Any One Pursue An Airline Damaged Baggage Claim?

[OLT2004]

United severely damaged one of our suitcases.
We did not notice it till we got home.
There is a rip on the back and the seam is pulled apart on the Side.

Are we SOL...Because we did not report it ASAP???

Any thoughts or advise???

Thanks

 

[eliza61]

Ouch!! file a report asap.
My dh had his bag damaged by AA on a business trip to Texas, they left it out on the tarmac in the pouring rain and he immediately reported it.
AA was wonderful, gave him a $300 voucher to replace a days worth of clothing (a suit got damaged) and gave him a damage report to fill out if the contents were worth more than that.

Also our American express protection kicked in but like I said he went to the airline before he left out of the airport.

 

[bookgirl]

I think you may be SOL.

I too had my bag left in the rain on a Houston tarmac. I noticed how wet my bag was looked inside and found clothes inside that had a souvineer tshirt that was red bleed on them.

I filed a claim immediately (11:00 at night). They paid for me to try getting them dry cleaned, then paid to replace them. No problem. The agent told me too many people don't check on obvious things immediately and have a harder time proving it.

My mom has had two bags damaged but was told it's really hard to prove that it wasn't 'wear and tear' and that they have a disclaimer about damage to bags themselves. She also didn't notice till after leaving the airport.

 

[msmayor]

You have nothing to lose by pursuing a claim, but lower your expectations about anything being in your favor.

Once those bags go home with you, its very difficult to convince (and prove) that the damage was caused by the carrier.

 

[jedijill]

I had a wheel broken off of my bag when I arrived in Venice, Italy. There was no Delta rep in the Venice airport so they gave me a paper with instructions. I drug that suitcase around Italy for 10 days and made a claim as soon as I landed in Kansas City. It took awhile but I eventually got them to cut a check to buy a replacement bag.

Jill in CO

 

[swilshire]

I tried to file a claim with American for damage to my bag, but they refused the claim. The bag looked like it had been caught in something. It had huge black spots, frayed edges, and a corner spot on the zipper had a lot of missing teeth. The zipper won't unzip.

I knew none of the airlines cover dirt or things like handles and straps, but I couldn't find anything on the AA website saying they don't cover zippers. I tried to file a claim and they said zippers weren't covered. I ask them to note it on the passenger record that I tried to file a claim. I emailed customer service and they also said zippers aren't covered and that signs at all the luggage counters say that. I don't remember ever seeing a sign like that and will definitely look the next time I'm in the airport. If I'm right, I hope I don't run into any trouble with security for taking pictures of the area to send them.

They said they were sending me a $25 AA voucher. I certainly can't get my bag replaced for that. I'm very dissatisfied with their service.

Sheila