I traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on September 29, 2007 to embark on a cruise leaving from the Port Of Miami. I proceeded to the baggage carousel only to find that my luggage did not make it to Ft. Lauderdale. I immediately reported it to their baggage office and I was told that my luggage would arrive on the next flight from Las Vegas. So there I waited another 2 hours only to find that my luggage still did not make it. The agent at the baggage office advised me that American Airlines would locate my luggage and deliver it to my first port of call which was Grand Cayman. She advised me that she could only authorize $150.00 for consequential damages that I would have to be reimbursed for as I did not have any clothing.After debating about the amount she authorized she informed me that I would have to contact an American Airline Representative via an 800# to get any additional funds authorized.After speaking with 2 representatives I was authorized an additional $100.00. With only 3 hours left to find my bare neccessities I left the airport and proceeded to board the cruise ship. After one day at sea I arrived at my first port of call only to find that American Airlines had not delivered my luggage. I had the cruiseline contact American Airlines and was advised that my luggage had not been located but would be delivered to my next port of call in Ochos Rios, Jamaica.
I spoke to a representative to request additional funds be authorized for my consequential expenses. She informed me that she could not authorize additional funds but they would reimburse me if I submitted my itemized receipts to their Central Baggage Service in Texas. To my surprise my luggage did not arrive in Jamaica so I had to purchase additional items while I was on the cruise as I was under the impression that I would receive my luggage on the second day of my cruise. Finally after six days on the cruise without any formal attire I returned back home to Las Vegas. I submitted my receipts to the airline baggage counter and contrary to what I was originally told I would receive a check in the mail within 4-6 weeks because I was not an international traveler.So there I left the airport without ant reimbursement after I had been assured that I would be reimbursed at any American Airlines baggage counter. Two days after my return I wrote a letter as instructed by the telephone representative while I was on the cruise ship to Central Baggage Service and included my itemized receipts for the additional items purchased on my trip.
Three weeks later I receive a letter from American Airlines stating that I could only be reimbursed for what had been previously authorized. So for the length of my trip, which was six days, American had authorized $250.00 for the initial two days and now for four additional days I would not be reimbursed for my consequential damages due to their mistake?? This is absolutely absurd. I then contacted American because at this point my luggage was still not located.They informed me that I should have received a property questionnaire so that they could perform a more intense search.This questionnaire is supposed to be sent out within 48 hours of my initial report being filed. It is now October 17,2007 and they had never sent the questionnaire according to their records. I finally receive the questionnaire on October 22,2007 where I had to itemize all the contents of my luggage along with a description and a value. All the items in the suitcase that had a declared value over $100.00 needed to have a receipt attached. I completed the questionnaire and returned it via fax on November 09, 2007.
I called on November 13, 2007 to verify that they had received the fax and they had. The representative told me it take 10 business days to process my claim. On November 28, 2007 I checked their website for status of delayed baggage and to my surprise it stated that my baggage had been located and would be picked up for delivery back on November 09,2007. I contacted American and they stated that they did not show any record of locating my luggage and had no explanation of why their website published information to the contrary. I asked to speak to a supervisor and the representative refused to transfer me.In addition she advised me that my claim would take 12 weeks from the date they received my property questionnaire back to process my claim. So here I am 2 months later with 2 checks totalling $250.00, no luggagge, and no resolution.
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