Pain in Spain

When I attended the EIBTM trade show in Barcelona last month, the travel experience left me feeling absolutely livid – because both my luggage and some freighted material sent separately (via OCS) were both “lost” en route.

By the time I arrived in Spain I had travelled on two flights, each of three sectors, on a total of six different aircraft. My luggage had stayed with me on five of those sectors. I know this, as I always check that it comes across before I board. I was assured it was on board the Iberia London-to-Barcelona sector, but it didn’t turn up on the carousel. I was then assured it would be on the next flight, but it was 33 hours before it was delivered to my hotel. In the meantime, each time I had phoned Iberia they tried passing the buck.

Ultimately it took the GM of the Hotel Prestige Congress to enlist the help of someone he knew at the airport to track down my property.To add insult to injury, the Iberia aircraft stank. It needed a thorough clean. Another passenger using the airline, a lawyer from Queensland, didn’t receive his luggage until he was on the return trip. Enough said! I won't ever fly Iberia again.

Anyway, let's hope we all have a great and prosperous New Year without the baggage of the old year.

Robert Yeomans
PUBLISHER