Hi,

I got my luggage a week after arriving and in there I had bought a gift for my family which was about $100 in treats that went bad as they weren't refrigerated due to the delay. Can I claim money for it? It's only $100 so I don't want to make a big deal but people are encouraging me to complain, etc. It was multi-airline, so the flight that lost my baggage was United, but before that the problem with the delays and rebooking was the fault of Brussels Airlines.

I think it will be far more trouble than it's worth, as I think you know. I don't think packing perishable items was a good idea, nor was that particular factor any airline's fault. They reunited you with your luggage and I think that will prove to be extent of their liability.

from the United Website - "Avoid packing high-value, fragile or perishable items in your checked baggage. For domestic* travel, United is not liable for loss, damage or delay in delivery of high-value, fragile or perishable items. See Fragile and Perishable Items for detailed listings of excluded items.

"United recommends that you do not pack high-value, fragile or perishable items in your checked baggage. United will accept such items as carry-on baggage (subject to carry-on baggage allowances) or as checked baggage (subject to checked baggage allowances). If you choose to pack high-value, fragile or perishable items in or as checked baggage in connection with travel within the United States, United is not liable for the loss of, damage to or delay in delivery of such items. For most international travel, United’s liability for destruction, loss, delay or damage to checked and unchecked baggage is limited."

"For international travel to which the Warsaw Convention applies (including domestic* portions of international travel), United's liability is limited to approximately $9.07 USD per pound."

So upshot is, even if United were to acknowledge liability (which would be an uphill battle) you could only claim $9.07US/per pound for the spoiled item.

Perishable things should never go in checked bags, only in carry on (not possible of course if it is some sort of liquid/gel)

You are SOL and probably lucky whatever it was didn't ruin your suitcase/other contents.

Having had delayed luggage on 9 different trips I learned a long time ago never to pack anything valuable or perishable in checked luggage. I don't think you have a case.

For what it's worth the Queen of Delayed Luggage (that's me) feels your pain.

Ok thanks, I figured this might be the case. I packed it in my checked luggage because I was worried that they would toss it out at security if it was in my carry-on bag because it's pretty confusing what's allowed and what isn't since when I looked online while packing I was getting different results. It was macarons from Laduree as a Thank You gift for my parents, so it was pretty disappointing and now I think that would have been fine in my carry-on. I had bought them souvenirs they knew I was getting, but that was supposed to be more of a surprise thank you gift so I wish I had packed it in my carry-on.