Originally Posted by
JeffS
In my opinion:
- If you are expecting UA (or any oher carrier) to have bags avaiable to give you as a replacement then that is an unreasosnable expectation.
- It is unrealistic that you would recieve actual replacement cost for any bag. The $100 is reasonable and fair.
1.) I have received replacement bags either as outright exchange for a destroyed bag or as loaners for a bag to be repaired by the airline, from AA, BA and LH. So I do not believe the OP's expectation to be unrealistic.
2.) I have received fair compensation, up to full purchase-price, for destroyed luggage in the past from both AA and BA. It seems the $100 offered to the OP came with so many strings attached that it was more like $0.
Also: LHR is the airport ALWAYS involved when I had damage or delays to my luggage in the last ten years or so.
Quality luggage can make a difference, if quality means "sturdy" rather than "fancy". A $1000 Hartman suitcase did only last two flights for me, while I have an old Delsey (black four-wheeler suitcase, weighing in at close to 15 lbs empty) that has close to 350,000 flight miles, tons of scratches, but still withstands all destructive attempts by UA or others. That suitcase was about $350 years ago.