A group of tourists traveling from Kuala Lumpur to China faced an unexpected hurdle when they discovered upon arrival that their luggage had been mistakenly left behind in Kuala Lumpur.
Instead of their belongings, they received a batch of luggage meant for a different flight, causing significant distress and complicating their travel plans.
Waited one and a half hours for nothing
Speaking to WeirdKaya, the group, which was part of an organized tour, boarded from KLIA and arrived in Kunming only to face a lengthy wait at the baggage claim, eventually discovering the mix-up.
Upon arrival in China, they waited for approximately one and a half hours before realizing that it was the wrong batch of luggage.
“Some of us tried to ask the airport staff for clarification about their luggage, but they were told to keep on waiting.”
It was only at the very end that the crew came out to explain the exact situation to us.
Wearing the same clothes for 3 days
As the tour had a tight schedule, the group was forced to proceed without their personal items.
“By the third day without a change of clothes, we were already uncomfortable; traveling to Dali in the same outfit we flew in with,” the user explained.
The situation was exacerbated by the absence of critical medication for some group members, a concerning issue given the high-altitude location of their destinations in Yunnan.
The traveler also noted that while the group managed to rent down jackets in the cold climate of Shangri-La, the rental clothing was insufficient for their needs.
It wasn’t until the fourth night that some of their luggage finally reached them. However, essentials such as windbreakers, warm clothing, and hiking boots were still missing when they visited the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, leading to further discomfort.
Disastrous experience
The netizen provided additional insight to WeirdKaya, sharing that it is truly a difficult journey.
Since many of their destinations are high up in the mountains, they have had to endure the cold weather without sufficient clothing.
“The place we are visiting is very rural, and it is very difficult for us to buy enough winter outfits.”
“On top of that, we are not sure when the luggage will arrive, making it difficult to estimate how many clothes we should buy.” She added.
She also explained that bringing home the extra clothes they bought could also be challenging, thus many hesitate to buy too much.
The ones who suffered the most are those in urgent need of their medication.”
“They have to share with each other, using similar medicines, but it is still extremely risky to take medication in this way.” She said.
More trouble to come
Complications continued even as the trip neared its end. Before their return flight, the airline disclosed that due to the aircraft’s load restrictions and design limitations, 32 pieces of luggage would be left behind in Kunming for safety reasons.
This news was delivered only after persistent inquiries from the passengers.
After the incident, the traveler emphasized the importance of keeping boarding passes secure for insurance claims and recommended always carrying a set of essential items in carry-on luggage, such as clothes, medications, and chargers.
Heart Warming moments
The netizen also shared that despite the hardships they faced, there were also heartwarming moments within their group.
“The members of our group are all very helpful and always assist each other,” she explained.
She explained that part of the group received their luggage after 65 hours, and the second group received theirs after 84 hours.
The members helped each other by lending their own clothes and equipment to those in need.
“The only reason we were able to fight through the difficult challenges was with everyone’s help.”
Yet to receive any official statement
The netizen also shared with WeirdKaya that despite their travel agency’s best efforts, they have yet to receive any explanation from the airline.
Many of them have also tried to contact the airline via email, but no one has received any sort of explanation, let alone compensation, from the officials yet.
For now, they can only try to receive some compensation from their respective travel insurance.
The netizen also added that they are not the only victims, as many other individuals and groups have also shared similar experiences.
“A couple even missed their wedding shoot because they could not retrieve their wedding dress from their luggage.”
