I just received a letter from SAA, to go back a few months, I put in a claim to SAA for baggage being ransacked, a few items were taken from my bags, besides not getting my bags for 7 days into my safari.
Anyway, they just informed me that they aren't resposable for the loss, to contact British Air, they were also a carrier.
Why do I feel like I'm getting the run around!!

I had problems other years with SAA, one other time I put in a claim, and they wouldn't make good on that one too! that one wasn't much, I let it slide.

Any ideas as to how to go about getting satisfation with these people????????

Contact the most senior manager you can within their customer service dept and invite them to view this thread!

I am sure that bad publicity in these forums previuosly has been at least partly responsible for them acting on other issues..

Regards,

Pete

widowmaker: i fly way too much with my job...way too much maybe 7-9000 miles a month! on all the major airlines here in the states and abroad.
More often than not my baggage comes down the slide at the luggage claim when it is suppose too. BUT the few times it doesn't sure can frustrate a person, i know. sometimes it has been ransacked by God only knows who. Sometimes items are missing...not much can be done about it. You've just got to bear with it an not let it spoil your trip.
I rarely send my guns as luggage, it is much easier to rent them from the outfitter or safari company for $10-20/day and ALWAYS carry meds.,cameras,binos and 1 days change of clothes in my carryon. SP

it would be a cold day in hell befor i flew around the world and rented a peice of equipment i have never used befor on a dangerouse game hunt or any hunt fo that matter exp if im paying 10k+

Thanks 700 nitro!

I can't agree more!

I didn't let my baggage "miss placement" wreck my safari, I'm just tried of SAA telling me their not responseable, just real sick of it!!

700 nitro I make my living with equipment expensive enough to make a $20,000 rifle look like a trinket! I too am very cautious of whom handles it and when.
But I'm not foolish enough to know that there are much securer ways to ship than airline luggage. Some of the places I travel to make most of Africa look tame!
I've rented rifles/shotguns from companies that wouldn't qualify for much more than jr's first whitetail hunt behind the barn. Also have rented shotguns of quality that I could not afford to purchase on my income . Your blanket statement .."pc of sh!t..." makes me laugh!

Now that we got off the subject somewhat, I'm getting it back on......

I just got off the phone with British Air, put in a claim with them, has anybody had dealings with BA? I really would like some imput on anybody that has put in a claim and gotten a positive response.........................

Widow - I have had two bad experiences with SAA. Unfortunately, it was on the same trip. I used to travel with ballistics nylon bags - locked bags take about 2 seconds to open the zipper with a knife. Had mostly clothes missing, no gear. I made a claim, but only got an upgrade in my return trip home. Nice, but didn’t cover the lost items.

British Air also has a black eye with hunters. Most avoid traveling on BA or through London. They have the highest number of firearms related claims in the industry. $400 per rifle does not begin to cover true costs.

As others have said, keep after them and push to speak with management. The claims agents only follow basic guidelines. Management may be more helpful. In the future, travel with secure, well market hard-sided luggage. This seems less likely to get lost - probably because it is more difficult to break into.

Unfortunately the world is becoming less & less responsible for everything that happens. I have been lucky, never lost a bag, but I'm sure it will happen. The best you can do is insure your stuff to the max. possible. Last fall I bought trip insurance. During the trip my dig. camera was spirited away. The ins. paid off w/ little effort on my part. It was worth the $200.
Zero, that's why I insure my rifles through SCI's program, just incase.