[InteriorsbyMonica]

AA failed to put my single bag on a direct flight this Easter Sunday from JFK Airport in NY to St. Kitts. Which meant when I arrived and had NOTHING but cold weather gear on and heels (it was below 50 degrees in NY) I was forced to purchase a swimsuit, hat and sunscreen at the only place open on a Christian island Easter Sunday. I was raped for $297 for those THREE items ONLY at the Marriott.

When I contacted American about my luggage they made constant promises for 2 full days of my 4 day stay and my stuff finally showed up on day 3. Mind you, day 4 was a travel day back home. Great.

After returning home I contacted thier "baggage claim assistance" people. I was then told I had to send my original receipts along with all my info and an explanation to Central Baggage Claim for approval and processing.

Today I received a whopping $50 (AA has a $25 per diem if your stuff doesn't make it...sunscreen cost me $20) and a letter stating unless I had AAs approval beforehand...they won't cover it.

It was clearly a form letter signed by Mr. Eduardo M. Lopez out of DFW, which is where the office for Central Baggage Claim is located. The letter states "we hope you will not perceive us as being less than sensitive to your inconvenience."

Insensitive isn't the word I'd use. I don't say NEVER often...but I will NEVER fly American again and I will be contacting my attorney for legal advice. What a cheap slap in the face by American. I spent a total of $3000 on a vacation that was ruined and negated by AA.

[RampRat]

There are a few reasons baggage might not get on even a direct flight. TSA could pull it to the side to be inspected, thus delaying you bag from reaching the airplane in time for your flight.There could be a problem with the baggage system itself (bags jam up within the system, mechanical problem, ect...). Airline under staffed. Sometimes the bagroom (where most of the bags are stored until departure), is in a different terminal from where the flight is departing. Therefore if you bag gets to the bagroom after the driver has left to run bags for that flight, it sometimes will stay there till he or she gets back. By that time your flight may have already left the gate by the time the driver gets back to the gate with your bag.

My best advice for ALL travelers checking bags:

1. Always check in EARLY!! Too many people try to push the limit of time.

Just because your moving faster to make the flight, doesn't mean the baggage system moves faster processing your luggage.

2. Put your name, date and flight itenerary on the INSIDE of your luggage.

To many time the bag tag gets ripped off as well as the name tags. without either one of thoes forms of identification, the airline has no clue who that bag belongs to. If there is no ID on the outside, they will go into your luggage to search for any information they can find to match the bag to the owner.

As a side point, Don't put medicines you are going to or could possible need into checked luggage. Also if you go on vacation and think that bottle of wine or rum will be just fine in your checked luggage, think again. Countless bottles get broken in checked luggage. If it's that valuable, or something you can't get locally, ship it FedEx or UPS.