American Airlines Pays Passenger $3,500 for Destroyed Bag
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You know the fear while waiting for your bag to arrive at baggage claim—everyone's grabbing their bags, except you, and you're left convinced yours ended up on a different path across the world. For one passenger flying American Airlines on Sunday, something possibly worse happened: She found her bag mangled, with shredded clothes, covered in black grease and toothpaste. It happened at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport's baggage claim, according to reports by ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA.
American Airlines, the carrier passenger Kristen Horabin had flown, offered no explanation. Horabin said she received her suitcase ripped and tossed in a plastic bin with stained and destroyed clothes, a broken hair dryer, mismatched shoes, and half her belongings missing. Horabin filed a claim after posting on Facebook about the incident, and within 24 hours, AA offered an apology and said it will be sending her a $3,500 check for damages and a $300 travel voucher.
One of our readers had a similar experience when he picked up his torn-up travel golf bag with dented and snapped clubs after flying United to San Diego. Thanks to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card he had used to buy the ticket, he was reimbursed $1,125. Several premium cards offer baggage insurance.