129 Luxembourg passengers were left without luggage over Christmas

Due to a lack of baggage handling staff at Frankfurt Airport the Lufthansa flight bound for Luxembourg took off without a single checked-in bag. More than one week later, passengers were still not reunited with their belongings, an extra sombre feeling over the festive period.

"I've had to use all my sister's clothes. My parents got me shoes for Christmas but I had to open that package early so I could wear them now," says Abigail O'Driscoll, one of the passengers on the flight.

A law student at the University of Warwick, she explained to RTL that she was travelling home for the holidays and had packed all her law books, belongings and presents for her family in her suitcase.

Staff on the Lufthansa flight were aware of the situation and had updated passengers mid-air that, despite finally arriving with a delay, there were no bags onboard. "Everyone was a bit fed up but were still glad we got to Luxembourg," says Abigail.

After filing a delayed baggage report at Findel Airport in the early hours of 16 December, passengers were told the bags would be on a flight to Luxembourg the next day.

The relief was short-lived as the flight got cancelled. Abigail was on the phone with Lufthansa several times per day, to no avail.

The online tool providing updates on her luggage report showed no new updates and was still set to 17 December.

Oddly enough, Lufthansa flights between Frankfurt and Luxembourg have been departing normally twice per day this past week, however not carrying any of the bags from the affected passengers, suggesting a real logistical fiasco at the German airport.

Asked by RTL Today, Luxair said they had no information as ground services in this case were handled by Frankfurt Airport. They did not say whether they were in contact with their partners there.

Taking own initiative

Lufthansa had already cancelled thousands of flights over the summer as the airline industry contended with ground-side disruptions. Airports across Europe were affected, forcing some travellers to take flights or drive long distances to airports to hunt for lost belongings themselves with the help of tracking devices.

Abigail and her father considered driving to Frankfurt as well, "but everyone we spoke to said it was 'absolute chaos'," she says. If there are no updates in the new year, they may well be reunited sooner with their luggage if they make the trip themselves - if they would be able to locate it upon arrival.

Airlines are liable for late or lost luggage. Passengers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to €1,300 provided that they can show proof of receipts from the items in their luggage, as well as emergency clothing and toiletries they have had to buy.

"I’m upset and distraught. I won’t have any gifts to give to anyone," says Abigail.

Update

Abigail informed us that she was finally able to pick up her luggage after Luxair called her on 25 December and told her that her baggage had arrived in Luxembourg. A late Christmas miracle after all!