KLM managed to somehow misplace one of two boxes of wine my wife and I checked through from CPT to SEA (via AMS and YVR; CPT - AMS and AMS - YVR segments KLM metal). Baggage that is checked through to SEA gets imaged in YVR and pax are pre-cleared through US immigration and customs there in the airport after the luggage is verified. There is no Canadian / CBP intervention whatsoever.

We had no issue with the first box (that was found / transferred correctly when it landed in YVR) as the US has a 12 cent per bottle duty that that don't even care to collect because it is so paltry.

We filed a claim with the DL agent last night after failing to receive the second box (which we already knew was missing in YVR) when we retrieved our luggage in SEA.

Tonight, my wife received a call from a DL baggage agent informing her that she would need to drive up to YVR (2 1/2 hours one way), pay Canadian duty on the wine and then drive it back here to Seattle. She also told my wife that DL would not be responsible for compensating us whatsoever because the contents are wine and they don't cover that.

Oye. Now this is probably a KL problem to begin with because they failed to get the box that seemingly arrived on their aircraft with the rest of our luggage. That said, DL is the final carrier who handles the luggage claim. It seems like either KL or DL need to figure out the Canadian customs issue and get the box of wine here to SEA.

The red brochure they handed us related to lost luggage says nothing about wine or alcohol being an item they would have no responsibility for if lost and further, the harm would not have occurred had the bag simply been couriered as expected.

Your thoughts appreciated.