TRAVEL TIP

When Bill McGrath (Scottsdale AZ) headed to Bonaire, he had all kinds of problems. “American Airlines got us to Miami late, causing us to miss the one daily flight to Bonaire.... Some lost luggage — not sure if AA or ALM is to blame.”

Who’s responsible in such a case? ALM is. As Conde Nast Traveler recently wrote: “Once the first carrier signs you over to a new airline, it has effectively washed its hands of you, according to intercarrier agreements. You are now ticketed as an [ALM] passenger and if your subsequent flights are delayed or canceled it’s up to [ALM] to get you — and your luggage — to your final destination. Lost baggage reports should be submitted to [ALM], which would be responsible for paying the per passenger fee if the bags were never found.”