On Feb 14 I flew my first-ever Continental trip: DCA-IAH-LIM. It was less than wonderful (I know, I know, one shouldn't expect 'wonderful' from today's airlines, but I had heard quite a few good things about Continental). Flights themselves were fine, crews were great. But upon arrival at LIM, a number of us waiting for luggage were informed that our bags didn't make the flight due to the aircraft being overweight. We were sent to a counter for more info. The Continental employees working the counter were apologetic, gave us each a form, included the phone # for the CO baggage office at the Lima airport and told us we could call the following day for more info. No promises or suggestions were made as to when the suitcases would actually arrive.

From Feb 15 - 19, I called the local number at least 10 times. No one EVER answered. I took to calling the US 1-800 # for baggage. CSRs there were of varying helpfulness. I got conflicting info about all sorts of things - about where my bag is, about when it might get to LIM, about reimbursement amounts (for needed toiletries/clothing). In the end, my suitcase got to LIM (flown on cargo through Miami) Sunday PM. We had to drive to the airport on Tuesday, confront some employees to actually get the darn thing. It was sitting in a locked room behind the ticket counter with at least a dozen others...and it seemed that the local employees had little interest in returning these suitcases to their owners.

This was my 1st Continental flight, I have no status, but I am interested in some type of compensation. (I am willing to give CO another chance - although just in the US and most likely not checking a bag. ) Five days without a suitcase in a foreign country is just excessive. (I had to convince some of the CSRs that buying new clothing (other than Tshirts) in Peru was practically not an option - I'm a 6ft tall woman visiting a country where the average height is drastically shorter.) Naturally, what made the situation more frustrating was the lack of and conflicting info. My friends and I did not leave Lima that weekend because I was told by one CSR that the suitcase would arrive on Saturday and that I would receive it Sat night or Sunday at the latest. Delivery to the place where I was staying was continually promised, but that was not the case - we had to drive to the airport ourselves in order to receive the suitcase.

Interestingly, one of the CSRs I spoke to said, "The Continental I work for is not the same CO some other people work for." Another one told me, "Well, Peru is a 3rd world country, and who knows what they are thinking and/or doing." The best CSR I spoke to tried to call all CO numbers at LIM - baggage, ticket counter, general manager's office and one other. He did not receive an answer at any of them!

My story isn't even as sad as that of some passengers from EWR. Their baggage from a Feb 11 flight arrived at LIM on same cargo flight as mine: 8 days w/o a suitcase...

Anyway, I just needed to vent a bit. And I'd certainly be interested to hear any advice/suggestions as to where to direct my letter of complaint, what to say, and what to ask for. Muchas gracias in advance!