[Dutchnikki]

We, a Dutch couple, flew American Airways last week from Puerto Rico to JFK. We should have had one stop at St Thomas. The plane had a delay of 2 hours so we went right away to JFK. Our baggage did not and got lost. After 7 days and at least 15 calls to their ´free´telephone number the baggage turned up. And now they won´t pay for the telephone costs we had to make. Every time we called them we got another woman on the phone, put us on hold for minutes, even dared to ask why we did not waited at JFK for the bags (WE HAD TO CATCH A PLANE TO GO HOME, HOLLAND, HUH!). They did not call us back because they could not make calls outside of the US (??). Also they kept reffering to the website, but they did not update accurate information, so what´s the use of it. They might send us a voucher, but if you live in Holland, why fly with AA if they loose your bags and won´t pay for the costs.

[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Hopefully I'm wrong. But, perhaps, this is yet another example of someone finding-out the cheapest fare wasn't all that cheap--after the cost of the lost baggage is figured-in.

As you may know you can travel to the Carribean, and avoid the US mainland completely, if you're willing to pay a higher fare. From San Juan, back to Amsterdam, Northwest/KLM will sell you a ticket that has one change of planes in St. Maarten, and one stop in Bonaire. The portion between San Juan and St. Maarten is on an American Eagle prop.

If you, absolutely, can't avoid stopping/connecting in the US mainland avoid any itinerary that requires you to clear US Customs/Immigration in Miami. The place is a zoo. Make your connection in New York, Boston or just about anyplace else.

Finally you need to understand American Air is, nowdays, almost on a par with Ryan Air or Easy Jet.

Hopefully you will, eventually, get your baggage. Perhaps someone on this board has some ideas beyond making more phone calls.

[PHXFlyer]

I'm not sure if this would have worked and I know it's not very helpful after the fact but most US Airlines who travel to points internationally have at least a few published foreign telephone numbers. AA shoes the following number for The Netherlands: 020 2013 610

I'm not quite clear about exactly what happened. If your final destination was Amsterdam (an assumption on my part but it matters not where in the EU) you wouldn't need to claim your bags in JFK before connecting onward to Europe. Your bags should have been tagged in SJU (San Juan) to your destination as a flight from SJU to JFK doesn't require customs clearance. How did you know your bags were missing in JFK? Did you have a stop-over in New York?

[Dutchnikki]

Well, we flew with another airline to JFK (so see NY) and from there to Antigua. On the way back we would fly from Antigua to SJU, St Thomas to JFK. The plane on Antigua was too late, so at SJU we could take a plane straight to NY. The baggage obviously did not and got lost as we founs out at JFK. Without the baggage we flew to Amsterdam. After 6 days and many calls we finally got the baggage in Amsterdam, but AA will not pay for the telephone costs. The will send a voucher, but why take AA if we will not go to America within one year?

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer

I'm not sure if this would have worked and I know it's not very helpful after the fact but most US Airlines who travel to points internationally have at least a few published foreign telephone numbers. AA shoes the following number for The Netherlands: 020 2013 610

I'm not quite clear about exactly what happened. If your final destination was Amsterdam (an assumption on my part but it matters not where in the EU) you wouldn't need to claim your bags in JFK before connecting onward to Europe. Your bags should have been tagged in SJU (San Juan) to your destination as a flight from SJU to JFK doesn't require customs clearance. How did you know your bags were missing in JFK? Did you have a stop-over in New York?

[Dutchnikki]

Thank you. We called the Dutch phonenumber and they said: we can not help you, write a complaint thru the internet form of AA...
What a great airline compagny, not!!!!

[Marius Titulescu]

Had no problem with them thus far, but I have to say that I'll avoid them in the future.
_______________________________
Marius from US customs brokerage

[Pop Alexandra]

Originally Posted by Marius Titulescu

Had no problem with them thus far, but I have to say that I'll avoid them in the future.

It's a small world, Marius. I'd also prefer to continue working with W2C rather than try other less reliable providers.