Oh, my word.
I've recently had my luggage lost/stolen from Air Transat. Our route was YYC-CUN CALGARY INTERNATIONAL -> CANCUN CHARTER TERNIMAL... Before even getting on the plane it started. They charged us $40. 00 because our tickets weren't "printed properly". Once we arrived, we discovered our luggage, and about 15 other peices of other's luggage (which included a woman's wedding dress as she were to get married), went to London via Monarch Airways. We were told off from reps at the hotel because we were "uncarefull because Air Transat never looses luggage", even though they have a horrible record of doing so...
Anyways, after the reps at Air Transat were ignorant and disrespectful for 3 days in helping (we were yelling in the lobby to watch out for Air Transat to whoever was checking in, this is the only reason why the buggars helped, to shut us up...), we got our luggage (which sat in the lobby for a day because it "wasn't Air Transat's fault"... A note attached said there was a possibility of destructive forces being in the bag and it read all of our rights for opening it, ladada ladada lasa... We opened the bag, to discover EVERYTHING was out of place, our clothes unfolded and in a big mess (they all needed ironing which would cost us a fortune due to the resort having to do it...), and we discovered multiple items missing-sandals, top-of-the-line sunscreen, and expensive perfume... Our friends on that flight also had their luggage "misplaced" along with about 1, 000 worth of perfume. We complained more to the reps, and went back to the protesting in the lobby before they aggreed for us to be able to fill out a form... HORRIBLE service on their part. HORRIBLE. Anyways, about 4 months after arrival and 3 letters to Air Transat, we recieved a sum of 200 USD for the late luggage and stolen property. Our friends still haven't heard back from Air Transat.
As a travel agent, I will never recomend Air Transat to anyone and avoid booking with them. I've experienced nothing but bad with them that they are past the point of getting better...
My advice to the origional poster is to examine any luggage that has been lost BEFORE opening, and take photos for proof of any forced entery. Also examine any expensive items being missing OR misplaced in luggage (moved inside case). And, once you have a bad experience with an airline, don't go back if possible...
Canada Flyer