My first post on FT, be kind.

I recently took a LAX-IAD-ROC flight. The redeye to IAD was full, and thanks to a malfunctioning Easy Check-in machine at LAX, I got to the flight late and had to check my bag at the door. I told the FA that my final destination was ROC, not IAD as my boarding pass indicated. She took my boarding pass, promised she'd remember, and asked me to take my seat. When she returned my boarding pass with the claim ticket, I noticed that the ticket listed IAD as my destination. Alarmed, I told her again that my final destination was ROC. She apologized and said she'd have it changed immediately.

When I arrived in ROC at 9:41 a.m. on Thursday, it was sans bag. The United agent dutifully filled out a delayed baggage report and said that since there were 4 flights a day from IAD into ROC, I should have my bag by the end of the day. I did not.

Friday morning I called their 1800 number for delayed baggage and asked where my bag was (the United voice prompt system, by the way, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment). The agent said that my bag was at IAD, and had been scanned at about 2 p.m. the previous day. So United confirmed that they had my bag and knew where it was. My bag did not, however, arrive that day.

Saturday afternoon I called again, and after much wrangling, finally got through to an agent. The agent said my bag had been scanned at 11 a.m. that day, but was still at IAD and had not been sent out. She tried calling IAD, but received no response.

Finally on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m., I received a call saying that they would deliver my bag in the next few hours. 72 hours after filing my delayed baggage report, I finally received my bag, just in time to catch my flight back to LAX later that evening.

I'm obviously not happy - United was at all times aware of my bag's location. and had physical possession of it. There were 11 flights from IAD to ROC between the time I arrived in ROC and when my bag finally arrived. And the United 1800 system for delayed baggage is abominable.

What I'd like to ask, is what would be the most prudent/productive course of action for filing a complaint? Is there any chance United would somehow compensate me for its negligence and my troubles?