How @Turkish Airlines and @Batik Air…
How @Turkish Airlines and @Batik Air Ruined Our Family's Christmas (A Cautionary Tale) Last October, we bought plane tickets for our children so they could spend Christmas with us in Bali. However, that dream trip turned into a humiliating, 8-month struggle with two airlines that continues to this day. I'm sharing our story to warn other travelers. The Facts, in Short: • The Journey: Dec. 25-26, 2024, Budapest -> Denpasar. Tickets were purchased as a single booking on the official @Turkish Airlines app, with the final leg (Kuala Lumpur -> Denpasar) operated by @Batik Air. • The Problem: Upon arrival, all three of our family's checked bags were missing. • The "Resolution": After 3 days, 2 bags arrived. We had to collect them from the airport ourselves. My son's suitcase is still missing. Months of Stalling and Humiliation: My son's suitcase was verbally declared lost by an agent in January, but we had to wait until June for an official, written confirmation from Batik Air. During this time, the airline even referred to the luggage as "allegedly lost," essentially accusing us of making it up. The low point came recently. After finally accepting their ridiculous compensation offer just to close the case, they first sent an email confirming everything was ready for payment. Ten minutes later, they sent another email from the same agent, halting the process by again claiming a document was missing. The Real Loss: The suitcase contained irreplaceable items: Christmas gifts for our family celebration, a DJI Osmo Action 4 camera, and what hurts the most: my son's special, irreplaceable band T-shirts purchased at concerts, which hold deep sentimental value. The Attitude of the Airlines and Authorities: • @Turkish Airlines: As the official seller of the ticket, their response was to completely wash their hands of the problem. They repeatedly told us to deal with the final operating carrier, despite evidence suggesting the bag was lost during the handover between the two airlines in Kuala Lumpur. So much for their "award-winning" service. • @Batik Air: Constant stalling, shifting responsibility, and ultimately trying to force us to sign an outrageous indemnity clause to receive compensation. • Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM): The official regulatory body, who, after a lengthy process, ultimately failed the passenger they are supposed to protect. And after all this, despite Batik Air confirming in writing weeks ago that they have all the necessary documents to process the payment, not a single cent has been transferred to this day. My goal with this post is no longer about the money. It's to let everyone see how these two airlines treat their passengers. Think carefully about who you entrust with your luggage. I can prove every single one of my claims with official correspondence, reports, and video recordings. Please share this so other travelers can avoid the same fate.