Baggage claims to be moved to new location, Transport Ministry promises THAI compensation - Bangkok Post

Passengers queue to claim baggage from Thai Airways International flights at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters) Thai Airways International (THAI) will move bag collection to a new place on Saturday as the Transport Ministry has pledged financial compensation for flyers affected by flight and baggage chaos after flooding paralysed the airline.

The airline said on Friday the self-collection point of the delayed baggage will be moved from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport terminal to the THAI Ground Service Maintenance building on Saturday. The collection site operates around the clock, it added.

All Thai flights will resume normal operations on Saturday and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has said the airline would try to deliver delayed baggage to all passengers by Saturday night.

Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Parliament on Thursday that compensation for delayed flights and bags by Thai would be carried out within the law. He was referring the International Carriage By Air Act B.E. 2558 and the amendment made two years later.

The law protects passengers from flight and baggage delays in tandem with international standards. Passengers with flight delays from at least two hours will be eligible for food and other benefits, including financial compensation for flights postponed for more than five hours.

The law stipulates the guidelines for airlines to pay passengers for their bag lost, damaged or delayed bags during the flights.

Thai sets out conditions for delayed baggage, which includes payments for essential items passengers need to buy or rent while waiting for the bags for more than 24 hours.

The airline also has a reimbursement policy up to US$100 per passenger per case for international routes and $25 for domestic flights. “The reimbursements of extra costs are always based on acceptable documentation, so remember to save all receipts,” it said. “You need to prove the extent of your loss”.

More than 10,000 pieces of baggage were delayed and almost 40 flights cancelled or rescheduled as the airline claimed staff shortages due to severe flooding in greater Bangkok.