(feel free to move to more appropriate forum as applicable)

I was just reunited with a bag containing the bulk of my belongings which was separated from me on vacation. The condition it was returned in is nothing short of appalling! The primary zipper is broken, the handle that slides out so that it can be pulled was broken off, the luggage lock removed (and not returned---a pet peeve of mine!), the separate strap I used around the bag has been trashed and most horrific of all: a bottle of wine removed. I really want someone to pay for this, but it appears to be hopeless.

Problem is, this bag has been in the custody of multiple parties since I last saw it 6 days ago:
1) Airline #1 which originally didn't load it onto my flight
2) Customs officials in Country #1, where I arrived without the bag, and could have examined it later.
3) Ground handling for Airline #1 used in #1 above.
4) Airline #2 which I used to get back to the USA, transiting through their home base.
5) Security Services at the hub airport for airline #2. They left a dated sticker for me.
6) US Customs and Border Protection which may have determined cause to examine it, since I wasn't there to claim it.
7) Our good pals at the TSA (protecting aviation from terrorism, one baggie at a time) who would have screened it before putting it on the last leg to my home airport.
8) and airline #3 which ferried it from the US airport of arrival to my final destination.

Complicating factors:
The itinerary on airline 1 was a separate ticket from the 3-leg journey home. Airline #3 would not take a claim as it was never checked onto the flight I originally started the final journey home on (airline #2). Thankfully airline #2 was willing to recieve bag from the handling agent for airline #1 at my final departure point, and send it forward.

I'm writing it off. Not even sure if it is worth a rant email to any of the parties involved. If there hadn't been a stupid liquids ban, I'd have had the bottle of vino with me.