On 18th August 2008, KLM reject to accept my boats as luggage although KLM was the airline who took me to Milan and charged me ~320euro excess luggage. They said that I must send my boats via cargo service. There was no cargo company in the airport and I must go to center of Milan in order to do so.
My car was returned.
I don't speak Italian/ good English.
I am in a foreign country!!!!!!!
It is out of my capability so that I kept bargain hoping to find alternative. I missed my
flight
There was no liquid (fuel & oil) in my luggage and all fuel tanks were emptied.
Here is the brief story of my bargain:
KLM said that the tanks were filled with dangerous goods so that
there must be residue inside although they were emptied.
I said "I threw away my tanks then"
It was not accepted as the very professional dangerous goods specialist of KLM said that my engines were used with dangerous goods so that they can not be accepted. Can I throw all my engines? No.
The very kind customer service manager of KLM asked me to get a declaration from manufacturer to state that the boats and engines are safe.
Thanks for Dave Marles, Ian Folkson and A.J. Ellis. I got an official letter from Model Marine Supplies to prove that my boats got no hazard on the plane. The fax was sent within a very short time (thanks again) and it was forwarded to the very professional KLM specialist in KLM headquarter.
One and a half hour later, reply from the specialist was received. He said that the boats and engines are only safe when new. They are dangerous once being used.
What can I do?
I found Giovanni Branca who came to collect my boats for sending by cargo. (Thank you very much)
While I was waiting for Giovanni I tried to find airline other than the excellent KLM. For a single trip from Milan to HK, Alitalia got no flight, Lufthansa asked 3200euro, Air France asked 1200euro. Swiss air asked 760euro. My round trip ticket cost me 700euro only!!!! Did I have better choice? No. I have to pay hotel, transportation, cargo and meal if I stayed (~500euro I guessed)
I took Swiss Air together with my boats finally. The flight attendants are not as pretty as KLM but the seat are wider and they don't charge excess luggage.
Miracle KLM.


