Ashkan Aghassi, who is in the first tier of the airline’s frequent flyer program, was traveling from Phoenix to Dallas on May 26. When he landed, he waited for the two Pelican pods containing the equipment, but they never arrived. Aghassi told Insider once he realized his luggage was delayed, he filed a claim as “the value of the Pelican cases and their contents was well over $100,000,” but could only provide receipts worth $72,796. Insider reviewed a copy of the report on missing baggage, flight reservations and equipment receipts. Two days later, he called his baggage department and was told they had been found in Dallas and would be “rushed to Long Beach Airport” and delivered to his home. The promised delivery never came, Agassi said. “I called central baggage and got through to an agent who advised that the file had been closed for some reason and that the information the previous representative had given me was incorrect – the baggage was not found.” The agent, whose name was shared with Insider, reopened the claim and said he would follow up with Aghassi. AA policy is to wait at least 30 days from first contact before an inquiry can be made. In late June, Aghassi followed up by saying he was frustrated by the lack of updates. On July 5, he received an email saying that the luggage was considered lost. The representative asked Aghassi to send him receipts for the equipment to finalize the claim and issue payment. After doing so, he has heard nothing more. The story continues His business insurance does not cover the equipment because it was carried as passenger baggage and not on a freight carrier. Agassi concluded: “I spend tens of thousands of dollars with [AA] and their partners annually. During my 1.5+ million miles of air travel, my luggage has been delayed or lost several times, but I have never experienced anything like this.’ Insider has reached out to American Airlines for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider
