'Beware of Aeroperlas' Travel

scappoose (209.102.127.243) -

Panama is beautiful and fascinating, but beware of Aeroperlas if you are planning to fly in country. Aeroperlas personnel stole my camera, case, spare battery from baggage checked in with them. They did not return my phone calls or inquiries; finally their airport manager promised to pay me for the theft but has failed to do so. I would never fly with them again. There is an alternative airline, and buses are very cheap.

Comment #1 JULIE (165.247.43.38) -

Aeroperlas left my luggage on the runway at Mamitupu Panama on March 1. 05 and still hasnt sent it on to me in NewYork, even tho Mr Belisario Garcia has promised when i have phoned him every week that it is on its way. Something must be done, but what ?

Comment #2 waica (201.226.30.105) -

mi mensajes las cabañas waica mamitupu esta ubicado eb la comaraca kuna yala panama su paginas

www.goecities.com/mamitupu muchas gracias

Comment #3 Stephanie from Arizona (Contact Member) -

You are kidding me! How totally unacceptable. I can't believe that these people have no regard for someone else's belongings. I have heard of things like this happening in the Philippines but I suppose it happens worldwide.

Comment #4 Jules from Vegas, baby (Contact Member) -

Scappoose,

Have you ever received any monetary return on your valuables that were stolen? I can't believe that this happened to you! Very disturbing.

Comment #5 Sweetness from Earth, the Universe (Contact Member) -

Thank you for posting this here. It certainly makes the saying "travel light" believable. Only travel with what you can carry onboard the airline as cabin luggage.

Not very nice that they would take your things and not return them. But remember they all believe that anyone who doesn't live there is rich enough to replace anything they lose.

So that's the attitude when they keep it. You can more afford to replace it than they can afford to buy it.

But it is still disgusting. I will remember this when I travel there.

Comment #6 Lee from Montevideo, Uruguay (Contact Member) -

Remember to take a change of clothes when you check your luggage. AeroRepublic lost my check suitcase on a trip from Barranquilla Colombia to San Andres.

I was only in San Andres 2 nights so it was important for them to find it soon or send it on. What irked me is that every time I stopped by their office they had a different story about when it would arrive.

Finally they said it was arriving in my hotel at 3pm (that was 1pm) and they told me I would need to go to my hotel and wait for the bags so I could give them the claim ticket.

I told them no way was I going to my hotel to wait and told them they could just send the bag on to my ultimate destination. Well, it turns out that the had actually delivered the bag to my hotel at 11am!

I complained via email about their handling of the lost luggage and what I felt was poor customer service when I purchased the tickets.

They emailed back and said they were sending me a certificate good for $100 off my next flight with them.

In contrast Copa Airlines never replied to my complaint about their giving us wrong information about the immigration requirements in Panama forcing my wife to sleep in the airport.

Comment #7 dustin (63.176.159.86) -

can't you go to another authority to get whats rightfully yours or at least the money they promised you?

Comment #8 Pam (63.176.159.196) -

Dustin has a good point, did you try doing what he suggested to get back what was yours, I think it would work.

Comment #9 Lumen (63.176.159.8) -

AEROPERLAS:

Aeroperlas operates services to the following scheduled regional destinations:

[edit] Panama

* Bahia Piñas

* Bocas del Toro

* Changuinola

* Colón

* Contadora

* David

* Jaque Airport

* Panama City

* Kuna Yala (several destinations)

Aeroperlas (Aerolineas Islas de Las Perlas) is an airline based in Panama City, Panama. It is a regional airline operating over 50 daily flights to 15 domestic destinations, as well as charter flights. It operates services as part of the Grupo TACA Regional Airlines system. Its main base is Marcos A. Gelabert Regional Airport, Panama City.

Comment #10 Alfred (63.176.159.193) -

ok then lets learn more about Aeropearls:

Aeroperlas (Aerolineas Islas de Las Perlas) is an airline based in Panama City, Panama. It is a regional airline operating over 50 daily flights to 15 domestic destinations, as well as charter flights. It operates services as part of the Grupo TACA Regional Airlines system. Its main base is Marcos A. Gelabert Regional Airport, Panama City, with a hub at Enrique Malek International Airport, David

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroperlas

Comment #11 moya (63.176.159.44) -

Lumen and Alfred, it would be pointless to learn about an airline company that has no regard for the welfare of those that have used it in the past. If I were among the aggrieved, I would follow it up with the concerned authorities like the Civil Aviations Authority.

Again, the choice of whether or not to travel light should not be dictated by an airline's carelessness.

Traveling is supposed to be hassle free!

Comment #12 moy (63.176.159.12) -

Nonetheless, the decision to travel with whatever you deem appropriate should squarely rest upon your shoulders. It would be really disappointing to lose your items and have those responsible not answerable at all.

I would not give up chasing for compensation especially in the event that I am totally not to blame. How come this airline is still in operation despite all these lamentations? I think the aggrieved need to handle this at a higher level.

Comment #13 maya (63.176.159.198) -

It pointless if you are being one sided on the matter moya, you have never heard of the airlines side so be reasonable. If you would just believe with what she says, and what he says then what more can you believe?

For me, hearing both sides is the way to go. I would only believe in allegations if they are proven or if people have solid proof.

With the latest technology who knows if what people writes are real?

Comment #14 Vidaverde (1) from Gulf Coast (Contact Member) -

The people who steal from tourists in Panama go unpunished most of the time. That is why they keep doing it. We all know that. There are so many thieves in Panama city. You have to have bars on your windows and doors or some kind of security. It's worse in some other countries though.

Comment #15 Ashley (63.176.159.135) -

You maybe right, the scenario could be much worse on some other countries, and we should not confine our judgment over Panama that way. Why would we think that way when we can experience lots of beautiful things in that wonderful country.

There might be some bad people in there committing on this crimes but then there might be other kind hearted people in there that we should meet and make friends..

Comment #16 Chiqui (63.176.159.206) -

I think the authorities have to do something to make those crimes stopped. And to do that, the civilians or the passengers which are the victims must do their part on reporting the incident to the authorities so that the authorities would have some data and information regarding the thefts.

Or maybe it would be nice if the airlines would make the security doubled, so that this thefts would not be able to penetrate the airlines.

Comment #17 ANN (63.176.159.28) -

its not good when you are traveling and when you open your bags you find out that someone stole your stuff .

thats really anoying

Comment #18 Rino (63.176.159.52) -

What would be nicer than to buy a luggage bag with locks in them, that way you can have he peace of mind of not worrying weather your luggage could be open easily, atleast the thieves might find it more convenient to go for another bag which is much easier to open, right?

but let us just pray that our luggage are safe while we are traveling, have a nice trip.

Comment #19 Christy (63.176.159.187) -

I think this is a frequent scenario on airports. Probably these airports have poor luggage management or their people are just plainly has tendencies of committing theft. It is probably depends on the airline or its people but this doesn't mean that the airline management will do nothing about it. I don't think that the more popular airline companies will shrug of a customer complain on missing luggage because once it leaks out in public it is their loss.

Comment #20 Fermin (63.176.159.94) -

I think that airlines would never ignore such complaints, because those customers might destroy the airlines' name and credibility. I have to agree with Christy that most of the time it is in the luggage management where the problem occurs, or maybe they just do no do their job more seriously and whole heatedly that is why this kind of theft and lost luggage were happening. I just hope that some airlines are not like this.

Comment #21 Olivia (63.176.159.68) -

All i have to say, is that this incident should not happen anymore to think that the management is at least informed about the incident.

And let us hope that not all airlines are like this.

Comment #22 Eve (63.176.159.52) - 12/02/09 09:30

Wow! Aeroperlas seems to be a bit of a grimy airline, with a crossed up mentality. They would much rather lose customers than gain, it may seem, via the ill circumstances that one can seme to experience.

Comment #23 Maricar (63.176.159.202) - 12/04/09 22:19

Maybe you are right in that matter Eve, it seems that aeroperlas tend to loose passengers if they do not do something about the matter. However, I have to agree that we have hear the side of the said airline before we com up with our own judgment right? In times of judging we should be very wise and knowledgable about the issue, and we should not base our judgment on only one side of the story.

Comment #24 Kiana (63.176.159.65) - 12/13/09 22:47

How did you know that the person who stole your camera is the personnel of the aeroperlas?

I suggest that before you do or throw some speculations, make sure that you are throwing words that are real. I am not saying that you are lying, its just that you should make sure about a certain thing before you say something about the matter. Better luck on that guys. Good day.

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