Baggage Handlers

Ever wonder why the new luggage you bought for a special vacation looks so ratty after just one trip?

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We were boarding our flight in Chicago, OHare airport when the lady in front of us on the gangway said "Look at what that guy is standing on, someone should get a photo of that."

I had a camera in my backpack and by the time she finished speaking I was taking off the lens cap and setting the auto focus. As I snapped the first couple frames I thought to myself that there is something else wrong with this picture. ...... Hmmmm ..... I know.... That's MY brand new fricking suitcase the bozo is standing on!

What he was doing on my suitcase I'm not really sure. Don't they have conveyor belt ramps to load luggage? Maybe he's not a baggage handler at all. Maybe he's the guy that empties the toilet holding tank. That makes me feel better. Yeah, he probably just borrowed my suitcase from the baggage handlers because American Airlines doesn't want the blue poopy water to get spilled on their step ladders.

Now, my first thought was that American Airlines would want to know about this right away. They will want to see these photos, right? All we have to go on is that the guy was wearing grey sneakers with black laces and servicing flight 1400 from Chicago to Boston on July 16, 2006 at around 7:00 PM. Not much, but if they get a look at the photos soon enough someone will remember who that was and speak to this idiot. Right?

So do they want to see the photos? Do they have a phone number that you can call and report this type of abuse? Will I get an apology from the guy in grey sneakers? Will Santa bring me a new suitcase?

There is no toll free number for complaints. I found this out the hard way after making a number of toll calls to various employees who all had the same "Not my job, maybe you can call this other number". The only way to get in touch with customer relations is via snail mail, fax, or an Email submission form on their website. I thought the Email submission form would be the quickest. Then again I once thought that there was a fairy who exchanged silver quarters for tiny teeth.

Three hours after filling in the Email form an auto reply comes back something to the effect of "We are currently experiencing higher than normal email communications from our customers and our response to you may be delayed. yada yada yada"

Over a week later a reply from an actual person. I'd like to tell you what that message said but I can't. American Airlines has lousy baggage handlers but they seem to have great lawyers. No part of their Email communication may be reproduced in any medium. Suffice it to say then that I'll never get an apology from this clown and if Samsonite ever sees these photos I will probably lose my 10 year warranty coverage due to misshandling.

Check your bag for you sir? Yes sir, just checking to see if there is anything breakable!