Originally Posted by
3Cforme
Now, now: there's plenty of well-documented baggage theft that goes on in U.S. airports. If DL was the last carrier of the passenger to the tickteted destination, DL is on the hook for whatever occurred along the way. It's also been noted that airlines take eight-twelve weeks to pay out (properly documented and filed) claims.
Just wait until the OP sees DL's take on depreciated value, rather than purchase cost, and omitting entirely the items that weren't supposed to be in checked luggage in the first place. He's going to have another screaming fit.
Fortunately for the OP, this kind of travel is covered by the Montreal Convention which means that DL is on the hook for up to 1000 SDR (i.e. over c. $1500). "Depreciated value" might not spare DL a penny from liability up to that amount. And DL denying liability for "items that weren't supposed to be in checked luggage in the first place" would involve DL violating the Montreal Convention, which is law in the US applicable to this flight.