I travel a lot domestically within the US and my bag(s) seem to be more likely damaged on these flights than anything across Europe. Once I was flying out of BNA and looking out at the plane and I saw the baggage handler throw my Rimowa bag onto the carousel to the plane. I flew from AUS to LAX and my other Rimowa bag had its handle smashed off and plastic cracked. That bag was less than a year old. Took it into Rimowa Beverly Hills and they were so embarrassed, they just swapped it for a new case.

Like others have said, you could check the Samsonite warranty? Bags are designed not to break/damage *so* easily.