Worlds Favourite Airline (WFA) losing stuff

[buildersmate]

Following a recent flight, the WFA removed and lost a US-style lockable luggage strap between the bag being checked-in and being returned to me. These things aren't particularly costly - about the same as the cost of an application to the small claims procedure - but its the principle of the thing and the pathetic way they handle these issues. I complained by email and a brief exchange of emails followed - the first of which eluded the following admission by WFA: -

I am sorry to hear about the missing luggage locking strap. Random searches of luggage, like x-raying, are now a routine security precaution and I know the staff can be hard-pressed at times, but there's really no excuse for this kind of carelessness. I have asked the appropriate manager to follow it up. While I appreciate your reasons for asking, I'm afraid I am unable to offer you any compensation.

This was the best I got in terms of trying to get them to admit liability. Do fellow ABers believe this is enough of an admission to get anywhere using the small claims procedure?

[jno]

sounds like an admission of carelessness to me, but honestly, how much money are you prepared to spend to chase them through the courts? Wouldn't it involve a lot less expense and energy just to buy a new strap?

[buildersmate]

I was reckoning the cost of the new strap, my SC application fee and say �50 for my time. Plus I gain a load of expewrience in using the process (which I've never done before). Just weighing up the options.

[jno]

the biggest expense is probably psychic energy. You have to spend a lot of it just sorting this sort of thing out, focusing, keeping your anger fresh in case it all starts to seem like a waste of time. My advice to people contemplating going to law is usually not to do it unless something really big is at stake; you're better off shrugging it off and going out enjoying yourself.

[buildersmate]

Which is exactly what the WFA wants folks like me to do! QED. I'm not bitter and twisted - just cynical about their approach - we apologise a lot but do s** all.
I can up the anti merely be threatening to use the SC-P - think about the administrative hassle on their side - dealing with a small pain-in-the-backside that keeps jabbing away until he gets his money back.

[jno]

well, go for it, but try not to care...

[Oneeyedvic]

I'm pretty sure that you cannot claim for your time (�50 in your example)

[buildersmate]

I was hoping someone might have an informed comment on the extent to which the WFA appear to have admitted liability in their reply to me. Where's Themas whenever you need him?