Before you start: we're on a two week road trip and needed to check two bags. It's the first time I've done so since November for a week in Europe followed by a three-week cruise home: too much to carry on board, even in First/Business. That time they sliced up two brand new Hartmann/Wings hard cases (and of course, BA blames AA and AA blames BA and I'm still waiting for the repair reimbursement.) On fifty or more segments from December until now I've managed to carry on everything I've needed.

And yes, I know, MIA is awful, combining as it does the charm of Newark with the efficiency of Caracas. But still, this was truly awful. We landed at 11; 45 minutes late, and got to the (airport) hotel at 1.30 am, exhausted.

And yes, it was raining. Rain is something that happens. How can it be blamed for the delays?

#1851; BOS-MIA this past Tuesday evening 10 April by the numbers:

Wait time: One and one-half hours to get any bags off the plane.

"Are we standing in the right place?" time: One hour to so much as get the flight number on the signboard by the baggage claim carousel.

Number of baggage carousels in AA's area at MIA: at least a dozen.

Number of carousels in use: One

Number of carousels that occasionally rumbled, sputtered to life, moved emptily and without apparant purpose before resuming a silent and still position: two.

Number of flights whose baggage was finally disgorged onto carousel 21: five.

Number of unhappy AA passengers waiting endlessly for their bags: hundreds.

Number of helpful, communicative, proactive, AA baggage service employees during the extended wait time: none.

Number of soaking wet bags finally retrieved: two.

Disgust with AA's performance the other night: let me count the ways...