Your questions answered.
Q How can I get compensation for lost luggage? Just before Christmas I went on a three-week windsurfing holiday
to Morocco, but my bag, containing my kite, harness and other
equipment, was lost in Marrakesh on the way out. Despite repeated
phone calls, letters and e-mails to British Airways, the airline
involved, I have heard nothing. Including kite rental, I estimate
compensation would come to about €3,500. Apart from an
entitlement to €1,200 in compensation under the Montreal
Convention, as agreed between airlines, is there any other
organisation that represents airline passenger rights to which I
could appeal?
Gregg Maher, Dublin
That is a very long time to be waiting for compensation for an upset holiday. There is nothing like the nuisance of losing your baggage and, in your case, essential sports equipment. I am assuming you have completed a property irregularity report and received a file reference to follow up your baggage loss. If so, you can check the progress of your report at www.ba.com.
If you have travel insurance, it may be in your best interest to claim from your insurer directly. Insurance companies have the right of recovery from airlines, and they would then pay them the limited liability, which is the €1,200 you mention. This amount is a maximum and not necessarily a given. However, Ciaran Mulligan of Blue Insurances tells me that most insurers do not cover sports equipment, so your claim for that will continue with British Airways.
If your flight originated from the UK, you can make a complaint to the Air Transport Users Council. Call 00-44-20-72406061, fax 00-44-20-72407071 or write to CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London WC2B 6TE. The British Airways office in Ireland has offered to assist you in your claim if you contact it.
Q I want to travel at the end of June from Dublin to Zaragoza, in northern Spain. After a week I want to go to Nerja, in Andalusia. I cannot find the best way to do this; any help would be terrific.
I Stevenson, Dublin.
This is a good year to go to Zaragoza, as the International Exposition takes place in the city from June 14th to September 14th. The theme is water and sustainable development. Many events will be on during this time.
Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Zaragoza every day except Tuesday and Thursday. Allow plenty of time for connecting between flights, as you will have to check in again at Stansted.
Alternatively, you can fly to Barcelona with Aer Lingus or Iberia and take the train. It takes almost two hours and on the fast train costs about €57. The slower train, the Catalunya Express, only costs €22 or so, but it takes up to five hours.
There are no direct flights between Zaragoza and Malaga, the nearest city to Nerja. There is a train service, which takes about five hours to arrive in Malaga. The normal fare is about €98, but there is a promotional fare of €59; log on to www.renfe.com.
The cheapest transfer is by bus. From Malaga to Nerja you can catch the Alsina Graells bus no 631. This service operates 10 buses between 8.15am and 4.30pm, and the journey time is an hour and 25 minutes. It costs about €4. After 4.30pm the service changes to no 634, and there are a further three or four buses. Otherwise, a taxi will cost €60-70.
Q Any ideas for a short break in April? A bit of sun would be nice, and we like cities, too. Our budget is about €1,000.
Jack O'Donoghue, Louth
The weather is beginning to warm up around the Med, with temperatures in the past week around 17-20 degrees. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair have some great fares, particularly midweek. If you travel Tuesday to Saturday or Thursday to Tuesday you will find fares for about €120.
Top choices for a short break would be Majorca and the city of Palma. There are flights nearly every day. Stay along the Paseo Maritimo for the best views. A good hotel will cost €100-140 per night. The Tryp Bellver Hotel is lovely; www.solmelia.com. Palma is a great city to explore, with good shopping and nightlife.
One of the most beautiful Med cities is Nice (below), and your budget will go far there. Stay on the Promenade des Anglais for the best views. Mercure Hotels has a lovely small property just by the Old Town, Cours Salaya, which faces the sea. Rooms start at about €90 per night. www.mercure.com.
For some lying on a beach, Lanzarote is sunny, warm and within your budget. Flights will cost about €270 each, but accommodation is better value, with rooms from about €48 per night in good beachside hotels or apartments. Check availability on www.hotels.com.
E-mail questions to jscales@irish-times.ie