Originally Posted by jimmielin

Indeed. Delayed bags are a routine of air travel (and from the experiences of my co-travelers, it seems to happen more often if you have experienced it once!) and we just learn to cope with it. My experience is that:

0) Don't pack anything irreplaceable in your checked luggage. In fact don't pack it anywhere - leave it at home. For clothing & daily stuff, I leave 2-3 days of change in hand baggage so I don't panic.
1) File the missing bag report (get WorldTracer number), confirm I will send receipts of necessary expenses due to delayed/lost bag to the airline. If they get you a prepaid card (BA does?) the better.
2) Live on. If there's something you need to replace with reasonable expense, buy it and keep the receipts.
3) Wait. Nothing will help, calling, emails, etc. WorldTracer is really a simple system where people enter their lost bags and unclaimed bags are entered within and matched by the system. Expect nothing more. Eventually it will arrive or be lost!
4) Send receipts to airline and claim compensation. No need to be dramatic - flight #, date, PNR, lost bag tag, list of contents, receipts.

If you have travel insurance, you can claim with them too. Once you get used to it, lost bags are nothing more than a minor issue in travels.

Safe travels!

Originally Posted by Often1

If you let something as small as a missing bag containing easily-replaced items "ruin the vacation of a lifetime" you are never going to enjoy much of anything.

1. When a bag goes missing, simply complete the required report and leave the airport. If there are additional details, call afterwards, but all that is needed on the spot are the basics which you have. LATAM also permits you to make a report via its Contact Center within 7 days of arrival (international). You will be assigned a tracking number which you can use online.

2. Stop worrying about the bag. Nothing you do is going to make it appear any faster. Do not change your travel plans, miss tours and the like. Under the Montreal Convention, you are entitled to reimbursement for reasonably necessary expenses up to a maximum of approximately US$ 1,650. This sum will be deducted from the value of the bag and contents should it ultimately be lost or damaged.

3. Call the Contact Center. Unless there is a good explanation for the delay, advise that you will file a DOT complaint (I presume that the ticket was purchased in the US) if you do not have full payment within 7 business days and that you will initiate a chargeback for the funds against your CC.

As an aside, a much easier route is your travel insurance. You would have a check in hand and your insurance carrier would collect back from LAN and you would be done with it.