I always try to avoid sending my originals for this reason. So far, I am 2-for-2 on getting credit based on only copies (including for non-*A partner flights, which woudl presumably be the toughest without the original BP). The first time, I mailed the originals, and of course they lost them, but fixed it when I faxed in a copy of the correspondence to a "Service Director."

Of course, being 1K probably helps -- I worked through the 1K desk. So the OP might be OK. As for mearagirl, I agree with lucky9876coins -- try calling US first, since they presumably know you flew. After that, at least you're 2P (it sounds like), so try using that fact to get an "accommodation."

You could try sending your BPs to South Dakota "certified mail" of FedEx or some such mechanism by which receipt is documented. Absurd, but perhaps that's what's necessary these days. Of course there's no guarantee that that would even work if they claimed to lose them.