Passengers left fuming as bags never left Heathrow Airport

Passengers arriving at Sydney Airport from London Heathrow last night were met with a very nasty surprise.

Heathrow Airport chaos following reports of baggage system failure. Picture: Supplied

Thousands of passengers were forced to physically hand their checked luggage to staff in hi-vis vests following reports of a system failure at Heathrow Airport.

An Australian passenger flying into Sydney on January 23 on Qatar Airways was told there had been a conveyor belt breakdown at Terminal 4 in the London Airport.

“Bags were tagged by the staff and then we had to physically wheel them to other staff who were wearing hi-vis vests,” the passenger who did not want to be named told news.com.au.

“We left it with them, they were loading them onto push trolleys.”

Passengers have arrived in Australia without their bags due to a reported system failure at London Heathrow Airport. Picture: Supplied

After arriving in Sydney on Tuesday morning, the passenger found her bags never made it onto the plane, with her AirTag showing her luggage was still at Heathrow — the world’s busiest international airport.

News.com.au has contacted Heathrow Airport for comment.

It is understood multiple airlines were affected by the system failure.

Meanwhile, passengers flying from Malta to Heathrow on Sunday and Monday were advised to pack their belongings in their hand luggage.

In a brief statement on Sunday, Air Malta informed its passengers that due to a baggage system failure at London Heathrow Terminal 4, checked in baggage could not be facilitated for two of its flights, according to local reports.

An Aussie passenger flying on Qatar Airways arrived into Sydney on Tuesday morning with her AirTag showing her bags are still at Terminal 4 in Heathrow following a baggage conveyor belt breakdown. Picture: Supplied

Twitter has also erupted with furious passengers tagging the airport about the status of their missing luggage.

“I travelled on 22 Jan 2023 on Qatar Airways due to the broken belts at Heathrow Airport my luggage isn’t delivered yet. So I have to suffer because of your inconvenience. I need my luggage urgently as I have come to Goa for my sister’s wedding. Very disappointed,” one irate passenger wrote.

She said luggage belts were not working. “And I see that as a main reason for my luggage not coming.”

@HeathrowAirport I travelled on 22 jan 2023 on qatar airways ndue to the broken belts at Heathrow Airport my luggage isn’t delivered yet. So I have to suffer because of your inconvenience. I need my luggage urgently as I have come to goa for my sister’s wedding.very disappointed

— Kanifa Pacheco (@PachecoKanifa) January 23, 2023

Heathrow continues to be the worst airport in the UK. Just been told the planes going but no one’s luggage is. 🤬 @HeathrowAirport

— Dawn Chandler (@Dawnchandler84) January 22, 2023

Another annoyed passenger wrote: “Heathrow continues to be the worst airport in the UK. Just been told the planes going but no one’s luggage is.”

A third explained they were travelling on Qatar Airways in business class and arrived at Mumbai to no luggage.

“I was informed that my bags are still in London Heathrow,” they added.

Another said they haven't’t been informed if the baggage system is up and running.

“I have asked Heathrow same question but they won’t say whether T4 baggage system is now running (and) until it is no bags will ship,” they said.

“I flew LHR DOH MCT – bags are air tagged and they are still sat in LHR storage building.”

@qatarairways @British_Airways left Heathrow on flight to Melbourne Sunday morning & belt problem. 36 hrs later I’m in Melbourne and my family’s luggage is still at @HeathrowAirport . Tried to contact Qatar as requested but no reply! Disgraceful. When will we get an update?

— Sarah Crow (@SarahCrow1) January 23, 2023

When the Australian passenger arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport on Tuesday she knew her bags didn’t make it.

“There were a few of us in line at baggage services all from Heathrow but we all had Apple AirTags so knew bags hadn’t made it.”

It’s not the first time Heathrow Airport has experienced technical issues.

In June last year, thousands of travellers unwittingly departed without their belongings with footage showing a huge holding area piled with suitcases.

Airlines using Heathrow terminals two and three were asked at the time to cut 10 per cent of their flights to allow the airport an opportunity to get on top of the backlog.

It meant up to 5000 people had their flights cancelled.