By my records, I have flown 851 domestic flights in the past six years and nine months (well, there were two Canada trips in that). I check bags every trip because I carry tools that they don't allow me to bring into the cabin. Out of all of those flights, and 1-3 checked bags on every flight, there have been *two* occasions where my bags didn't arrive at the airport while I was waiting. Both times, the errant bag was delivered to me within 12 hours of arrival. One of those times I was more than 100 miles away from my arrival airport. On one occasion, a specialty bag of my wife's (with two bowling balls, if it matters) was damaged in handling. I took it to the baggage office where I was told that damage to wheels would not be covered. I told her that I understood, but would like to document the damage anyway. When we got to our hotel, I logged into the baggage claim website and added pictures of the damage and then called the DM line and explained that the bag was non-functional with a broken wheel. The agent asked me how much a replacement would cost. When I told her that it would be about $220, she told me to go ahead and replace it and upload the receipt to the baggage system. I had a check for the full amount waiting for me when I got home a week later.

So, yes. The system has been good to me.

But aside from all that, my actual question was ignored. What do you hope to accomplish (besides going zero-to-Karen to make yourself feel better) by calling the baggage office. Do you really believe that you are going to cajole them into doing more about your claim than they are already doing? Do you think that when they say "Yes sir/ma'am, I will drop everything and get right on that", that they are *actually* going to drop anything or get right on anything? Do you think that they will suddenly realize that the bag that they are staring at while you are talking is actually YOUR bag, and happily reunite you?

Do you seriously not recognize a "go away" answer when you hear one?