[Linda Mattia]

I took a flight on April 20, 2011 from LAX with American Airlines to Illinois. When I got to the airport at LAX to check in my suitcase, I paid $25. It asked me if I wanted to pay an “extra $9” for my carry-on to “be sure it got on the plane.” I did not pay that since I “expect” my carry-on to go onto the plane. That is what I already paid for with my ticket! When I was boarding, they told me groups 4 and 5 would not get their carry-on luggage on the plane. Which shows me American already knew before the flight I could not get my carry-on onto the plane. The carry-on had to be checked. I quickly grabbed my laptop out of the carry-on. When I got on the plane, I saw MANY empty places in the overheads for suitcases. When I got to my son’s in Illinois, all my gifts for my grandchildren were broken. I had put them in the carry-on to protect them!! And a cup I bought at the airport was broken. Also my make-up mirror and bulbs in it were broken. My grandchildren knew I was bringing their birthday gifts. But the gifts were worthless!! I can still remember the sad looks on their faces when I opened my carry-on! All broken! It was a HORRIBLE experience!!! Then I had to go out to the store and buy more gifts for them to replace what American Airlines had done!