A newly-wed Scots bride has told how an airline 'ruined' her honeymoon after the couples' luggage disappeared.
What should have been the holiday of a lifetime for Emma Mclean, 27, and husband Taylor, 29, who tied the knot on Sunday, May 22, descended into chaos.
Having planned the perfect Honeymoon, the couple left on a connecting flight from Amsterdam to Rome, where they prepared to embark on a 12-day cruise around the Mediterranean.
However, instead of experiencing the relaxing break they hoped for, the couple were left scrambling after KLM Royal Dutch Airlines told them their luggage had been left more than 800 miles away in the Dutch city.
Emma and Taylor then had to fork out £500 for new clothes and other items for the cruise amid fears they would have no essential items for their romantic getaway.
Emma, from Stirling, told the Record: "I had bought us an extra day in Rome to go sightseeing for my husband's birthday that day.
"Instead, it was spent buying new clothes and toiletries - we didn't get to see anything in Rome apart from the airport and the shopping centre.
"We got a couple of tops and shorts and essential items to get us through the next few days as we would be at sea before we got to Israel.
"We were hoping that the luggage would have made its way to us by the time we got there as KLM had our itinerary."
Days passed at sea before the ship docked at Israel, where KLM had promised their suitcases would be returned to them.
But the couple were left dumbfounded when they were then told their belongings would not be reaching them for the duration of their holiday.
Emma said: "The head of guest services for our cruise was chasing our luggage for us and eventually came to us to tell us that the driver who had been transporting our cases for KLM had been arrested for speeding.
"At that moment, I honestly thought somebody was going to jump out on us with a camera to tell us it was some sort of joke."
Inside the lost suitcases were makeup, jewellery, clothes and sentimental items including a handmade dress, a handmade bag and a comfort blanket given to Emma from her Gran.
The couple were forced to re-wear the clothes they had bought in Rome and had to cancel all of the excursions they had booked on the trip because they did not have suitable clothing.
Emma added: "It was probably the only holiday I've actually made an effort for. Normally, I shove basic makeup and holiday clothes in.
"But this was our honeymoon, so I wanted to make an effort.
"We also had $400 set aside for excursions when we were away.
"We were due to go to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem but we had to cancel them because we didn't have the right clothes for it.
"We missed out on all of those experiences."
Emma described the ordeal as a "complete nightmare" as the couple are still waiting to hear where their luggage is - 17 days after it went missing.
She said: "It's ruined our honeymoon.
"It was such a downer. We had been in a wee bubble of joy and it was like somebody had popped it when we arrived in Rome.
"We didn't even get any pictures of ourselves during our honeymoon because we felt so rubbish without our belongings and didn't feel presentable.
"That's one of the things that gets to me the most. It was meant to be one of the most memorable holidays of our lives."
The newlyweds have been desperately trying to contact the airline, including tagging them on social media as they say their lost property complaint ticket was closed by the firm when they were at sea.
They have yet to receive a response on the location of their luggage.
"It's shocking customer service", Emma added.
"Our complaint ticket was closed when we were on the cruise so Twitter and Facebook became the only way that we could try to communicate with them quickly.
"We just keep being told that they are looking into it. It's like talking to a brick wall, it's so frustrating."
The Daily Record has approached KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for comment.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
