Damage to check-in baggage on Qantas flight

Dear Sir/Mdm,

This is my second time writing in to Qantas - the first was done

through the online feedback facility (ref: 051201-000004) on the

Qantas website on 30 Nov 2005 - with regards to damage to my

checked-in baggage (a fly fishing rod). It has been two weeks and I

have yet to receive a reply from your organization.

Here is the original contents of the feedback that was sent:

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To: The Person-In-Charge

I took the 1700hrs Qantas flight (QF5) from Sydney to Singapore on 26

Nov 2005. My luggage consisted of a suitcase, a backpack and a

fly-fishing rod (3-pieces of 3-feet each). I checked-in the suitcase

first and asked if I could take my rod on board. THE LADY AT THE

COUNTER SAID IT WAS FINE.

But at the security check-point inside the terminal, some security

officers said it was okay and some said that it was not, but my rod

was eventually detained. I explained that there was NO MENTION OF

PROHIBITION OF SUCH ITEMS ON THE E-TICKET OR BOARDING PASS. MOREOVER,

I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD BRING THE ROD ON BOARD. But all the

security can do was to repeat over and over again that they could not

do anything, and they had to detain the rod.

I went over to the gate and explained my situation to the staff and

they put a release tag on the rod. The rod was a fragile item and yet

they checked it in.

Upon arriving in Singapore, I left the airport without checking the

rod as I was feeling unwell. On the night of 28 Nov 2005, I took out

the rod from the rod bag and found that it was broken. I would

therefore like to seek compensation from Qantas for the broken rod.

The retail price of the rod from three separate online retail stores

range from US$575 to US$595. I have taken pictures of the damaged rod

and also saved the webpages of the online stores on PDF documents,

they can be presented on request.

The specifications of my fishing rod are as follow:

Model: Sage RPLXi 7weight 3-piece Fly Rod

Retail Price: US$575-US$595

My flight details are as follow:

CUSTOMER NAME: MR TOH GEOK CHEONG

BOOKING REF: YBD45N

E-TICKET NO: 081 2444096842

ISSUED BY: 323 92636-SINGAPORE 179101-SINGAPORE

DATE: 17NOV05

YOUR ITINERARY AND TRAVEL DETAILS:

QANTAS AIRWAYS QF0005 ECONOMY CLASS (N) CONFIRMED

DEPART 26NOV05 SYDNEY 1700

ARRIVE 26NOV05 SINGAPORE CHANGI 2140

DEPARTS FROM:TERMINAL 1

ARRIVES AT: TERMINAL 1

NVB 26NOV NVA 26NOV

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: 20 KILO

I would like to mention that the rod was broken through no fault of

mine and solely due to the inefficient and unprofessional way it was

handled. Therefore, I would like to seek full compensation for the

damage caused.

My contact details are as follow:

Name: Toh Geok Cheong, Justin

Address: Blk 803 Chai Chee Road, #08-608 Singapore 460803

Home Phone: (65)64482825

Mobile: (65)97756725

E-mail: Email User

For your necessary actions please.

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The damage to my checked-in baggage (i.e. fly fishing rod) can be viewed here:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/pasirpasir/damaged_rod_closeup.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/pasirpasir/damaged_rod_section.jpg

The release tag can be viewed here:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/pasirpasir/release_tag_front.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/pasirpasir/release_tag_back.jpg

I have saved the webpage of three online retailers of the fishing rod

on PDF format and highlighted the model of my rod. But just in case

you feel that I have tempered with it, I have included the URL where I

got the quote as well :

http://www.geocities.com/pasirpasir/flyrod_quotations/quotation01.pdf

(http://www.traflyfish.com/equipmnt/sage/specs_rplxi.htm)

http://www.geocities.com/pasirpasir/flyrod_quotations/quotation02.pdf

(http://www.int-angler.com/vendors/sage/sage_rplxi.html)

http://www.geocities.com/pasirpasir/flyrod_quotations/quotation03.pdf

(http://www.kkflyfisher.com/Shop/Rods/Sage_RPLXi/sage_rplxi.html)

In addition to the events I have already pointed out in the initial

feedback, I would like to further add that the team-leader of the

security staff on duty at Sydney Airport on my date of departure said

that he fully agrees with the points that I have brought up, namely;

1) that neither the e-ticket nor boarding pass states the prohibition

of bringing a fishing rod on board, and 2) that detaining my

possession in light of point (1) and obtaining prior permission to

bring the item on board was an unjustified/unfair act.

The very fact that points I brought up were valid and reasonable but

still resulted in the detention of my belonging made me feel helpless

and oppressed. On the one hand, part of my luggage was already

checked-in and I did not know what would happen if I missed the flight

because of this incident, and on the other hand, my second most

valuable item was detained through no fault of mine and no solution

was offered to me. All that I was told was that there was no guarantee

that I will get my rod back. I was just feeling so helpless.

The Qantas website states that complaints of damaged (checked-in)

baggage should be submitted within seven days (which I have in my

initial "feedback" through the website) or within 21 days in case of

delay. And from all that I've mentioned above I would like to mention

once more that I am seeking full compensation for the damage(s) caused

to my checked-in baggage (i.e.fly fishing rod).

Sincerely,

Geok Cheong, Toh

B.Eng (Hons) University Of Sydney

Postgraduate Student (M.Com) University of Sydney

P.S. This email has also been carbon-copied to the Ministry of Trade

and Industry (of Singapore) as well as a website for consumer

complaints in hope that they will assist me in my endeavor to seek

just compensation.