Aw, it's so pretty isn't it? For airport staffers it's so seductive they'll ravage it greedily.
I was a victim of pilfering at OR Tambo International Airport. After a flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg, we finally arrived at the conveyor belt and bags were already coming through, but I counted only five.
A full 20 minutes later there was still no sign of the other bags.
Foreigners who were on the same flight started complaining.
Security officials in the area were nonchalant and kept reiterating that passengers must be patient as the bags were on their way.
I was highly frustrated. When my rather conspicuous floral bag arrived I grabbed it and left.
I only realised when I got home that my cable ties were cut off. Every other bag in my luggage was open and my toiletries were messed. One bag holding a smaller bag with expensive jewellery inside was broken and the smaller bag was missing.
Airports company Acsa told me it wasn't their responsibility and I should call SAA baggage services. It took me two days to get through.
They told me to download a claims form, get an affidavit from the police and fax the form back. The form is complicated and when I call back for clarity, I'm told I'm wasting my time because SAA won't compensate me for jewellery.
"We don't pay for valuables and advise our passengers not to pack valuables," says the consultant.
Hello! All my sh**t in my bag is valuable. And why the hell are passengers' bags being broken into in the first place?
So don't be like me. Keep your cash and jewellery and cameras and whatever you hold dear in your hand luggage. Because no one will feel any sympathy for you.
It's a fact that OR Tambo airport handles the most baggage pilfering problem around the country, with up to 14 bags being reported missing or pilfered in a single day.
Source: Sunday World via I-Net Bridge
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