Other technical problems have caused check-in to be suspended for awhile leaving passengers frustrated and angry with some flights delayedand cancelled. And it’s not just passengers who are angry. The travelinsurance industry is once again bracing itself to pick up the pieceswith claims for delayed departure, abandonment and lost or latebaggage, there is going to be a huge number of passengers making claimsagainst their travel insurancepolicies and against British Airways under the European Air PassengersRights. Not all passengers will have travel insurance but many willand, although it won’t solve the immediate problem of where are mybags?, is my flight delayed?, it will ease the financial pain later on.A good travel insurance policy will cover you for delay after aqualifying period of time so at least you won’t be out of pocket forthe snacks and endless cups of coffee waiting for your flight ormissing bags. Check what your policy covers and make sure you get aletter from the airline confirming the duration of any delay. Formissing bags, get a Property Irregularity Report from the Airport LostLuggage Section. Do keep any receipts for expenditure as well as thiswill help in any subsequent claim. If when you get to your finaldestination and your bags are not on your flight, again get a reportfrom the airline. What travel insuranceshould provide in these circumstances is an allowance, usually based oneach 24 hours the luggage is delayed, for you to buy essentialreplacement items, such as clothing and toiletries, for you to surviveuntil your bags arrive. There will be an upper limit to this dailyallowance and your travel insurance company will be looking forreceipts for these items to accompany any claim you make. This stillrequires you to pay first and claim back later but at least it meansyou won’t be too much out of pocket. Do again remember to obtain aProperty Irregularity Report. You will need to send this to your travel insurancecompany to substantiate your claim and they will also be looking forproof of when the bags were returned to you, so a signed and datedreceipt will also be expected. If you don’t have these, then it is verypossible that the insurers will not pay your claim. If your bags become‘irretrievably’ lost, then the insurance company will need a letterfrom the airline confirming this and you will then be able to claim forall the lost items under the Lost Baggage Section of your policy.