Standing at baggage reclaim watching the carousel go cold without my suitcases was awful. Repeated calls to the helpline ended in hold loops, so I used the customer feedback form and submitted my flight details with tag photos. An agent replied in a day, guided me through the claim process, arranged an emergency kit and got my bags delivered by a local agent. I also requested a seat upgrade refund. Switching strategy to use british airways was the turning point: my luggage arrived three days later and my refund posted within the week. That targeted approach let me bypass IVRs and focus on enjoying the trip.