[kgemuend]

I left Buffalo - Boston on Monday May 16 to connect with Alitalia for 5:45 pm and on to Rome. The US air flight to Boston was an hour late in arriving. I had to rush from Terminal B - Terminal E at Logan (back through security) and made it to the gate at 5:35 pm. The plane for Alitalia was still there. Door was closed and they would not allow me and 4 other US Air passengers to board. They told us to return to US air at terminal B. Alitalia knew we were not on the plane and could have cared less. US Air did nothing to protect us as passengers to ensure the connecting flight would wait. I asked about my bag checked in Buffalo and US Air rep told me "it is illegal to send a bag on a plane where the passenger is not on board" I found out later that is a lie. US Air does not know where my bag is. I spend all night at Logan, am offered nothing by US Air for accommodation or food. They offer to rebook me on AA however, my study group has left Rome at 11:00 am with their scheduled bus transportation to our first stop. I have no way of regrouping with them, or contacting them. I am also without any information regarding my checked bag, which contains not only my personal belongings for this 3 week study tour, but my course books, presentations and other pertinent info. I am devasted. US Air rebooks me back to Buffalo so I can try and figure out what to do. That flight on Tues morning is delayed and they bump me to another flight. I arrive back in Buffalo Tuesday, May 17, and file a lost luggage claim. I spend all day Tuesday and Wed May 18 trying to salvage this study tour. My bag turns up in Rome and I am told they will ship it back. I ask them to hold it there so I can perhaps schedule another flight, but they tell me they will not hold the bag in Rome and it will be shipped back regardless. On Thursday May 19 I get a call from US air that they will hold the bag in Rome for me. I try again to rebook a flight, however the costs are exhorbitant. I have by now missed too much from this study tour in order to complete it. I have also paid 2500. for food and accommodation for this course and the course fee of $1000.00. Although US Air at least attemted to provide me with information, it was all incorrect and misleading. I have lost so much more than just the flight.