[caribketch]

I don't feel alone anymore: we flew from San Antonio to Providence, RI this past May arriving late on a Saturday night. My wife's luggage was fine, mine looked as if it had been pitched overboard. I filled out a damage report, but there was no place to dry or press my clothes that night nor Sunday. Two items were stained, and three hard-bound books were waterlogged. My wife attended a conference in Newport while my agenda had me traveling up to the Cape and down to Hartford. I wrote a letter to baggage claims noting that we were involved in a research project in Mexico, and to please respond by email. Weeks later [what appeared to be] a form letter was forwarded from our San Antonio address informing us we had 21 days to respond. Never an apology, nothing about time lost, inconvenience, or discomfort not to mention damage incurred. I am surprised because I have never had a negative incident with Southwest and use the carrier frequently. I'm responding to the lame response with copies to several agencies, including the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division, as well as a lawyer back home. I'm disappointed, and don't have time for any more nonsense.