Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of the mishandling. Here are some helpful tips should you choose to write a letter.
* Type the letter and, if at all possible, limit it to one page in length.
* Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).
* No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter businesslike in tone and don’t exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider rewriting it.
* Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.
* Send copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.
* Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.
* Don’t clutter up your complaint with petty gripes that can obscure what you’re...