***** working for Emirates and NO replies from Customer Affairs in JHB

I never wanted to come to this platform. But staff at Customer Affairs Johannesburg had lead me to do nothing else.

The short version is this:

My hand luggage gets soaking wet after a flight from Italy to Dubai on my way to South Africa.

Air Hostess placed it in the kitchen because the overhead compartment was full. She never told me it could get wet in the place where she was putting it. I explained the entire situation to the Senior Steward, I opened my bag to show him my wet items. He jumped on the phone. Told me the ground staff will assist me. Once I met the ground staff, no one knew anything about the matter. I was sent from one desk to the next until a card was shoved in my hand with an email address to which I must send my complaint. There is SO much detail I could add, but I want to keep this short. When I got back to South Africa I sent a detailed report of what happened to the complaints department.

One month later I received an email from Customer Affairs Southern Africa to say that they were looking into my complaint. 3 weeks later I received an email from one of the Customer Affairs staff to say that they looked into the issue and that the Senior Steward aboard that flight had given a detailed report of the incident saying the following:

"A detailed report pertaining to your incident was raised by the Senior Steward, informs me that during boarding you requested your two hand luggage items to be stored in the Economy Class mid galley. The cabin crew member informed you that this area is a chilled place and enquired whether you have any valuable items (i.e. documents and/or medication) in your luggage."

Stop. This is a blatant lie. I wanted to store my luggage in the overhead compartment. There was no space and the air hostess OFFERED to put my bags in the kitchen. She did NOT inform me that anything could get wet. Why on EARTH would I put my hand luggage in an area where it can get wet!? This is absurd.

"The report confirms that you still opted to store the items in this area. On disembarkation in Dubai, you informed the Senior Steward that there might be items damaged in your bags. You were asked to open the bag and check, which you refused to do."

Stop. Lies!! I didn't say there might be damaged items. I zipped open my bag and SHOWED him my wet iPod, wallet, bag, documents, books etc. after which he jumped on the phone. I continued to pack out my bag on the counter at the back. After two minutes on the phone, he told me to put my things back in my bag and speak to the ground staff. I DID this, and from that moment on NO ONE was able to help me.

"Under the circumstances Emirates is unable to accept liability. You may be able to claim for any expenses incurred on your own travel insurance policy."

I was so shocked when I received this email that I wanted to speak to this staff member who dealt with this issue and get to the bottom of these lies!! After 2 weeks of waiting, 5 emails to the staff member with no replies and 3 calls to the Customer Affairs center in Johannesburg...

Here I am still in the same place as I was almost three months ago when the incident happened.

UTTERLY SHOCKING.