A2 reading: A problem at the airport

Irina flew from Riga to Barcelona for a week's holiday with her sister. The flight was easy, but when she arrived, her suitcase didn't come out with the other bags. She waited for forty minutes. Then a man from the airline told her that her suitcase was still in Riga.

Irina went to the lost luggage desk. She filled in a form with her name, her phone number and the address of her hotel. She also described her suitcase: big and red, with a black handle. The woman at the desk said, "Your bag will arrive on tomorrow's flight. We'll bring it to your hotel."

Irina had nothing with her except her handbag. In it she had her passport, her phone, some money and a book. That evening she bought a toothbrush, a T-shirt and a swimsuit, because she wanted to go to the beach the next morning. The airline paid for these things later, because Irina kept the receipts.

The next day the suitcase didn't arrive. Irina phoned the airline three times. Each time they said, "Tomorrow." Her sister lent her some clothes and a pair of sandals, so it wasn't a big problem, but Irina was angry.

Finally, on the fourth day, a driver brought the suitcase to the hotel. Everything was inside, and nothing was broken.

"Now I always put some important things in my hand luggage," Irina says. "A change of clothes, my medicine and my phone charger. Then if my suitcase goes to the wrong place again, I'm ready."