400 Cases of Cognac Missing In Transit, Says Liquor Company

Bacardi has filed suit against American Airlines for more than $65,000 of loss for the carrier's misplacement of more than 400 cases of French cognac. 

The suit was filed in US District Court in Pasadena, California, where the airline is accused of taking on 1,680 cases of French brandy last September. The mystery began when the Paris to Los Angeles flight appeared stateside, Bacardi alleges, missing more than 6 full pallets of product. Bacardi says that the total loss reached 420 cases of the premium spirits, worth about $65,820. The suit doesn't concern itself with their ultimate fate, only alleging that the airline took custody of the product without ever returning them.

The loss was not the whole issue, however. Bacardi did not get away without receiving the traditional, down home American Airlines treatment, saying that its demands to have their cargo reimbursed have been left unanswered. Whether lost or stolen remains unknown, but Bacardi has run out its patience requesting the loss be addressed. 

Bacardi USA has grown its own 3 brands of cognac under the Otard, D'ussé, and Gaston De LaGrange. Its importation of products from Cognac, France has grown since its introduction, proving to be a sizable portion of its sales due to the more premium, 'authentic' nature of the genuine imported article. It does not seem Bacardi is pursuing much more than the cost of the missing product, apparently content to receive the liquor without inflicting additional damages or charges. 

FMI: www.americanairlines.com