Sign InRegister

BA planning to run full schedule

Airline on course to return misplaced luggage

QUICKVOTE

LONDON, England -- British Airways said Friday it is planning to operate a full schedule for the day.

In a statement on its Web site, BA said: "We advise customers to check-in for their flights at the normal time and urge customers to use online check-in to avoid queues at the airport."

Earlier, BA said it was on course to return misplaced luggage caught up in the terror alert chaos to 5,000 passengers by the end of Thursday.

Flights were gradually returning to normal Thursday, the UK's Press Association reported, with no plans to cancel any long-haul flights, although BA cancelled 19 short-haul flights out of Heathrow.

On Wednesday British Airways axed three long-haul and 32 short-haul flights at Heathrow as well as 11 domestic services at Gatwick.

"We should be back to a full service by Friday," a spokesman for BA -- which has had to cancel more than 1,100 flights since the new anti-terror measures were introduced last week -- told PA.

BA has been using a variety of transport modes, including freight aircraft and lorries, to reunite bags with passengers.

By mid-afternoon Thursday, British Airways' baggage backlog had been reduced to "several hundred," PA reported.

A BA spokesman added: "We are still looking to get all bags back with owners by the end of today." BA said it planned to operate a "zero cancellation" service tomorrow.

New advice for air passengers on what you can do if your baggage gets lost in transit is available at www.euroconsumer.org.uk -- the website of the UK European Consumer Centre (ECC), hosted by Citizens Advice.

Key advice points for air travelers include:

If you are travelling soon, check your insurance policy and think about what valuables you really need to take with you. Leave anything else at home; :: If your luggage is lost or delayed, report this while you are still at the airport and ask to fill in a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) form;

There are very strict deadlines on claims, so make a formal claim in writing as soon as possible. You can always add receipts etc later, but claim in time or your claim may be lost;

Get more advice when you return home. UK ECC director Ruth Bamford said: "The Association of British Insurers say they expect their members to use their discretion in dealing with claims arising from the new security measures at British airports. "But as this is an unprecedented situation it's difficult to predict exactly what to expect. The important thing is to make a claim as usual and get advice, but make sure you act quickly."

Story Tools

Subscribe to Time for $1.99

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.