Turkish Airlines - Damaged Bag, Unfair Compensation
Turkish Airlines Damaged My Luggage and Offered a Ridiculously Low Compensation! On June 30, 2025, I flew with Turkish Airlines on flights TK353 (Astana–Istanbul) and TK2814 (Istanbul–Samsun). Two of my luggage items – one Samsonite large-size suitcase and one Herschel hard-shell cabin-size suitcase – were lost during the flight and delivered the next day in completely damaged condition: cracked shells, broken body, and totally unusable. These were premium, globally recognized brands, purchased in Switzerland in 2019. Both were in excellent, like-new condition with no scratches or defects, even after years of careful use. I submitted a formal complaint with all necessary documents, including current retail prices from authorized Turkish stores. The total market value of both suitcases: ₺40,389. But how did Turkish Airlines respond? First, they offered me ₺17,645 TL. When I rejected that, their final offer was ₺20,150. Let that sink in: They damaged my luggage and then tried to “negotiate” with me over a compensation that isn’t even half of the actual value. And their justification? “We deducted depreciation based on usage and calculated an equivalent value.” So now they break my suitcases, and then tell me they were ‘used anyway’ – so I don’t deserve full compensation. What kind of logic is this? They even disregarded the prices I submitted just because I couldn't provide the original purchase invoice from 2019. But these are international brands – prices are publicly available online. I even contacted the original Swiss retailer to request the invoice, just to show goodwill. I have officially filed a complaint with the Turkish Consumer Arbitration Committee. I have handed over all documentation to my lawyer, and legal proceedings will begin immediately. It is unacceptable for a brand like Turkish Airlines to treat their customer this way – Breaking their luggage, Refusing fair compensation, And then pressuring the customer to accept a "take-it-or-leave-it" amount with no legal basis. While passengers are penalized for the slightest delay, when they are the ones responsible, they try to walk away from it for cheap. I will pursue this matter through every legal and public channel possible. And I want this to be a warning to everyone reading: Don’t stay silent. Don’t settle for less. Know your rights and fight for them.
