Awaiting despatch: Luggage on the runway at Heathrow Enlarge Image

The Boeing 777, bound for New York, will have undelivered bags both in its hold and cabin.

BA has already used a fleet of lorries to deliver the luggage across the continent, and FedEx for other bags.

The airline says some 4,000 pieces of baggage are still being processed, but should be cleared by Wednesday morning.

The airline last week cancelled some 100 flights due to bad weather conditions.

The breakdown of two conveyor belts at terminals one and four on Tuesday and Saturday added to the chaos.

"We are doing absolutely everything we can to and offer our sincere apologies to passengers," a spokeswoman for BA said on Monday.

"We have managed to clear the majority of the bags.

"We hope it will be clear in the next few days."

Apparently they're sending the luggage out to Geneva by lorry Andrew Osborne, now back in London Traveller's tale of woe

She added that some 100 volunteers were helping to sort the luggage at Heathrow.

A spokesman for the airport said that the backlog was mainly caused by the heavy number of cancellations following freak storms.

He added that the technical glitch at terminal one on Tuesday was fixed by Wednesday morning, while the problem with another conveyor belt at terminal four on Saturday was rectified later the same day.

"These technical difficulties in the baggage system have only contributed to a small extent to the overall backlog of bags," he said.

BA has advised customers to write to the customer relations department with details of their claims, or call the airline's baggage tracing number 08457 22276.

Your comments

I flew with two friends to and from Spain in June by Iberia and they managed to lose our luggage in both directions. This was without the excuse of a massive storm. Although we were re-united with it eventually, it was extremely inconvenient. Many people had the same problem and we were offered no compensation. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have managed to lose my luggage in the past, too. So it's not just BA.
Paul Steeples, London UK

I travelled from Heathrow to Helsinki on Friday night and on my arrival (late due to delays at Heathrow!) I was told my luggage was still in Heathrow. The sole purpose of my visit was to attend a wedding on the Saturday afternoon. My clothes, the wedding presents and greetings from friends in the UK who couldn't attend the wedding themselves were in my luggage and therefore still at Heathrow. I was reunited with my luggage when the couple had left for their honeymoon and I was on my way home - and to add insult to injury my luggage had been damaged and I found it in the baggage collection hall in plastic bags! Need I say anymore?!
Vanessa Heap, London

If this was to happen to any of the low cost airlines would you get your baggage back safely? Nina, UK

I think that it is a really bad setback when baggage is lost and if it is the first time that someone has used BA you would expect them not to use them again. But if this was to happen to any of the low cost airlines would you get your baggage back safely? Another thing, there is nothing saying about how all the other airlines coped in the bad weather. Did they have the same problems and how did they deal with the crisis? It is a worry that passengers' bags were not put on their rescheduled flights. How do so many people go on a flight and not have their luggage with them?
Nina, UK

As a monthly business traveller on BA to and from the Middle East I have come to accept that my baggage will never travel with me. If this problem occurred occasionally it would be acceptable, but it happens every trip. Sorry that was inaccurate, I got it for the first time on my last flight, the other 5 or so people were not so lucky. It must cost BA a considerable sum in compensation, loss of customers, damaged reputation, and courier services. BA should be renamed Bagless Airways!
Steve McKean, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, UK

Although I understand the frustration felt by some contributors here, please give BA a break! Returning 7,000 pieces of undelivered baggage, from 100 flights to numerous destinations, with 1000s of individual owners either still away or now home must be a logistical nightmare! I have twice flown with other airlines and been the only person on a flight to have lost my luggage... and have never, ever seen it again despite my calls to disinterested customer service personnel. Hopefully, BA's laudable efforts will have everyone reunited with their bags soon.
Jane, Herts

I have been without any luggage for 7 days, with only the clothes I am wearing Sarah Barnett, Johannesburg, South Africa

I have been without any luggage for 7 days, with only the clothes I am wearing. BA has so far done sweet B.A. to help me, I cannot even get through to anyone on phone lines. I have faxed through numerous letters to almost anyone I can find, with no one replying. I cannot be told when I will receive my luggage, if I even still have a suitcase or where my daily medication should now be bought from. There has been no financial assistance. (It's not their fault... something about the weather... mumble, mumble) I am furious, but surprisingly still on hold waiting for someone to answer the phone...
Sarah Barnett, Johannesburg, South Africa

My mother and a team of physicians are on a medical mission trip to aid the people of Kenya, Africa. They arrived their safely, but all of their luggage has yet to arrive. This has had a tremendously negative impact on their mission to serve the people of Nairobi, due to the fact that all of their medications and medical supplies are in that luggage! As a result, they have had to turn away hundreds of people in dire need of medical attention. This heartbreaking circumstance is going to affect so many people in so many ways. BA needs to realize that this glitch has really had a huge impact on the world and our brothers & sisters in need right now in Africa.
Jenna B., Chadds Ford, USA

Only two weeks ago I made a return trip to the UK and BA lost my bags on both legs of the journey! I had to wait one day for them to be returned on the first leg and 10 days on the second leg. My only concern was that if they were lost BA have a cap on the financial liability for lost luggage which was a lot lower that the value of my things.
Barry Simpson, Caracas, Venezuela

Full marks for a prompt service S. Harrap, Peterborough, Cambs

I have just returned on BA from holiday and the luggage was lost in transit between flights. BA located the missing luggage within 24 hours and delivered it direct to my front door. I was able to track the items on the internet. Full marks for a prompt service. Would budget airlines match this?
S. Harrap, Peterborough, Cambs

This crisis sounds bad, but demonstrates the lengths to which British Airways will go to ensure passengers and their bags are reunited. Anyone who has ever had bags "mislaid" by one of the budget airlines (can you hear me, Mr Ryan?) would marvel at such service. I've had luggage delayed several times with BA and "other" airlines. BA are one of the few carriers who I trust will reunite me with it and compensate me fairly.
Anthony Cody, London

Thank you British Airways! A bagpipe band playing at a local Highland Games didn't get their kits thanks to your company, sparing my bagpipe-ravaged ears from more skirling. Every cloud has a silver lining!
Michael, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland

I have to learn what is happening from the BBC news on the internet! Richard M. Brade, Groton, MA, USA

I have been without my two bags for one week now. Despite several attempts at contacting Customer Service, (either always busy or voice mail saying all bags will be delivered within 48 hours), I have not been informed as to what is happening. If I treated my customers like this I would be out of business. I have to learn what is happening from the BBC news on the internet! Great service BA!
Richard M. Brade, Groton, MA, USA

The lack of information here has been unbelievable. It's only been 4 days I've been without my luggage. It's proved to be a real inconvenience, but I guess they won't be offering any compensation for that. It's been impossible to get through on the phone for the baggage line, and customer relations weren't helpful either. The website says baggage received at airport and delivery process initiated, but it's said that since 1600 Sunday. The airport is only 8 miles from my house, so I don't trust what that is telling me. An all this in the same week as they have the cheek to raise their fuel levy too.
Matt Chambers, Edinburgh, UK

Got back to the UK from the US after a business trip. No luggage for five days, no help from BA (actually some quite rude responses) whilst over there. Apparently my colleagues over in the US have now been asked where my bags should be sent to in the US despite BA being told I'm now back here. Likely to ever see my bags again? I doubt it.
David Allen, London, UK

I travelled last Tuesday and have been chasing my suit bag since then. After purchasing a new suit to undertake a presentation I returned to the UK on Sunday. Despite informing BA that I am in the UK, guess where my bag is now!! Yes in the American hotel I stayed in. I wonder if I will ever see it again. BA Bags Absent!
Gareth Irvine, Belfast, N. Ireland

BA must have known that their luggage was not on the plane Gavin Smith, Bedford, England

My son and daughter-in-law have just started their honeymoon in Italy without luggage. After a superb and glitch free ceremony and reception, their emotions have now taken a complete U-turn on this most special of occasions. BA must have known that their luggage was not on the plane but were prepared to let them wait around for 2 hours in the airport at Rome, frantically trying to locate their luggage. Nothing that BA now do will make up for this mistake but they need to do something and very soon. They also need to communicate, clearly, what they are doing.
Gavin Smith, Bedford, England

We have just received our luggage from BA. I have waited a week for the luggage only to find the clothes either wet, damp or mouldy. One of the baggage items had holes and grease on it and some of the clothes had holes in them. I am currently in the process of writing a daily itemised account of my actions while trying to retrieve my luggage. We fly to the States a couple of times a year. This is the first time in 9 years that we have had any problems. No-one at customer relations or the baggage information tracing helpline was able to tell me when I was to receive my luggage. The staff at BA were so busy that they were unable to update the internet until after I received the luggage! This was the first time we flew with BA and will probably be the last!
Vicky Boden, Warrington, UK

Can you believe I have been without my luggage since Tuesday last week, so now 7 days, and still BA can provide no update on when I might expect it. I travelled to Geneva, and spent Wednesday through to Sunday evening with no luggage, plus no explanation as to what had happened. The BA website tracing facility still tells me that tracing continues, although I understand the bag is still airside at Heathrow. I wrote to BA's customer relations department yesterday morning, exasperated, and asking for help, but as yet have received no response. As a customer who travels with BA at least every month, I am very disappointed, particularly at the lack of information.
Andrew Osborne, Hemel Hempstead, UK