This is a great thread!
A couple months ago I had a camera and mobile phone stolen out of my locked luggage on flights from Uganda to London, via Nairobi and Amsterdam. I knew the items were stolen because the empty camera case was sitting on top of the clothes, etc. when I opened the suitcase. I called KLM when I reached the UK, but they told me to file a claim with NWA when I got home to the US. Apparently if your home address is the US you must file KLM claims with NWA.
I followed the procedure they required and 6 weeks later received a letter stating that they were not liable as their written policy did not cover cameras, electronics and so on. So, no compensation. Indeed, the KLM website does state this.
But, I wasn’t quite ready to let this go. I read this thread carefully, and pulled up some of the conventions and treaties listed. I then drafted another letter and listed 3 international and European treaties (because this ticket began and ended in the UK), and stated that these treaties outweigh airline policy.
http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/air.carriag...montreal.1999/
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20020263.htm
http://eurlex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi...002&nu_doc=889
I quoted “The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1000 SDRs (approximate amount in local currency). In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault.”
To make an already long story short. I received a nice letter and check for the amount I asked for from the supervisor at NWA.