On Thursday my daughter flew from Manchester to Gatwick on her way to Halifax in Canada for the start of a threee month back packing trip.

Her bag did not make it to Gatwick!!! She is now in Canada with only the clothes she stands up in. She was originally planning to stay in Halifax for two days prior to going to Prince Edward Island and then who knows where. She has extended her stay there by two days in the hope that her bag mat be delivered.

I eventually spoke to someone today and I get the impression that if the bag is located that the chances of it finding her in Canada are very slim. BA will not designate the bag "lost" for 44 days. Her insurance company will pay £100 for expenses resulting from delayed luggage.

Has anyone any experience of how much BA will pay in expenses relating to delayed luggage. She obviously needs to buy a new back pack (the one that is missing was brand new and cost £160). She has already bought toiletries and underwear but after three days obviously needs to buy tops, shoes, jeans etc.

I have told her to buy what she needs, keep the reciepts and I will sort out the insurance claim but I am concerned that BA and her insurers will only deal with her direct and she is in the middle of nowhere or by the time she returns to the UK in November she will be out of time for claiming.

I feel so sorry for her. She has been planning and saving for this trip for so long and she is having all these problems before she starts.

Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Mandy