Bikes lost in Europe - please help
 

My husband used miles from Continental to fly to Majorca via Madrid for a week long bicycling vacation. Well, unfortunately it was last Friday when the storm hit and Continental cancelled the flights, with no remedy but to get him on perhaps the following Tuesday. Well that wasn’t going to work, so I did my amazing race dance and found him and his friend other flights leaving the next day and had to pay $550.00. Okay not too bad - although now not sure if he will get the miles back. But worse than that, it is now 6 days since he returned and no bikes. Continental is giving him the runaround. For a few days they said they were coming, but now they don’t know where they are. They were traveling from Majorca on Air Europa to Madrid and then from Madrid to Newark on Continental. He freaking out and completely distraught. His bike is his life. Any advice on who to contact? And yes this is a familiar story, happened to us before.

Sorry this wa meant fot the Europe forum but if nay US-ers have advice, please share.

First advice. Have him stop freaking out - his bicycle is not his life. Lance Armstrong will be the first one to confirm that theory.

I agree with ipod. Completely.

If the bike is completely lost, then buy a new one.
If the bike is delayed, it will get there "eventually".

But, it is JUST a bike.

You obviously don't have a cyclist in the family!! Our son would becamped on the airline's desk until it arrived back. Don't have a remedy however.

I dated someone who took a leave of absence from work, flew to London, had a bike custom made and spent 6 months cycling around Europe.

But, I doubt he or anyone else I know would be ".. freaking out and completely distraught. His bike is his life".

Heck, I've read posts where folks are "freaking out and completely distraught" because their luggage with just clothing got lost on the return trip... an expensive bike is at least a bit more reasonable.

I would check with your insurance company and see if the insurance would cover the loss. You may not have to use it, but it would reduce the anxiety of finding the funds to replace the bike if it doesn't appear.

I would also call the airline everyday until they locate the bike. Keep it professional and "understanding", but be persistent.

You might also try calling the baggage claims of the airports where the bike passed (departure, expected arrival, stopovers, etc.). It's possible the bike is sitting there waiting for someone to get it, but the airline's computer system doesn't know it.

Good luck!

Hmmm...maybe you're right.
Maybe it's timing.
Maybe I just hope some Fodorites don't read this thread.
"His bike is his life" read a bit extreme to me. Fortunately, that's not true.

The bike may already be here -
http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/index.html

My brother participates in triatholons and has a bike that is his favorite, lucky bike, everything is good when he rides that bike.
Once there was a problem and it was missing for a day, I remember how bad he felt til he saw his old friend bike again, so I can imagine how bad your husband feels.
toedtoes has the right advice, call the Baggage people..also, Customer Care, in Houston is where the wonderful lady works who worked with us when something happened to make us verrry unhappy.
Good luck!!

Oh my gosh, last year when I arrived at the Aspen airport to find my skates MIA I freaked out! Feeling your pain and hoping things work out for your DH, job816.

Well still no bikes and I am trying to keep him calm. Thank you the supportive comments. For those of you who are criticizing, like Gretchen said, you do not know or understand cyclists. They are extreme people and Lance Armstrong would be freaking out too. I agree it’s just a material thing, but buying a new bike is just not an easy option. Hardcore cyclists invest time and money into building a bike, by first buying the frame, then the seat, etc. The real problem here is that Continental has said this is not our problem; you shouldn’t travel with your bikes. I wonder if they say the same thing to skiers and golfers, who would be just as upset. Their service has been abysmal. We will make a claim this weekend.

Oh, meant to say toetoed, will take your salient advice and try calling baggage claim areas directly. Thanks.

And we are talking about the price of a small car!! Plus all the time it took to find the stuff "needed", put it on, adjust it, admire it, talk about it, talk about it, talk about it!!!

It is obvious there are two types of posters here --- those who ride and those who don't. I have more invested in bikes than some folks do in cars. Losing a bike borders on losing a family member. Had a bike stolen once, bought an identical replacement bike -- it didn't ride the same. I can feel his pain !!!!

It's my understanding that the airlines are under less obligation with overseas travel for what they must reimburse you.
Not sure how that works. If the bikes were valuable enough and you reach a true dead end, the last resort is an attorney. Sometimes that letterhead can be very helpful.

I assume you have tried Continental's Baggage Resolution line?

(800)335-2247

If they offer no help, call the customer care line:

(800)932-2732

But the problem is that he never actually boarded the Continental flight on his way back, so the normal procedure where the last carrier takes care of you may not apply. Have you contacted Air Europa in Spain too?

As for his miles, if he hadn't started the return itinerary from Majorca, then he can definitely get miles for half a roundtrip back, but since he already took the first flight, this is complicated stuff.

He needs to call the Onepass Service Center at (713)952-1630 Monday to Friday 6:30a to 8p Central Time.

Talk, talk, talk for sure. And it is a family member or better yet more like an appendage ;-). Geez in my wedding ceremony, no kidding, I promised to love, respect, & care for him and his bikes. Over the weekend he got a really nice rep who said he would work on it, but who knows. I have written a letter to Continental and will call one pass today. I'll keep you all up to date. Thanks for hanging with me. Hey Fmpden, where you located, do you race?

Denver --- too old to race. We are touring cyclists now averaging about 2000 miles a year. Was the bike boxed or loose? I am guess the problem is on this side of the pond. Europeans are kinder to bikes. But we shifted to Bike Fridays three years ago for our travels. The american airlines surcharges on bikes gets worse every year along with their attitude towards bikes.

When my daughter's luggage was lost at Christmas (she had to change carriers in the middle of the trip due to a flight cancellation), she was told that the last airline you flew on was the one responsible for the luggage. It took three weeks but she finally got it back. Don't give up yet.

My son-in-law does triathlons (including Hawaii Iron Man) and has custom bikes which he ships everywhere. Your bikes would be in those special cases, right? They are big. Can't be overlooked. You will get them back. Just be sure to keep calling all the airlines involved. If necessary, fax the bike luggage bar code to the people at the luggage help. Good luck, but the bike cases are too big to be lost forever.