Delta Finally Apologizes to Passenger Who Lost Camera

Delta Airlines

This is the story of Charles M., an airline passenger whose camera was stolen by a Delta airlines baggage handler. Not only was he able to track down the thief (via an eBay auction) and got him fired, arrested and prosecuted, he also finally got Delta to make amends, a move the airline company simply refused to do in the beginning.

For starters, Delta has now agreed to reimburse Charles the cost of his original flight but that should not be enough. While Charles apparently does not want more than to be paid back for the actual cost of all his troubles, the lousy response by Delta deserves a little spanking from media and consumer groups.

The theft took place in August of 2005, involving a $250 Fuji digital camera which Charles placed in his checked in baggage on a flight from Newark, NJ to Springfield, Missouri. It took him eight months – and a mountain of red tape – to finally get his camera back.

While the fine print in Delta’s contract of carriage may absolve the airline of any liability, the airline ignored a customer’s plight initially, only warming up to the idea of attending to Charles’ complaints when it came to media’s attention.

Maybe travelers should also ignore Delta’s service altogether. A business that perennially totters on bankruptcy perhaps can’t do its job properly after all.

[Via: Consumerist.com]

Published by Chris Malinao

Chris teaches Lightroom as workflow software to photography students at the FPPF, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation. He also teaches smartphone photography.