In Mallorca without my checked luggage.

I booked a round trip for SFO-CDG last fall when there were sales in J on UA.

Then I booked a separate flight to PMI so the routing was CDG-ZRH-PMIround trip.

When I checked in for my UA flight, I got them to check my bags through to PMI. So the routing was SFO-EWR-CDG. Both UA flights were slightly delayed but I made the connections. I landed in CDG 25 minutes later than scheduled.

The connection time to the LX flight was originally 125 minutes. After long slog through passport lines, I approached security to reach my gate. No boarding passes but I gave the baggage claim receipt which showed both the UA and LX routings all the way through to PMI to a security worker who disappeared for 5 minutes, returned and waved me through. What she'd done was go to the LX agents at the gate and left the baggage claim receipt, where they printed out my boarding passes.

She didn't explain any of this to me, just told me to go through (where they made me take out my DSLR and iPad). I asked another worker and they took me to a nearby desk where they printed out my boarding passes.

There was a long queue so I didn't even go to the LH lounge nearby. Had maybe 10-15 minutes at the most. So they board and I reach the gate and the agent there said she had my passes and baggage claim receipt.

Now during this time, LX emailed me saying they're looking for volunteers to book on another flight with 125 Euro compensation. I didn't read this email until I was in the LX lounge at ZRH.

I made it to PMI and it took 20-25 minutes before the belts started turning. About an hour after the flight landed in PMI, there were about 6 of us still waiting for their bags. The strange setup is that the carousel was in a separate room, with one way entry and exit. There were no airline reps in that room.

We started wondering where we could find someone. Turns out LX outsources baggage services to a company called Ground Zero. Finally several of us find that desk. The woman there said go look to see if more luggage is coming out. It stopped coming out 20 minutes ago but she went to check while we waited at the desk on the opposite end of baggage claim.

We finally convinced these people our luggage was missing so we started filling out the forms.

Most of the other passengers had their luggage checked at the gate for some reason. They had nothing when they left the airport while I had my hand luggage. They also said they got this request to rebook as well.

My theory is LX pulled our luggage in anticipation of our accepting their offer and it remained in CDG for that overbooked LX633.

Now, my luggage was sent to the next LX flight to PMI, 24 hours later. Ground Force says they have my suitcase but to deliver, they refuse to meet me in a big square near my apt, which has no access from the street without a key to the building.

Instead they want me to go two blocks to Corte Ingles because there's a taxi rank there. I explain that there are multiple bus stops at Plaça Rei Joan Carles I but she kept refusing.

Something with the Mallorcans here. I also had issues with a shuttle company leaving the airport, which blamed me for not getting to their checking desk because of the situation with my luggage.

I'm not one who thinks such and such people hate Americans or something. I've traveled to Europe often for decades, rarely had problems. But these people had no flexibility whatsoever.

Now it's 7PM or 5 hours after my delayed bag arrived at PMI and 29 hours after I arrived in PMI. Waiting for a call to run out to meet the Ground Zero driver two blocks away. It is a Sunday but no change of clothes, no toiletries, etc for over a day and I've had to stay near the apartment for the afternoon and early eve.

But if LX pulled bags without my agreeing to rebook, that's a pretty ...... practice, and they are represented here in Mallorca by people who have little regard for their clients.