Indian Chess GM Flags 48‑Hour Baggage Hold‑Up in Sharp Critique of British Airways
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, seeded No. 1 for the upcoming FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, took to X to voice frustration over a series of service failures during his recent journey with British Airways. He reported being involuntarily downgraded, encountering unresponsive staff, and—most significantly—experiencing a baggage delay of over 48 hours, despite having submitted all necessary forms, messages, and emails. “It’s been over 2 days, and still no word,” he posted, adding that he would have to rely on the airline again for his return flight.
Worst experience flying with the British Airways. Involuntarily downgrade, rude employees, no communication, bags delayed for over 48 hours. This is frustrating. Messages, emails, forms everything done & submitted. It’s been over 2 days and still no word. I don’t know how an airline can afford to treat its customer in this way. Even worse part is I’ve to fly back with you.
Erigaisi’s message quickly gained attention online, with other users sharing similar stories—one even pointing out that Sachin Tendulkar had also previously criticized BA for mishandling luggage. Despite the public uproar, British Airways has not yet issued a response to his complaint.
This incident not only underscores immediate inconvenience for a high-profile traveller but also highlights a recurring challenge in the airline’s service—particularly when delayed baggage remains untracked beyond typical recovery windows. In 2024, industry data showed that around 46% of mishandled bags were reunited with owners within 48 hours, indicating a higher-than-normal lapse in this case.
Erigaisi’s public critique brings this personal experience into the spotlight, serving as a cautionary reminder of the importance of reliable baggage handling and effective customer communication, especially for frequent flyers and international competitors.
Leave a comment