British Airways is one of the worst airlines for losing your luggage. You would think that with all the technology, this situation would be a thing of the past, but it isn't. You've seen it firsthand because you travel a lot on business. Now, your company is sending you to London, and you figure you should be prepared in case your bags are among the ones to get misplaced. You have questions like, "How long might it take?" and "How many hours will I be on the phone trying to take care of this?" Contacting British Airways regarding your lost luggage is actually fairly simple and can be quite painless if handled correctly.
If your luggage is not on the carousel, try your best to let someone working with the airline know before you leave the airport. They can usually give you some ideas as to what you will need to do to get your things back.
If you flew on more than one airline during your trip, it is the last one that you flew on that will be responsible for your bags. So they are the ones that you need to talk to about the problems.
People may sound confident that your bags are right on their way, but you will want to question them closely on this. They may think that your luggage is on the next flight, but have them check the actual status on their computer to make sure.
If you can't find your luggage before leaving the airport, these are the things you need to do. First, make sure you have a way to keep in contact with the British Airways baggage claim agents (phone number). Second, ask them how long it might take to get your luggage to the airport. And finally, ask them about their reimbursement policy on what you have lost.
File a "Lost/Delayed Baggage" report with the British Airways baggage claim agent or visit the link in sources to do this online once you reach your hotel. British Airways will deliver your luggage to you free of charge. It is usual for them to have everything to you within 72 hours.