[attyjimgreen]

Have you recently flown somewhere, paid the airline to take your luggage and on arrival find that luggage damaged or destroyed. I have flown a dozen times in the last year and every time time I arrive my luggage has been damaged. Seems as though the airlines would have to compensate you as they accept your baggage in one condition, take compensation for transporting it and then deny responsibility when it is damaged upon arrival. Would you expect this from the USPS, FEDEX or UPS. No, because the law protects you and you have property rights but that is apparently not the case and especially not the case at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, AZ.
My wife flew into Sky Harbor to be treated at the Mayo Clinic and I drove over to meet her as I am stationed at Fort Bliss, TX. Her bags arrived on a flight later than she did so I had to return to the airport to retrieve them. Upon entering the baggage claim office, I noticed that one of her bags had been ripped open across the entire top seam and down a few inches on each side. This bag was brand new and this was it first use. I asked the staff person about a claim form and procedures and he immediately denied any responsibility and walked away. I persisted and he then brought back another person who immediately denied responsibility, claimed it was overstuffed and poorly constructed and through her manner and actions was rude and insolent to me. I persisted with her and asked for a supervisor. She made a call and then indicated that the supervisor was too busy with a more important matter but might come later if I waited. I persisted and she then inquired about the cost of the bag and then offered a travel voucher for half, all the while maintaining a rude posture and demeanor. I then picked up my damaged back and walked out into the claim area and addressed the crowd awaiting their bags. I asked them if they thought it proper that Continental Airlines could charge you to carry your bags, accept those bags in new condition, destroy them in transit and then refuse to compensate you or provide you with a claim form. I used a tone loud enough only to be heard within 30 feet and made no threats and did not use any foul language. At that time, the Continental employee called the airport police reporting me as a security threat and 4 armed officers then surrounded me, defended the airlines and intimidated me to a point that I asked to depart without further pursuing my claim.