Help Me Hank: Helpl Me Hank! Damaged Luggage

Look fast, because this picture won't last long: Lauren and Katelyn Dennis together.

Growing up the pair was total twosome, from babyhood to backyard blankets to making way for ducklings.

"We get along pretty well," Lauren Dennis said.

But these days, busy with work and school, the once inseparable sisters started growing apart.

"I can't even remember the last time we went away together as a family," Katelyn Dennis said.

That's why when the Dennis sisters were invited to a family wedding in South Carolina, they jumped at the chance to go.

"It gave us a chance to kinda be together again. It was nice," Katelyn said.

The wedding was great. Spending time together was great. But the trip home wasn't. Something was missing when the family got back.

"We landed in Boston and waited and waited and waited. We were the last ones there," Lauren said.

But their luggage never came around the carousel.

"I had nightmares about my clothes being missing," Katelyn said.

The family filled out the missing baggage reports and the good news: the airline finally found the missing suitcases. The bad news: one of the bags didn't make it back the same way it left.

"The pocket was ripped off at the back. The luggage tags were all ripped off. The frame underneath was just snapped in half. The wheel wells were broken," Lauren said.

Together the girls reported the damage and Lauren kept calling the airline, wanting compensation for the destroyed bag. But they only offered to patch the rips and that would still have left luggage unusable.

"I just thought I would have to travel with trash bags," Katelyn said.

That's when they decided to make one more call.

"So I called Help Me Hank," Lauren said.

We know where to find the rules about luggage damage. It's all explained in the airline's lengthy "Contract of Carriage." This particular airline says it will be responsible for up to $2,800 for damaged luggage.

So we called the airline to remind them of their own policy.

And soon this brand new suitcase showed up on the Dennis's doorstep.

"It's bigger than my old one but I'm very happy," Katelyn said.

And the sisters, together again, are now planning to take that new bag on another vacation, of course, together.

"I wanna go to France," Katelyn said.

Each airline has different reimbursement rules so be sure to check with your airline before you fly. Many have their "Contract of Carriage" available on their website.

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