Up at 7am. Well 6am in the disunited kingdom but we aren’t there. Vesuvius, having looked clear and large across the bay yesterday, is shrouded in cloud and it has been raining overnight. It is forecast to rain for much of today from what I can see. The chairs on the balcony were wet so I wiped them down before sitting there to write my diary. Nipped in for 30 seconds to put the kettle on for THG and it started raining again so I’ve brought a chair in through the door and am sitting just inside the room facing out. Vesuvius has now disappeared. I can just imagine someone way back in Roman times thinking the same thing. Not from this hotel’s balcony obvs. The now heavy rain is quite relaxing fair play. Could do with it at home but I’m told it’s lovely there.
The overnight news is there isn’t any overnight news. No sign of our cases. I take most essential things in our carry on luggage but neither of us has a change of clothes.
I got an email from BA last night:
Dear Customer,
We’re sorry to let you know that an issue with the baggage system at London Heathrow Terminal 5 may affect your journey today. This means your checked bag may not be loaded onto your flight and could arrive later. (yes well we already knew that and what’s this “may” business)
While this issue is with the airport’s baggage system and outside of our control (uhuh), please be assured that we’re working closely with Heathrow Airport to minimise disruption and get your bag back to you as quickly as possible.
As always, we recommend that any essential items, including medication, travel with you in your hand luggage wherever possible.
If your bag is delayed, we’ll keep you updated and let you know as soon as it is on its way to you. If you need any further support, please visit ba.com/delayedbaggage or speak to one of our colleagues in the Arrivals hall, who will be happy to help.
If you need to purchase essential items while you’re without your bag, please keep your receipts and we will reimburse you.
The lack of any further news suggested there was still a problem. I googled it:
No, Heathrow Airport is actively suffering from a major new baggage system failure at Terminal 5.
While previous famous meltdowns—such as the massive “luggage mountains” of 2022 and the July 2025 conveyor belt breakdowns—were eventually cleared, a new computer system failure hit Terminal 5 on May 15, 2026.
Current Status and Impact
* The Core Issue: A fresh British Airways computer system error has severely disrupted the Terminal 5 automated baggage handling network.
* Current Backlog: Hundreds of flights have departed over the last 24 hours without passengers’ checked luggage. Ground crews are working under a severe backlog to manually sort and process thousands of stranded bags.
* Compounding Delays: The baggage crisis is worsened by severe flight disruptions across the UK, including a national air traffic control radar fault that has left airlines struggling to reposition planes and staff. (the weather was terrible over Naples – I’ve never experienced such buffeting to the extent that I had to hold THG with one hand and my gin and tonic with the other.
Crucial Advice if Flying Through Heathrow Now
* Pack Essentials in Hand Luggage: Keep critical items like medications, documents, and a change of clothes (yes well we know now – I always used to do that when travelling long haul fwiw)in your cabin bag.
* Use Tracking Tags: Ground reports strongly suggest dropping an Apple AirTag or similar GPS tracker into your suitcase. Passengers have successfully located their “lost” bags inside the airport using their phones when airline systems could not track them. (not much use if your bag is in Heathrow and you are in Sorrento although when we were on the plane the woman in the row in front was able to confirm that her bag was in the hold because of it’s tracking tag)
* Check with Your Airline: Baggage handling is legally the responsibility of your specific carrier, not Heathrow Airport itself (BA, in their email, seemed to dodge that issue). If your bag is missing, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) immediately with your airline and review their [British Airways Delayed Baggage Policy] or your specific carrier’s portal for essential item reimbursements.
So I’ve followed a link and BA say that our bags are on the evening flight. That flight arrived late at around ten fifteen last night so one has to assume the bag will be en route this morning. We are going to have a late breakfast and linger a while before deciding whether to nip into town to buy some essentials – undies, tshirts etc. An initial google for clothes shops in Sorrento only brought up boutique purveyors of fine clothing (typical) but drilling deeper I did find some gaffs selling everyday stuff. Hopefully we won’t need to go.
Our plan today had been to chill out in the hotel anyway. Before coming I had envisioned a trip to Napoli perhaps but we can do that another day. Thinking Capri on Monday. The weather is on the up after today. Will have to see whether a dip in the pool is a practical prospect. Supposed to fine up this pm. My brand new bottle of factor 50 is in the suitcase mind you. Bought some squirtable, colourless stuff. I don’t like getting sun cream on my hands. Too sticky man. Tis a v nice hotel in which to relax.
Coming back to the bags, BA did say “We are awaiting receipt of your baggage at the airport.” Ah. If you’ve never been to NAP you should know it is as bad as MAN but Italian. Doesn’t instill me with confidence but let’s stay positive eh? 🙂
This room, which is very nice, does lack an armchair. The seating options are the desk chair or the metal table and chairs on the balcony which, as you know, is not particularly usable right now. I left my sandals out there overnight. They are now soaked. Perhaps they won’t pong as much when they dry out.
Used NordVPN in anger for the first time last night watching Villa v Liverpool. Worked a treat fair play. I fell asleep early on which turned out to have been the right thing to do if you are a Liverpool fan. Sigh.
Eight fourteen and some bells have started ringing in Old Sorrento. Either the fire brigade has been called out (unlikely in this weather), that’s how they mark the quarter past the hour or they are calling the faithful to church. Dunno. I’ll go for option B. It isn’t a Sunday but when did that stop the faithful from their devotions. I suppose.
In other news the front desk is sending up a comb so that THG can do her hair after her shower. There is a god 🙂 Her hair dressing apparatus, ie hairbrush brush, is in her suitcase.