Jimworcs,
We are absolutely of like mind. Your comments gave voice to what I was thinking.
It would be unrealistic to expect there would never be any wear and tear on baggage. The bag is still in service because it was well-made to begin with, I take good care of my things, and frankly it has been unmitigated luck that something like this never happened before.
At one time I was a big fan of Delta, and chose to fly it whenever possible, although American and Southwest were the greater presences in Dallas, where I live. Over time, however Delta’s Customer Service has eroded to disappointing levels. Indeed, the sheer indifference not just to this issue but to that of boarding of passengers needing assistance with wheelchairs is appalling.
The cost/benefit of the effort to recover for the damage is of course a factor to consider. I can either purchase a new bag, move on with my life and enjoy more meaningful pursuits, or I can pursue this to some conclusion, knowing that Delta has a better hand simply because of their size. The strongly worded letter is the best alternative and is the avenue I will pursue. I will use the remaining miles on my account for a few trips and after that will re-evaluate.
In the scheme of things, the boarding of passengers needing assistance is a much larger issue and should – and will- be addressed separately. As I was reading through postings today I found a lot of discussion about the topic on this site although I chose not to enter the fray.
Thanks to you and to all who were also so kind as to reply and “talk it out” with me. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s time and insight.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season to all ~
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