U.S. travelers sue British Airways in mishandled luggage case

Diane Clarkson | September 10, 2007, 04:51 PM

I believe we are on the brink of a re-energized traveler consumer advocacy. With the ability to communicate/complain via blogs and reviews and fueled by the deplorable service delays on US air carriers, travelers have little patience and a growing voice.

Now, three US travelers have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against British Airways over mishandled luggage. While international agreement established airline liability on international flights at $1500 loss limit, the lawsuit argues that this limit should be waived when an airline is reckless.

As I understand it, drawing the line between reckless and incompetent will be a challenge, particularly in an environment exacerbated by security measures and storm-related airport shut-downs.

I’m sympathetic. I’ve arrived in more cities without my bags than I care to remember. A few years ago, Air Canada lost my bags twice on the same trip causing me to cancel a camping trip and postpone a cottage weekend so I could wait for the bags to be delivered. Air Canada then tried to reimburse me for only one half the cost of the replacement toiletries. It took nine months but I finally got the full $40 back and did the “It’s the principal of the thing” happy dance.

This BA story may seem like a sidebar about a fired up passenger, but it’s worth keep an eye on. It may catch fire on the blog circuit. And it could lead to a world where your actual losses could be covered when an airline, ahem, “mishandles” your bag.