[carlj]

DCA (Washington DC National) to Miami with connection (LAN) to Lima (Peru) on Oct. 29, 2008. American lost bag in Miami (with 2 1/2 hours between flights), and it was delivered a day later. Then on the return trip (Nov. 13, 2008) I checked my bags at the American ticket counter in Miami (because I had to pick them up and clear customs); they lost one again, which did not reach DCA. I was told it would be delivered to my home by noon the next day (today). I waited all day and finally called at 2:30 and supposedly the driver had it in the next town and would deliver it within 1/2 hour. He claimed he had called at 1 pm. He did not call, but he did lie about saying he did. I was here every moment, waiting for it, and my phone shows no "missed calls." The only call was a recorded message at 2:27 pm (while I was on the phone with American) that it had been picked up and would be here in 4 hours! Since I was then told it would be here within 1/2 hour, I waited another 1 1/2 hours to call again. Still, they say the driver is out with it and he will call (hopefully). Why is this so important to me? The bag is my CPAP machine, a medical devise for sleep apnea and very important to my health. I had not flown on American in many years, and the last time, in fact, that I did, my wife and I both had our luggage lost -- all of it. They call it "delayed." I call it "lost."