On reflection, this may be even more painful than it already appears. Presumably, because of the lack of any baggage officials at the airport, you were unable to file a “Property Irregularity Report”.

PIRs, filed at the airport on the day of trouble, tend to be critical under the Montreal Convention.

Lacking this may mean that the airline reject the claim out of hand, although I am sure it would eventually be sustained at CEDR/MCOL because they frustrated its filing.

I am genuinely not sure what this will mean, or how to proceed, because it would most likely entail the joy of going back to the airport with a low chance of success.

It may be a lot easier to claim from personal or credit card insurance which will also probably have higher limits.