Two weeks of relaxation and carefree living had turned into a hellish journey. The reason is the most classic fear of those who travel by plane: losing their luggage. This is what happened to a couple from Pisa twelve years ago. And now the decision has finally been made: the airline responsible for their belongings will have to compensate them 1,500 euros, doubled to 3,000 for “stress damage”.
The Odyssey of the Two Pisans
Unplug for a dozen days away from home, work and everyday environments. Like millions of Italians every year, a couple from Pisa had decided to fly to Indonesia and enjoy a few days of vacation. They board a foreign airline flight in Florence: destination Jakarta. But already the beginning is not the best: due to various problems related to the airports. The two arrive at their destination a day late. But once you touch the ground, the nightmare is only just beginning. On the baggage claim carousel at Soekarno-Hatta airport, their suitcases do not appear. They seem to have disappeared into thin air, no one can say where they can be found. The two are therefore forced to go through a long bureaucratic procedure to report the loss. Another two hours pass before the couple can finally go to the hotel.
But here, of course, they only end up with what they had put in their hand luggage. A bit short for a 12-day vacation. The next morning, they decide to buy the bare minimum to survive and decide to continue their trip as planned. In all this, they are constantly on the phone and communicate with the company's call center in the hope that their luggage will reappear out of nowhere. Eight days later, it actually happens. The company contacts them to tell them that their suitcases are arriving at the airport on another flight. Better late than never: both of them go to pick them up and certainly spend the last three days more peacefully before returning to Pisa.
The judge's decision
Once back home, they decided to sue the company. They first consulted the justice of the peace, then – on appeal – the court of Pisa. In recent days, after years of waiting, the final sentence has finally arrived, ordering compensation for the damage suffered by the two men. The 3,000 euros (plus interest) are no exception. In the event of a delay in the delivery of the luggage, compensation for “moral damage” is provided. Anxiety, stress and various inconveniences resulting from the violation of the right of movement “understood as a limitation on freedom of movement resulting from the unavailability of one’s personal belongings during part of the stay abroad”. With these words, Judge Giuseppe Laghezza ruled in favor of the couple in his sentence. Furthermore, doubling of the 1,500 euros in compensation for aggravating circumstances: “It is indeed clear that they cannot help but suffer from significant psychological distress, a consequence of the non-availability of luggage containing their personal effects within the time limits. So much so that we are obliged to buy back part of the latter to meet basic needs abroad”. The so-called “stress damage”.
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