Can I get compensation for lost luggage?

Yes. US airlines owe up to $3,800 per bag. EU airlines owe up to 1,600 euros under the Montreal Convention.

  • File a claim immediately at the airport before leaving baggage claim
  • Keep receipts for all essentials bought during the delay
  • "Lost" means not returned after 5 to 21 days depending on airline policy
  • Credit cards may offer an additional $500 to $2,000 coverage

Traveling soon? See our Travel Essentials page.

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Detailed Answer

How It Works

Airlines are legally liable for lost, delayed, and damaged checked baggage under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty signed by over 130 countries. The convention sets maximum compensation limits and defines the timelines and procedures passengers must follow to make a valid claim. Your rights exist regardless of whether you bought a basic economy or a full-fare ticket.

There are three distinct luggage situations and each is handled differently. Delayed baggage means the airline knows where your bag is but it has not arrived on your flight. Lost baggage means the airline cannot locate your bag after a search period of typically 5 to 21 days. Damaged baggage means your bag arrived but was broken or its contents were damaged in transit. Each has its own claim process and compensation limits.

The single most important step is filing a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airport before you leave baggage claim. This is your official record of the problem. Without it, your claim has no basis and airlines can refuse to compensate you. Do not leave the airport without filing it, regardless of how long the queue is or how tired you are from your flight.

What You Need to Know

  • File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the baggage desk before leaving the airport, this is mandatory for any claim
  • US domestic flights: airlines liable for up to $3,800 per passenger for lost or damaged bags under DOT rules
  • International flights under Montreal Convention: up to approximately 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger, roughly $1,700 to $1,800 USD or 1,600 euros at current rates
  • Delayed baggage: airlines must reimburse reasonable essential expenses (clothing, toiletries) incurred while waiting, keep all receipts
  • Baggage declared lost: US airlines typically declare bags lost after 5 to 14 days, international airlines after 21 days under the Montreal Convention
  • Compensation is for the depreciated value of contents, not replacement cost, airlines use depreciation formulas
  • High-value items (jewelry, electronics, cameras): excluded from standard baggage liability on most airlines, declare excess value at check-in for additional coverage at a fee
  • Credit card baggage coverage: some premium travel cards including Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum offer $500 to $3,000 per trip for lost or delayed bags
  • Travel insurance: separate and additional layer of protection, often covers the gap between airline compensation and actual replacement value

Delayed vs Lost vs Damaged: What You Are Owed

  • Delayed baggage: reimbursement for reasonable essential purchases (clothing, toiletries, medication) while you wait, keep every receipt, submit to airline within their specified window (usually 21 to 45 days)
  • Lost baggage: compensation up to the Montreal Convention or DOT limit for the depreciated value of bag and contents, plus reimbursement of checked bag fee paid
  • Damaged baggage: repair cost or depreciated replacement value of the bag, contents damage covered unless caused by TSA inspection or inherent defect in the item
  • Checked bag fee: always refunded if your bag is lost or significantly delayed, this is separate from content compensation

By Airline: Baggage Liability Approach

  • Delta Air Lines: follows DOT and Montreal Convention limits, online claims portal available, responds within 30 days typically
  • American Airlines: same limits, requires PIR filed at airport, online claim submission within 24 hours for delayed bags
  • United Airlines: same limits, WorldTracer system used to track bags, claim portal at united.com
  • Emirates: Montreal Convention limits apply, delayed bag expenses reimbursed on receipt, claim within 7 days for damage, 21 days for loss
  • Qatar Airways: Montreal Convention limits, online claim portal, known for relatively smooth resolution process
  • Etihad Airways: Montreal Convention limits, file within 7 days for damage, 21 days for loss
  • British Airways: Montreal Convention limits, well-documented online claims process, mobile bag tracking available
  • Ryanair and EasyJet: Montreal Convention limits apply but claims process can be slower, document everything carefully
  • All airlines: checked bag fee must be refunded separately from content compensation if bag is lost

What Is and Is Not Covered

  • Covered: clothing, shoes, toiletries, standard personal electronics at depreciated value, luggage itself
  • Not covered at standard rates: jewelry, cash, cameras, laptops, fragile items, irreplaceable items, business documents
  • Partially covered: electronics at depreciated value, check your specific airline's exclusion list
  • Never covered: items packed in violation of airline terms, prohibited items, fragile items without proper packaging
  • Extra coverage available: declare excess value at check-in before your flight, airlines charge a fee per $100 of declared value above standard limit

Real Traveler Experiences

"Bag was delayed for three days in Rome. Filed the PIR at the airport before leaving. Bought two days of clothing and toiletries, kept every receipt. American Airlines reimbursed $340 within three weeks of submitting. The PIR is everything."  Reddit r/travel

"Bag declared lost after 14 days. Delta offered $1,200 for contents I valued at $2,400. Negotiated by providing purchase receipts and photos. Settled at $1,700. Always document what you pack."  Flyertalk forum

"Chase Sapphire Reserve covered $800 of delayed baggage expenses that the airline would not. Filed the claim online with receipts. Reimbursed within two weeks. Premium credit card travel benefits are genuinely worth it."  TripAdvisor forum

Step-by-Step: What to Do When Your Bag Does Not Arrive

  • Step 1: go to the airline's baggage desk before leaving the airport and file a Property Irregularity Report, get a copy with a reference number
  • Step 2: ask the agent for an interim expenses allowance for essentials, some airlines provide this on the spot
  • Step 3: track your bag using the reference number on the airline website or WorldTracer system
  • Step 4: buy only reasonable essential items while waiting, keep every receipt, photograph them
  • Step 5: if the bag is not returned within 5 to 21 days, formally request it be declared lost and submit your full compensation claim
  • Step 6: submit a parallel claim to your credit card travel protection and travel insurance if you have them

Pro Tips

  • Photograph the contents of your checked bag before every trip, this is your strongest evidence if you need to prove what was inside
  • Pack your first night's essentials in your carry-on, medication, phone charger, one change of clothes, so a delayed bag does not derail your first day
  • Attach a luggage tag with your name, email, and phone number inside and outside your bag, bags without identification take significantly longer to locate and return
  • Use an Apple AirTag or Tile tracker inside your bag, it gives you real-time location data and helps the airline find your bag faster when you can tell them exactly where it is
  • Never pack jewelry, cash, laptops, or irreplaceable items in checked luggage, these are excluded from airline liability and cannot be recovered in a claim
  • File your delayed baggage expense reimbursement claim within the airline's specified window, usually 21 to 45 days, claims submitted after the deadline are routinely rejected

Related Questions

Sources

AskTravel.org is an information website only. Always check local regulations and app availability before traveling, as rules change frequently.

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