In 1999, I flew Air France from Atlanta to Germany to go to the Christmas markets. I had just moved to Raleigh, NC, but flew out of Atlanta since I had purchased the ticket before the unexpected move.
The flight to Germany went without a hitch. When I got back to Atlanta, my bags didn't. Air France wouldn't tell me what was going on, but an Asian male working for Delta (who handles Air France baggage in ATL) told me the luggage handlers in Paris had gone on strike and my bags were still in Paris. He was so polite and helpful. I wish I had flown Delta instead of Air France.
I asked Air France if they would reimburse my motel room if I stayed in a cheap motel like Motel 6, Travelodge, or Econolodge to wait on my bags. She said that they couldn't reimburse my motel since I was at my destination. I told her that I live in Raleigh, not Atlanta, and that there were Christmas presents that I had bought at Christmas markets in Germany that I was needing to take to my parents in Knoxville, TN. She said, "We don't have time for your sob story." I couldn't believe the stuff coming out of her mouth.
Anyway, I told her that either she could pay for a cheap motel (and that I was being really cool by only asking for a cheap one) or they could mail my luggage to me, which would be very expensive in comparison. She said they would mail it.
I went ahead and drove to Knoxville to visit my parents. I kept calling Air France over the next few days to check on my baggage. After a few days, the ladies answering the phone immediately recognized my southern accent. It was so funny. After a week or so, the luggage made it to Atlanta. The next day, I called and they said it was on one of their flights to Memphis. I asked why they were flying it to Memphis! They said, "You asked for us to send your luggage to Tennessee." I replied, "Yeah, but there's an airport in Knoxville. Besides, Atlanta was only 3 hours from Knoxville. Memphis is 9 hours away! Why not just fly them to Knoxville from Atlanta?" He replied, "Sir, we have to follow procedures."
A couple of days after that, my bags finally arrived.
The End