Groom’s fury at British Airways for ‘losing’ wedding bag with suit

A groom has been left “outraged” after he had no choice but to abandon wedding guests due to a major airline “losing” an important suitcase.

A groom has lashed out at a major airline for “losing” his luggage containing his suit, bridal party attire and other wedding accessories.

Farhad Eton-Ehtesham, 32, and his now wife Rachel, 31, from the UK, had planned a beautiful wedding in Tuscany, Italy, on July 2.

Farhad said while it went on to be a “perfect” day, it was overshadowed by the “shocking” experience he had with British Airways.

Currently on his honeymoon, he told news.com.au his suitcase never arrived at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport when the couple landed on the Wednesday, just three days before their big day.

Farhad Eton-Ehtesham and his wife Rachel got married in Tuscany, Italy.

“The moment we landed and we had an internet connection, I had received an email saying, ‘One bag is missing, please contact us,’ and that’s when the real panic kicked in,” Farhad said.

“We rushed through security, panicking. We soon realised it was my bag.”

He said thankfully Rachel had carried her wedding dress on the plane with her, but as for his suit, it was in the “missing” case.

The pair had flown British Airways from London to Rome for their nuptials. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP

Farhad said he was told the bag would be on the next flight, arriving the following morning.

The couple had organised for family and friends to meet them in Tuscany that Wednesday night, however due to the circumstances, they had to abandon their wedding guests and booked a hotel near Rome airport to wait for the bag.

However things got worse when the flight the bag was meant to be on was cancelled.

“Everything of mine was in that bag – honeymoon clothes, my wedding suit, my groomsmen’s suits, shoes, wedding bits and bobs like place cards,” he said.

“A groomsman suit may not sound like a big deal but it absolutely is because you have to match the others. It’s a level of detail you picked out nine months in advance, tried on several times, fittings, everything.

Farhad was told the bag would be on a flight the following day but that flight was cancelled. Picture: Farhad Eton-Ehtesham

“Anyone who has had a wedding knows how important this level of detail is. I was really, really upset.”

After being told by airport staff the bag hadn’t arrived, a furious Farhad had no choice but to head to Tuscany as he couldn’t keep family and friends waiting any longer.

“Two of my groomsman made a five-hour round trip from Tuscany to Rome on Thursday to try to find the bag. They were there for the whole day and even missed the event we had planned that night.”

Farhad claimed there was no communication from British Airways which was “upsetting”.

“The whole time [they] sent us one message to say, ‘We are trying our best.’ That’s what I was really upset about – they couldn’t tell us what was going on or keep us updated.

“I understand these things happen, but just tell me what my options are and what you’re doing about it.”

During the stressful ordeal, Farhad contacted the company that made his suit explaining what had happened.

“They managed to get a suit flown from the Netherlands to Italy in an overnight courier in time for my wedding,” he said.

“They went above and beyond to get me a suit. It was incredible and such a complete contrast in customer service.”

In the end, he found his bag by ‘accident’, just hours before his wedding. Picture: Farhad Eton-Ehtesham

Farhad said British Airways finally contacted him on the day before his wedding saying they thought his bag was on a flight coming that day.

He jumped in the car the day and made the trek to Rome.

“I went back to security and there was a sea of luggage everywhere. No one was checking what was coming in or out.

“I looked through all the bags. I cried twice dealing with the people at the luggage carousel because I had no idea what to do.”

To his shock and relief he spotted his suitcase.

“It was just going around. God knows when it arrived or from which country. It was a complete accident I found it.”

Farhad located his bag on Friday night, just hours before his wedding on Saturday.

Farhad said while they had a ‘perfect’ wedding, the ordeal ‘ruined’ their special day and overall holiday experience due to the stress. Picture: Farhad Eton-Ehtesham

Farhad said getting his bag back meant he and Rachel could have the “perfect” wedding they’d dreamt of.

“But it doesn’t take away the fact that family and friends turned up to spend time with my wife and I and instead I and my groomsmen were just going back and forth on five-hour trips to Rome airport.

“I was stressed beyond belief. It absolutely ruined my wedding and certainly ruined our overall holiday experience because it was so stressful.”

At the time, a British Airways spokesperson told news.com.au: “We’re doing everything we can to reunite our customer with their luggage in time for their special day. We apologise for the delay and inconvenience caused.”

An outraged Farhad said once he returns to the UK from his honeymoon, he will be contacting the airline for compensation regarding money he spent on the new suit and clothes he had to buy.

It comes as London’s Heathrow Airport recently made headlines for the hundreds, if not thousands, of suitcases piled in a huge holding area due to technical issues.

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

Many passengers reported lengthy delays of several hours as they endured the effects of the baggage issues.