Delayed bag that contained my stuff but was checked in under another passenger name

[Hungrycaterpillarsmummy]

Was on holiday with my PIL but unfortunately FIL took ill and was flown home.
However, going out to start the holiday me and DH's bag was checked into hold (paid for by PIL) except PIL stood in the queue and used their passport to check it in.
So on way home we don't have FIL with us but it seems like the check in assistant put the bag through in FIL name.
So when we get on plane they get everyone on then clearly realise FIL boarding pass hasn't been scanned and so then they think his bag is on the plane (which technically it is except it's MY bag) without him and it has to be offloaded. Ryanair were very unhelpful with how we were meant to get the bag back...
So I have some questions.
If the bag gets lost can I claim for my lost items even though it was in FIL name?
I stupidly packed a very very expensive ring in the bag and that's the thing I am most worried about getting back. The other items would be very frustrating to loose but I could get over that just not the ring :(
I filled out a form and did it under FIL name which I think is the correct process since to the airline it is his bag that's missing. Or should I do a new one in my name?
PIL bought all the Insurance.

"me and DH's bag was checked into hold (paid for by PIL) except PIL stood in the queue and used their passport to check it in."

So, your mistake unfortunately. I imagine his insurance would have to deal with it if it doesn't turn up, but again, they might see it as your fault (or rather FIL's)

Hope he gets well and you get your bag.

Oh yeh, was definitely our fault to let that happen. MIL was "in charge" and just marched ahead to check them in with FIL. We had two young kids with us so just didn't really think about it. Also didn't anticipate FIL getting ill!

But yeh just want to know the process

I don't really understand how they could check your bag in under FIL's name on way back when he was not with you. Usually they use the passports for check in.

I know! We were confused about that too.

I have a friend going to Barcelona today and she went to ask at the desk she said the bag is not in Barcelona it flew! Can't believe it, bet it was on the carousel

Uft so my parents flew to Edinburgh today and they checked with swissport who said it wasn't there and was probably still in Barcelona :(

They'll have assigned bags to passengers on the outbound and return journey separately so the fact that it was FIL's bag on the outbound journey shouldn't affect whose bag it is on the return (how could it? They don't have notes saying "large blue bag belongs to X, small black bag belongs to Y").

I'd say it's 100% the airlines fault. They assigned a bag to a passenger who wasn't flying which presumably means they checked somebody in who wasn't at the check in desk (your FIL). That's a mistake on their part.

I don't know how you can get your bag back but when you speak to them don't complicate things by bringing in the first part of the story about the bags outbound journey, it's irrelevant. Just focus on the fact that they made a mistake and presumably checked in FIL who wasn't travelling.

Hope your FIL is ok - it must have been a stressful time.

This is really odd. If fil didn't present with his boarding pass for the return journey I don't see how the bag could have been in his name.

The only thing I can think of is that when buying extra luggage capacity on Ryanair you have to attach it to someone's booking. We often take one big suitcase between us so that suitcase will just be on one person's booking. Did you all have booked capacity for the suitcase or only fil? Even if only fil Ryanair surely shouldn't have booked it in without his boarding pass being handed over for the return journey.

Yes this is the conclusion we have come to.
PIL purchased two hold bags and it's assigned to passenger 1 and passenger 2.
So the poster before you is wrong because they DO attach it to specific travellers. Not necessarily the actual bag but the fact FIL had one bag on the outward journey meant it was his bag to return with.
Stupid, I know.
Me and DH waited I'm the bag drop queue on our return and when we got there the check I'm assistant asked for MIL and FIL because they were the ones with baggage allocated to them. 🤦

The whole thing is a massive shit show. Can't seem to contacts anyone in Barcelona to know if the bag is there. Surely Ryanair know if the bag flew.

I'm so sad, it's really getting me down. All my children's clothes were in there. They are just young so it's all sentimental plus the jewelry.
It's a complicated mess!

To clarify there were 5 adults but only two hold bags purchased