Originally Posted by helvetic

In the future, don't wait for your luggage in HKG; go wherever you need to go and buy things as necessary. UA should reimburse you for reasonable costs and once your luggage arrives in HKG they'll deliver it to you anywhere in the world, regardless of where you are. I just had delayed luggage in SYD arrive after I had already left for MEL. It eventually caught up with me when I got to BKK…

As for maximizing compensation:

1) email customer care separately about the outbound and inbound issues. stick to the facts (delay / cancellations / etc)

2) separately claim compensation for any expenses caused by the delayed luggage

3) if your credit card has delayed baggage insurance, claim there too