My only checked suitcase on AirTran flight 1911 from Houston Hobby Airport (Texas) to Gulfport, Mississippi on Thursday, April 26, was lost or stolen by the airline.
My desperate attempts to get AirTran to search for my missing suitcase were fruitless. Just about every time I called the airline for the next four days they stated no notes had been entered into the computer as to my lost luggage claim.
I ended up filing my suitcase inventory with AirTran for $2142.68, whcih also included $154.576 worth of items I had to buy while on vacation April 26-28. (Actually, I realized later that I had left out over $100 of other items I forgot about, but I decided not to bother filing these items and take a chance on confusing an already very confused airline.)
AirTran sent me a check for $1,263.64, far less than what my loss was, stating in a half-page letter that this was "Based on the information which you have provided...". The limit of liability is $2,500 according to Section D of the BAGGAGE portion of the airline ticket jacket I kept.
The letter also states, "This may not cover your submitted claim in full; however, if you have insurance coverage that will provide additional payment, we will be glad to cooperate with your insurance company in their investigation."
My home insurance has a $1000 deductible, and State Farm has stated that only the non-reimbursed amount is applicable, so my insurance paid me nothing.
Other than an apparent belief that my insurance company should cover any part of my claim that AirTran did not want to pay, I received NO documentation or explanation for why the full amount was not paid. The inventory forms did ask for receipts for all items, but no reasonable person retains receipts for everything with which they travel! All I has were the receipts for the items I had to buy for my two nights of vacation and a receipt for a new suit, tie, and socks I took with me. These receipts added up to over $500, so AirTran reibursed me for only about $750 of the remaining $1600 claim - less than half!
I would appreciate ANY help your organization can provide to me. I am at my wits end trying to get my just-due from AirTran, who has been unresponsive and uncaring throughout this entire adventure. Thank you in advance for your assitance and for posting this so other people will not have to learn the hard way what I learned: a cheap airfare is only worthwhile if nothing goes wrong!
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