The wife and I are in SJU on vacation. A couple of things have not gone so well with the airline. Weather at SJU is a different story. We gave one of our bags to the Flight Attendant for a gate check. The FA failed to place a tag on the bag. As a result, the bag did not make it to SJU. I called the baggage service office at IAH on 11-21-2003, where we originated, and they said that they had it and that it would be sent today to SJU and then to our hotel. Today, the bag did not arrive. I called IAH again today and 24 hours later, after the bag was mishandled, they still had it. I informed them that we needed the bag ASAP because the bag has vital medication, heart condition and diabetic meds. The new representative stated that the bag will be delivered by tomorrow on or about 12:00 Noon. One of the bags was also dammaged. The representative at the baggage office at SJU stated that the bag had become unsewn.

My question to my flying friends, do I have any recourse on any of this lost/dammaged baggage or should I be happy that things are found and enjoy the rest of my time at SJU.

I have had good experiences with lost and damaged baggage issues with CO. Maybe I am an exception.....

I had new bag badly damaged once, and took it to the baggage office immediately. They made a report and asked me to bring it back to them once I had unloaded it at home. I did so the following week, and a few weeks later, received a new bag (no-name brand, though). I guess they looked at the damage and felt that the repair was too costly. The original bag was not an expesive on either.

One other time I was told to box it up and ship it to a luggage repair place, and although it took a month or so, I got it back in like-new shape.

As far as lost luggage, CO has always sent it to me via a cab(?)at my home or hotel usually within 24 hours.

BTW, what status do you have? Maybe they work a little harder for their Golds/Plats....


K

I've not had lost luggage in a while but the last time (bag missed an EWR->PHX flight) they bent over backwards to offer to replace up to several hundred dollars worth of whatever we needed while they located it and got it to us. I was silver elite at the time.

You absolutely have rights regarding lost and damaged bags. Continental should let you know what those are but I think after 48 hours they should be willing to reimburse you for most reasonable expenses as a result of not having your bag. They should also reimburse you for any damage that doesn't appear to be just regular "wear and tear".

Next time a F/A tries to take your bag from you I would recommend removing any vital medication or expensive items such as electronics or jewelry and then stand in the jetway and wait for a luggage tag to be placed on the bag and to be handed the reciept.

Several years ago, on CO's way from worst to first, I had a checked bag damaged when I got to Tampa. The CO rep immediately went into a back room and brought out a new bag to replace the damaged one. Oh, those were the days.