obxgirl, if your calculations are correct, then $125 per person would cover my ski gear that I bought in Atlanta. Of course, I'm not a fashion diva, neither did I have to buy new clothes at a ski resort. But, then again, Salt Lake City is known for reasonable ski rates and shops so that COULD cover replacement attire in SLC.

Someone I worked with was a true fashion plate on the slopes and had a completely coordinated outfit for every day on the slopes. $125 wouldn't come close to covering the cost of one jacket! But, then she didn't learn to ski at Sky Valley and Cataloochee!

gracieb, I didn't calculate the $125 figure. I took it directly from travel_gal's post. It's the maximum amount Delta said they'd reimburse to each ticketed passenger for, presumably, the inconvenience of being without their luggage.

Wow, how did I miss that?

So they offered her $125 per person AND she got her luggage back (albeit after 3 months but did she miss the ski clothes in April, May and June in Atlanta?)

Hmmm...can you some one tell me what the problem is? I must be too tired. Time to go to bed.

And American Express has said they would reimburse the difference?

I HAVE to be missing something.

The problem must be the "ski gear." Delta lost my luggage for four days last year in San Francisco and cheerfully (for an airline anyway!) gave me an allowance to buy new clothes while waiting for my bag to arrive. They offered this compensation very early when they couldn't locate the bag in their tracking system. (Airlines often know before you do that the luggage is in the wrong place and when it will arrive in the right place.)

gracieb, I'm not arguing with you. I don't have a really strong opinion about travel_gal's situation. But it seems like a smart idea for anyone who wants compensation to figure out what it is and direct the request (demand, whatever) to someone who can resolve the dispute.

Okay, I'm going to try to figure this out before I give completely up. She said they carried their coats on board so they didn't have to replace them. EVERYTHING else for four people for a ski vacation was in ONE bag. She spent $2500 to replace those items.

"We had to buy everything- ski pants, shirts, hats, gloves, goggles,socks, you name it. We did not buy a lot, just enough to get us by."

She lists 6 items. If she spent $100 on each item (pants, shirt, hat, gloves, goggles, socks) that's $600 per person times 4 people = $2400.

That's a lot to pay for those items. Perhaps Delta thinks she went a bit overboard in her replacement shopping or doesn't quite believe that the entire ski wardrobe for a family of four was in ONE bag.

Don't know. Just doesn't sound like the Delta customer service I've known for years, but perhaps that's dropped as much as the stock and profits.

Good night.

I'm sorry. One more thing strikes me as very strange. Her entire ski wardrobe for a family of four has been returned to her but she hasn't even opened the bag to see if everything is there?

"Anyway, last month they found it and delivered it to me. I really don't want it and I still haven't looked in it."

And when Incognito asked about that, her reply was "To incognito, I have no idea where that suitcase has been for three months. No thank you"

And then adds - "I live in Atlanta and it's not like I can wear them again here."

I can't figure that out. The mention of Loss Prevention jogged my memory. I have a friend who is a Loss Prevention regional manager for one of the country's largest retailers. More than 90% of their losses are inside or customer thefts.

If she has not even opened the bag that was returned to her, how can she determine what if any of her original ski gear is missing from the wayward bag?

Doesn't make sense. Doesn't make sense. None of it makes any sense.

I'd take my $125 per person from Delta and run, because...hate to say it...this smells fishy.

I must not be explaining myself clearly.If only I knew who to direct my respnse to. When I filrd my claim at the airport they gave me a 1 800 number to call and said the very rarely lose luggage and it would show up. Well ,it didn't. Every time I called the 800 number I could never get anyone who spoke english. I swear their lost baggage claim is in Bombay. Anyway, while we were there they kept telling me to rent ski clothes. You can't rent ski clothes. I tried to explain to them it wasn't ski equipment but ski clothes. It was like talking to the wall. I called several times and I never spoke to anyone who spoke english. To Gracieb, We were in Deer valley, Not SLC. I certaining wasn't going to drive back there to find a bargain on ski clothes. Deer Valley is NOT know for reasonable ski rates. Anyway, It was close to the end of the season, we went to the few stores in Deer Valley and bought what fit because we wanted to ski not shop. I'm sure I could have found things on sale but I really didn't have time for that. I saved all my receipts and sent them in with my claim form certified mail. I have called several times and they alwaystold me it was in processing to call back. Last month,They did return my suitcase but I didn't need it anymore. I had been home for 3 months. I called today and they gave me another number to call because it goes to another department since they found the suitcase. The person I called was on vacation but the person who answered the phone was very vague and said they probably wouldn't pay because they found the suitcase. They found it 3 months later after I didn't need it anymore. I have never had a suitcase lost before. They can lose it for 3 months but not reimburse you for anything one had to buy especially something as specific as ski gear. Also Amex ex won't pay anything until I get something in writing from Delta but I can't get that. Every one I talked to thinks it has to do with Delta's current financial situation and they're just stalling.

Sorry, I meant inside or employee theft.

Maybe it's worth a drive to Alabama to the "Unclaimed Baggage" store to buy backup gear.

You most certainly can rent ski clothes!

I agree, it smells fishy.
travel_gal, did not open your bag yet? Take $125 or whatever and don't make others guilty.

<I live in Atlanta and it's not like I can wear them again here.> So you spent all this money for ski clothes just for skiing once?
As obxgirl said you could rent everything. In the begining of your ordeal when Delta told you they would give you #22.00 per person for renting you already had your mind made up and you kept telling them thess were ski clothes not ski equipment but it never sank in. You figured you would straighten it out when you got home.
They told you up front how things work but you insisted you could have your way.

You could rent ski clothes, take $22.00 per person Delta offered you and pay the differnce which AMEX would paid. I bet, it wasn't pleasant experience but you sound as Delta should pay you for emotional distress. They won't. Get over, go on with your life. Start planning your next trip and if you have to check your bags for family of four never put EVERYTHING in one bag.

I retract my retraction. You DID expect Delta to buy your family of 4 a new wardrobe (and you shopped accordingly).

From the beginning they were clear with what they were offering. You chose not to "understand" because they were in "Bombay".

I found the fishy smell. You always stay in a Ritz or a Four Seasons or the "best hotel in Chicago" where you book the Grand Suite. Your teenagers always travel with you in first class. Your inlaws live either in the 4S or Ritz in Palm Beach. You book a suite WITH a connecting room for your family of 4. You are traveling on the far end of the spectrum and asking for help, input, support from Fodorites who don't for many reasons. Some because they can't afford to and some because they could afford to but choose not to (I know, hard to comprehend).

You bought $2500 of new clothes sans jackets completely expecting Delta to cough up the dough. They aren't going to, never were going to and never will. They have told you and put in writing what you are "entitled" to. Darn, it's hard living by the rules the rest of us live by.

I've skied the west several times during Atlanta spring breaks and the stores were full of sale items. You didn't "have time to look for sales". Rather, "we had to rush out the next morning and buy new clothes. It was pretty expensive but we really didn't want to shop but to get on the slopes"

You recommended on this post to keep a pocketful of ones and fives to tip the wonderful folks at the Stein to help your boots on. I would imagine you are frustrated because you can't find the right person to slip a tip to to make your problem go away. Unfortunately, they seem to be in Bombay (your words).

Please don't just trash the bag of clothes they returned to you but you won't even open because who knows where it's been! Donate it to charity or something. Talk about too much "disposable" income.

gracieb: WOW!

Well done, gracieb. Thank you.
It really makes me mad and sad for that person when she/he thinks rules do not apply to them.

gracieb, I think you are right. I can't understand why travel-gal why you have not opened the suitcase that was returned to you. It was most probably just sitting in an airport storage room somewhere.
Why would you not save the clothes for future use? Or at least give them to charity or even a consignment shop?

I don't understand this.

Sorry travelgal but it does sound like you thought you would eventually be reimbursed for the $2500.

A question for travel_gal - What's your husband's take on this situation? Does he think Delta should pay for the $2500 in replacement ski clothes?

I'm also wondering why Delta would employ staff to handle phone calls when they "don't speak English." Would the problem perhaps be that they have strong accents? Or that they have accents, period?

One would think that an international airline would be more careful! Imagine hiring someone with an accent.