Every cloud has a silver lining - at least for some quick-thinking entrepreneurs. The airport chaos of the last few days - cancellations, queues and cabin baggage restrictions - has seen bookings rocket for First Luggage, a firm which specialises in taking holidaymakers' suitcases from door to door.

While the service comes at the kind of price that most passengers would baulk at - £69 one way for a suitcase, more than typical no-frills fares - the extraordinary circumstances have apparently induced twice the normal business. First Luggage has also introduced a special emergency airport service - picking up bags from those who have made it to the terminal but find themselves camping at check-in with their bags.

Sending the bags separately has generally been touted as a way to reduce journey times and stress, allowing those with money to burn to swan effortlessly on with their Louis Vuitton hand luggage, or clear plastic bag, depending on the day's level of alert.

With the news that handlers have managed to lose 20,000 bags from Heathrow alone in the past few days, getting someone to FedEx, track and deliver luggage safely starts to look more like a simpler, pre-emptive travel insurance.

So, the holiday outfits, suncream and swimming togs can make it safely to the Tuscan sun. That just leaves the passengers...