Taking Airline To Small Claim Court

Location: Arizona

Background: flight was 9am.
At 6:40-6:50am I show to airport.

The airline counter absolute chaos from previous cancelled flights. They have extremely long line. I already did my check in on app but can't get boarding pass without them seeing my dog since they are in cabin pet. I am waiting in line but it is moving extremely slow.

20-30 mins before boarding starts, they pull people who are on my flight out of the line and move to the first of the line to check in their bags. But, they refused to do that for me because I had a pet.

Boarding starting now, I ask if they can give me my boarding pass as this line is barely moving. They refuse.

Flight takes off on time. I am still stuck in line.

I think hour passes and It is finally my turn at check in counter.

They give me option to refund me but I wanted to be rebooked. They say it will be 3 days from now, but refuse to provide hotels or meal vouchers. I ask to speak to supervisor. Supervisor doesn't say anything new. I tell them to refund my ticket. They proceeded with refund and give me slip of paper.

A week goes by, no refund. I call airline, they said there would be no refund. It shows in system that I am marked as no show. They have notes in system saying I refused the refund(not true, I wanted to be rebooked first). And they can't give refunds to people marked as no show.

What I have done, filed complaint with DOT, business bureau, general attorney office, and sent emails to executive at the airline.

The amount of money I am supposed to get back is around 450. Plus the new ticket I purches around 450.

I doubt they gonna issue any sort of refund. DOT has zero enforcement authority.

What I have to use as evidence in small claim court:

1. I took pictures of the chaos time stamped around 6:50.
2. My location history shows me getting to the airport at 6:40. Even shows I was waiting at spirit counter
3. I have the chat history with corporate

Chat went like this No show, no refund

Ohh we did try to offer you refund but you refused

Ohh you were irritable when you got to the counter so no refund

I have saved the chat.

I am just trying to see if I actually have case to make since I missed the flight because they were short staffed and couldn't provide me with service. I wanted more than 3 hours in that line to be helped.