All-

Just got back from a glorious 10 days in Positano and Capri, but unfortunately the trip ended in a rather stressful way. Long story short, we flew home yesterday on CO71 AMS-EWR but 2 of our 4 bags didnt make it. They made an announcement on the plane that the luggage belt broke and they were going to have to load the bags by hand. As a result, they didnt think that all of the bags were going to make it. Since we had just arrived from FCO, I was positive our bags would be left behind. I will give CO credit, they did their best and even delayed departure to get as many of the bags as possible but eventually had to vacate the gate for an incoming plane. Normally, I wouldnt care but my wife was going bonkers because one of the bags had stuff in it literally worth over $10,000 (mostly shoes and bags, each averaging over $500). Of course, thats one of the bags that didnt make it. My questions is this, if they knew they couldnt get all of the bags on, should we have been given the option to get off and wait with our luggage? Are we entitled to any compensation?

PS- Please dont tell me that if the stuff was so important to me we should have carried it on with us. I know that, but people check expensive things all the time.