Olympian Returns Home Empty Handed

My husband, Olympian Jeremy Scott, came home to hugs and tears yesterday afternoon.  Jeremy had been home for only a few days since the Olympic Trials in mid-June.  He, immediately after the Olympics, competed in several meets in Germany before returning home.  And while Jeremy returned to an enthusiastic 21 month-old and teary eyed wife, he did not return to the USA with his pole vault poles.

Yesterday, Sunday, August 26th Jeremy checked in at the Delta desk in Dusseldorf, Germany for his flight home as he has done countless times before.  He was told repeatedly and vehemently that his poles would not be allowed on the plane.  After many questions and repeated assurances from Jeremy that his poles indeed have flown many times before without incident, the Delta representative flat out denied Jeremy's pleas.  The options were simple--stay or leave the poles behind.

Jeremy had been promising me (his wife) and Cam (his son) for weeks that he would be home on the 26th.  Cameron had a countdown calendar of how many days until daddy got home posted in his bedroom and on this particular day knew daddy was coming home "today!"  Jeremy did not want to disappoint his family and chose to fly without his poles.

As it currently stands, his pole vault poles (the livelihood of his profession) are still in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Delta cited changes in policy and safety issues as primary reasons for not putting his pole on-board.

This is not the first time Delta has screwed up when it comes to handling baggage--this YouTube clip details Delta charging US returning troops out of their own pockets for military issued bags.

If you think Delta should hear about this, here is their customer service information:
Jeremy Scott's flight was Delta Flight #25.

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Customer Care
P.O. Box 20980
Department 980
Atlanta, GA 30320-2980

Phone: 1-404-773-0305
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm ET (except on U.S. holidays)

Or email them here.

Or Tweet Delta @DeltaAssist

Other ways to contact Delta:  Below is the email address and mailing address for the President of Delta Airlines, along with the phone number for the corporate offices. 

edward.bastian@delta.com

Mr. Edward Bastian, President

Delta Air Lines Inc.

P.O. Box 20706

Atlanta, GA 30320.

Delta Corporate offices--(404) 715-2600