vindictive. I was given an information sheet at Birmingham Airport listing all the things that could not be taken in hand luggage. If I can find the sheet I will see if it mentions anything specifically about allowing liquids to be carried in hold luggage.

I think the only way you could get any joy out of Thompson is to be persistent in your complaints or try to locate others from your flight/coach and complain en mass (a kind of class action). I hope you manage to get something sorted out with Thompson by way of compensation, I know I would be absolutely livid if I was in your situation.

Best wishes
CB.

[disgruntled herts.]

Hi Cattlebat,
Thanks for that - yes I am pretty miffed at Thomsons attitude. Ok they may have made a mistake and that was disappointing enough, but their 'Get Lost' attitude to my complaint has really annoyed me. Fellow travellers had hoped to keep in touch via the 'Tripadvisor' website, but they don't allow complaint type postings, so at the mo I have no contacts.

If you could find your advice sheet that might be very helpful.
Thanks anyway for your advice!

[CattleBat]

Hi Disgruntled

I have had a look at the advice sheet, but unfortunately it makes no mention whatsoever of hold luggage. It only lists the very few item that were being permitted in hand luggage.

However, I have had a look at the Trip Advisor site and have found a number of comments from people who appear to have been on your flight or in a similar situation. As I don't think I would be allowed to link to another site through this forum, if you want to send me a private message I will gladly send you the link to the exact page. Maybe if you can then liaise with those people and kick up a right stink, even as a group, you could complain to one of the popular consumer programmes. That would be my approach, particularly in light of how your complaint appeared to have been brushed off.

All the best.
CB

[disgruntled herts.]

Hello CB,
Thanks - I have found the page you were talking about. It does seem that Thomson's were the only people insisting that liquids be removed from all items of luggage. I'm only claiming �50 so it's not as if I lost a huge amount, it's just the principle really. They seem to have gone about making up their own rules without actually checking what the official advice was and I feel that as a big company with all their claims about customer service they ought to be man enough to admit they made a mistake.
I'll let you know if I get anywhere although I have to say it looks doubtful. The person I spoke to today more or less told me to be grateful I got home safely and to stop bothering her!
Thanks for your help.

[disgruntled herts.]

Thomson have now replied to me and are claiming that the 'no liquids in suitcases' rule was made on the advice of the Italian Authorities. I would be pleased to hear whether anyone else flying out of an Italian airport on 11 August was similarly told to dump their liquids, or whther there is anyone who was allowed to carry liquids home in their cases. Should I believe Thomson are telling me the truth?!!