Some months ago I moved to Austria, and got my bags 5 days after I arrived at my destination. One of the bags, or rather a suitcase, had been damaged. Some plastic had been broken off, there were torns (you could easily see it had been dragged upside down) and the lock took 20 minutes to get open, though afterwards it functioned better again. The suitcase was only two months old and it was the third trip I used it on. It is a medium brand, not top of the line but also not the cheapest.

I took pictures of all this and sent to the airline.

A month after my arrival I took a partner airline using the same suitcase. On arrival it had been even more damaged. This was a damage that was new, this I was pretty sure of since I had examined the suitcase when I got it back from my first trip. Though I can not be 100% sure. I went to the luggage-office and immidiately recieved a replacement suitcase of the same model. The new suitcase seems to be a bit cheaper made, though I don't know this for sure. I like my first one better. But decied to store my first suitcase and try the second. Though still useable, the first suitcase is now stored in another country where I can not access it until the summer.

This week I recieved a response from the first airline, asking me to send the reciets on how much it had cost to repair my first suitcase. But I have not had it repaired.

My problem is this:
I have already gotten another suitcase to replace my first one. Should I still make claims from the first airline?
If yes, how do i do that? I will not be able to repair it until the summer, and even so, I'm not sure if it is worth the hassle.

Any comments on this?

Dear Airline 1

I have not yet had an opportunity to have this suitcase repaired. The suitcase has been taken to my [parents' home/family home/permanent home] in Country X. I will obtain a repair estimate on my next visit there in x months' time, and will be in contact again in due course

That leaves all the options open for now, and you can always decide later. I'd have no qualms about claiming from both airlines; after all, they both damaged it!

Both airlines damaged the bag but the 2nd airline replaced it. Therefore, let the first airline go.

It is unethical to try to get money from the 1st airline. If you do, you should then refund a portion of it to the 2nd airline. Since this becomes too complicated and wastes too much time, it is acceptable to withdraw your claim from the 1st airline and let the 2nd airline's compensation (replacement) suffice.

The 2nd airline probably doesn't mind even knowingly replacing the bag because it's probably more costly to repair just their damage (and leave the pre-existing damage alone).

You could ask for compensation from the 1st airline but it would reflect poorly on your character.

What I will is do let airline 1 know that I already recieved compensation for the damaged bag. But I'll still expect compensation for the clothes I needed to buy.

You should go for compensation from both airlines, after all, they both messed it up for you !

I think you should let the first airline off the hook since the damaged suitcase is already replaced by the second airline. Not sure if it would have costed more to repair the damaged suitcase twice or replacing it, but had the first airline repaired the damage it's responsible for, the second airline may not had to replace your suitcase for it's responsible damage. In essence, the second airline compensated you for both it's responsible damage as well as first airline's responsible damage by replacing your suitcase. Therefore, I don't think the first airline really owe you anything other than the inconvenience it created by delaying the arrival of your luggages.

If you have nothing better do with your time, you can refer the first airline to the second airline to see if the second airline wants to be reimbursed for the compensation it gave you for the first airline's responsible damage. I doubt the second airline would have the time for this, though.

LAX