I have never tried that but I will give it a try. The only "satisfaction" I have gotten is sending the following letter to American. No reply...
January 12, 2006
American Airlines Customer Relations
P.O. Box 619612 MD 2400
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9612
To Whom It May Concern:
Effective immediately, I will begin charging American Airlines rent for the use of my luggage when it does not arrive on the same plane as I do. Given the contents, I feel $10 a day to be a reasonable amount but I am will to negotiate it and of course, you always have the option not to delay my luggage and incur the charge. Please forward this email to your Accounts Payable department so I can begin invoicing your company immediately.
The reason I have come to the conclusion that there must be value in holding my luggage is because you seem to keep it so often. In the past two trips to the Dominican Republic it has been ?re-routed? twice. Consistency in execution like that is to be admired. I have not been keeping track how many times this has occurred in the past two years, but I cannot believe that it is due to incompetent or a lack of concern on your part. It would be staggering if that were the root cause. I believe you to be a better airline than that.
Point of fact, I know you are a good airlines because you insist your employees sit in the First Class accommodations that otherwise might be used for say, loyal customers. I find it stunning that the persons most qualified to sit in emergency seating are forced to sit in First Class and I fight to get into emergency isle seating for some leg rooms and pray the person sitting at the door wearing the ?I?m With Stupid? T-shirt didn?t borrow it from the person sitting next to him. But I am digressing. Let it suffice to say that I have come to the conclusion you like having my luggage and I am merely seeking remuneration for the service I am providing you.
I know I am of a lucky few who share this status. I see others at the luggage carrousel unloading steamer trunk after steamer trunk onto the airport carriers until the axels bend to scrape the ground. Obviously, there is something lacking in their luggage or you would opt to retain theirs also. Of course, it may be an efficiency issue, since they literally have tons of personal effects to go through and I never check more than one bag.
I believe that it might be due to some special screening you do to select luggage. Being an Aadvantage Platinum member, occasionally flying business class, you have pre-selected my luggage for retention. Well, following your lead, I am offering you membership in my Frequent-Finders program. With every 10 retentions, I will give you the carry-one I will need to replace due to all the excess handling. You are already pre-registered, no other airlines I fly have qualified.
So in closing, I want to thank you for your business, I really value you as a customer. Maybe someday you will have the same sentiment.
Best Regards