[DEKYON]

09 June 2009
To whom it may concern:
On 30 May 2009, my girlfriend and I left Mobile, AL on our way to Panama City, Panama (PTY) via Atlanta, Ga. Our final flight was DL993 to arrive in Panama. Upon arrival, we were notified that our luggage was still in Atlanta. I said to my self, we would probably get them tomorrow morning. The agent at the lost luggage counter informed us that that would not be the case because there’s only one Delta flight to Panama per day meaning that it would arrive Sunday the 31st at about 2100. I called the baggage counter and was informed that there was a "weight and balance issue" and we would not get our luggage till Monday, June 1st. I’ve been in the aviation industry since 1984 and this is the first time that I’ve heard that less than 100 lbs. would create a "weight and balance issue". I called again on Monday and was told that it did not arrive again. Now, we got to Panama on Saturday, its going to be on Tuesday before we could get our luggage. I called on Tuesday and was told that our luggage was there but they were not sure at what time it would be delivered because the delivery service has a route that they must follow. I guess they deliver every piece of lost luggage. So, in order to get our luggage on time, we had to get a taxi to the airport, $25 each way to get our luggage. When we arrived, and got our luggage, my girlfriends brand new luggage was crushed. Every compartment that was not locked was opened and every item that was in these compartments was stolen. Just by luck, mine was not crushed but every compartment that they were able to open was also ransacked and items stolen. They even stole a laundry bag from my suitcase. I was told by one of your agents after we got our luggage that we were entitled up to $50 per day for every day we did not have our luggage. If my math is the same I learned, that’s three days at $50 dollars per day for two persons, it comes out to $600. We had activities planned for every day and we could not participate in those activities because we did not have the proper attire or equipment. For three days, all we could do was sit around the condo and wait for our luggage. That’s been money down the drain because we had to pay for these activities in advance. I have flown on Delta for many years, especially while I was in
The U. S. Air Force. This was my first time on Delta to Panama City and I don’t know if I want to try it again.