Just a note of caution if you're flying British Airways this summer.

During the first half of the year, 28 out of 1,000 British Airways passengers did not receive their baggage at their destination. The BA baggage crisis is peaking up at Heathrow. Moreover, this summer BA had a backlog of 22,000 items of luggage that had missed their owners!!

still trying to get BA to agree that items were stolen at LHR may18, they only say my bag was delayed.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35045359

Seems my DH has bags lost almost every time he flies BA. One year they lost both of his bags. One suitcase was located and returned 3 weeks later. Fortunately, the other item - an ice chest with $400 of meat - was never found!

BA just sent me a check for $750 to compensate me for delayed luggage that had items costing twice that amount that wre stolen. How long do I fight them?

steamer - I am not sure how to fight them. I think that unless you have receipts and documentation regarding what was in baggage - you're stuck with their set compensation.

I bring 6-8 bags/boxes back with me each summer (we live overseas) and I have a detailed inventory (with prices and receipts) for each bag. Fortunately, I have never had my DH's bad luck and my bags have always shown up with me at the airport. Granted, I usually fly Lufthansa, NOT BA!

Good luck!!!!

You do not put anything valuable in the checked bags!

International flights are governed by the Warsaw Convention when it comes to luggage compensation. The current rate is about $25 per kg, or about $12 per pound. Given that each checked bag is usually 50lb or less, $750 is already more than BA is required to compensate you.

Petition to join the class.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...luggage06.html

just to clarify - I never put valuables in my checked luggage. All jewelry, electronics, cameras, musical instruments, etc come with us as carry-ons. However, I can easily have $600-700 dollars per bag of clothes, sports equipment, OTC medications, food, hobby supplies, and other items that I bring back on a regular basis. While I try to limit each back to about $600, I do sometimes go over that value. But I always have a detailed inventory (with receipts) so if I had to replace items if a bag was lost or damaged - I know exactly what needs to be repurchased.