Okay, thanks for the input. I agree that he's lucky he's still married, by the way.

Though I am not usually one to check bags, I think this is an area where flyertalkers behave a little differently. It's not like AA pops up a disclaimer when you are booking - with this routing any checked bag has an 88% chance of making it to your destination on time. I don't know that it is unreasonable to expect a bag to arrive with you.

I'm pretty sure he flew SFO-DFW-ATL; I had a nice laugh imagining him adding extra legs like we might.

And finally, the issue of his compensation increasing our fares. I don't know how common a situation like this is, though I would guess it is not the kind of thing that happens every day. Let's say he got $200, which I think to be the equivalent of a VDB voucher. How many VDBs are dispensed in a month? What about the costs associated with people getting AANYCs for $400 and using them to get summer flights to Europe or that sea down near Florida that I will not try to spell? I find it hard to begrudge him something for a uniquely problematic situation, given the world here. Admittedly, he ought to have carried it on, but he certainly didn't check it in hopes of it getting delayed. Given others' experiences, it doesn't look like he should hope for much, anyway, so hopefully my mirth will be compensation enough.