Originally Posted by
zeebanker
Doesn't the OP have to sign an acknowledgement to the effect "I consider the 10k miles as final and absolute payment for xxxxx" for it to be considered a final settlement? If the cut is really serious and OP incurs expenses and spends time to rectify it, I think he/she may have a claim, but I'll defer to a legal opinion here. The point is, the 10k miles could be a customer service gesture for inconvenience caused, not payment for documented damages.
This->
That is what may save OP here. Often times, DL is very explicit that any miles etc. given out are only a goodwill gesture, not an acceptance of responsibility. That being said, if DL retains a recording of the phone call, how the conversation went would likely determine if it was a goodwill gesture or if the OP thought he was accepting compensation and only demanded more once finding out he could have gotten more. The former is an angle that OP might be able to pursue on his own with minimal chance of success. Given that the OP only needed a bandaid, I wouldn't think it would be worth a lawyer's time. If it was the latter, its over.