We all know you shouldn't check vital medications, and that BA will reimburse at least some of the items purchased to cover the family while the bags were delayed.

The more interesting aspect here is the PR. Now that BA have created a situation where a growing number of customers are noticing a deterioration in both service and service recovery, and media are running stories about service cutbacks like the meals on TATL, this kind of article becomes more dangerous for BA's brand. Your average non-FT traveler skims it, or only reads the headline, and thinks "there BA goes again..." Instead of "Eh, doesn't affect me - BA was fine when I used them for my own holiday."