If your checked bag didn't arrive, report it at the arrival airport and get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) when possible. Then submit a separate written claim through the airline's current official form or portal. Tie the claim to the PIR, flight, bag tag, dates, requested remedy, and supporting receipts.

A PIR documents the airport report, but it usually isn't the complete compensation claim. The template below can be adapted for delayed, lost, or damaged checked baggage. It doesn't guarantee a flat payment or the full value of the bag's contents.

Copy-and-paste lost baggage complaint email

Use the airline's official baggage claim form if it doesn't accept email claims. Delete sections that don't apply to your situation. You can paste the same wording into an online form and save its confirmation number.

Subject: Written baggage claim - PIR [reference] - [flight number and date]

Dear [Airline baggage claims team],

I am submitting a written claim concerning my checked baggage on [airline and flight number] from [departure airport] to [arrival airport] on [date].

Passenger and itinerary
- Full name: [name]
- Booking reference: [PNR]
- Operating carrier: [airline]
- Flight number: [number]
- Travel date: [date]
- Email and phone: [contact details]
- Delivery address: [address]

Baggage information
- Bag tag number: [number]
- PIR reference: [number]
- Airport where the PIR was issued: [airport]
- Bag description: [color, brand, size, distinctive marks]
- AirTag or other tracking details, if available: [details]

Incident
I reported the missing or damaged baggage at [airport] on [date and time]. The bag was [not delivered / delivered on date with the following damage: description]. The PIR reference is [number].

Claim and requested action
Please:
1. Confirm the current status of the baggage and arrange delivery to [delivery address] if it is located.
2. Reimburse $[amount] for the reasonable, necessary purchases listed below:
   - [item and cost]
   - [item and cost]
   Total claimed: $[total]
3. If the bag is treated as lost under the applicable rules, provide the next steps for submitting my itemized contents claim.
4. If the bag was damaged, advise whether the airline will arrange repair, replacement, or payment for the documented damage.

I have attached the PIR, boarding pass, baggage tag, itinerary, receipts, photographs, and an itemized list of the claimed expenses, as applicable. Please confirm receipt of this claim, provide the claim number, and tell me if any additional form or document is required.

I reserve my rights under the applicable baggage liability rules and the airline's contract of carriage.

Sincerely,

[Full name]
[Postal address]
[Phone number]
[Email address]

Keep the first message factual. Don't threaten legal action, claim the maximum automatically, or include your full Social Security number or unnecessary passport details.

First decide whether the bag is delayed, lost, or damaged

The status changes what you should request, and a delayed bag can later become a lost-baggage claim.

For international carriage covered by the Montreal Convention, baggage that hasn't been returned after 21 days is generally treated as lost. An airline can also declare it lost earlier. Don't wait 21 days to report the problem or to buy necessary items.

A PIR is the airport report created when baggage fails to arrive or is damaged. Keep the reference number and a copy of the report. You still need to submit the written reimbursement, damage, or contents claim through the carrier's required channel.

Which baggage rules apply?

International flights

Most international carriage involving the United States is governed by the Montreal Convention, although the exact application depends on the itinerary and the carriers involved. A codeshare or connection can require a closer look at both the operating carrier and the route.

The Montreal baggage liability limit is expressed in Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, rather than a fixed dollar amount. Carrier notices currently list a limit of 1,519 SDR per passenger. Its value in U.S. dollars changes with exchange rates.

That limit is a ceiling for a proven loss, not an automatic payment or a guaranteed amount per bag. You still need to show what was lost or damaged and the value of the loss. The airline may consider the age and condition of property, excluded categories, and the strength of your evidence.

See the Air France carrier liability notice for an example of an airline notice explaining SDR-based liability limits. Citizens Information's airline liability guidance also describes the importance of the PIR, baggage tag, and boarding card.

If you made a special declaration of value at check-in and paid any required additional charge, a higher declared amount may apply. Check your receipt and the carrier's conditions.

Flights entirely within the United States

A U.S. domestic itinerary isn't automatically governed by the Montreal Convention. Federal Department of Transportation rules and the operating airline's contract of carriage control instead. Liability limits, notice requirements, excluded items, and valuation procedures can differ from an international claim.

Don't copy the 1,519 SDR figure into a domestic claim without checking the current DOT rules and the airline's terms. Use the carrier's current baggage page or claim form, especially if the ticket involved a codeshare or multiple carriers.

Flight delay compensation is separate

A late flight and a late bag are different issues. For U.S. consumers, a delayed suitcase generally doesn't create an automatic federal cash payment based only on how many hours the aircraft was late. An EU or UK passenger-rights scheme may create a separate flight-delay claim on an eligible route, but it doesn't replace a baggage expense or loss claim.

In the baggage message, focus on the PIR, the delivery date, necessary purchases, documented damage, or the proven value of property that was not returned.

How much should you request?

Ask for a specific, supported amount rather than simply demanding the maximum.

Delayed baggage expenses

List reasonable necessities bought while you were without the bag. Depending on the circumstances, these might include basic clothing, underwear, toiletries, and similar essentials. Buy sensibly: luxury goods, upgrades, expensive substitutes, and unrelated shopping are more likely to be challenged.

For each purchase, keep:

• An itemized receipt
• The purchase date and location
• A short explanation of why it was necessary
• Proof of when the bag was delivered, if it was later returned

There is no universal guaranteed daily allowance for every airline or itinerary. The carrier may assess whether each expense was necessary, reasonable, and connected to the baggage delay.

Contents of a bag that is lost

Prepare an inventory showing the item, brand, model, approximate purchase date, original price, condition, and claimed value. Add receipts, photographs, order confirmations, warranty records, or other proof where available.

The airline may not pay the new retail price for old or worn property. Its contract may also limit or exclude categories such as cash, documents, fragile goods, jewelry, electronics, samples, or medication. Review the applicable contract of carriage before sending a final inventory.

Damaged baggage

Describe each damaged part of the bag or its contents and state whether you're seeking repair, replacement, or payment. Include photographs and any other evidence of the condition. If the bag was delivered, record the delivery date because written notice deadlines can be short.

The checked-bag fee

If you paid a checked-bag fee, ask the airline to assess whether that fee is refundable under the rules and policy applicable to your itinerary. Keep the fee request separate from the value of the bag and its contents.

Deadlines that matter

Deadlines differ by jurisdiction and by the type of baggage problem.

For international carriage under the Montreal Convention:

• At the airport: Report the problem before leaving the baggage hall whenever possible and obtain the PIR.
• Damaged baggage: Make a written complaint within seven days after receiving the baggage.
• Delayed baggage: Make a written complaint within 21 days after the baggage is placed at your disposal.
• Lost baggage: After 21 days without delivery, update the claim to reflect that the bag is lost, unless the airline has declared it lost earlier.
• Court action: Montreal Convention claims generally have a two-year period for bringing an action. Don't treat that period as the deadline for notifying the airline.

For a domestic U.S. flight, use the deadline in the airline's current contract of carriage and baggage instructions. A PIR made at the airport is helpful, but submit the written reimbursement or loss claim promptly as well.

If you already left the airport without a PIR, report the bag through the airline's online system immediately. Explain that no airport report was issued and include your baggage-tag number, flight details, and proof that you traveled.

What to attach

Send clear copies rather than original documents. Your file should normally include:

• PIR or baggage-service reference
• Baggage tag number
• Boarding pass or electronic itinerary
• Booking reference
• Bag photographs and a detailed description
• Delivery date, if the bag arrived later
• Receipts for necessary purchases
• An inventory and proof of value for lost contents
• Correspondence with the airline
• AirTag or other tracking information, if relevant

Don't email bank-account details unless the airline specifically requests them through a secure claim process. If payment information is required, use the airline's official upload page rather than an unverified address.

A practical filing process

1. Report the issue at the airport. Go to the airline's baggage service office before leaving and obtain the PIR.
2. Keep the reference number safe. The PIR number may be different from the later reimbursement claim number.
3. Buy only necessary items. Keep itemized receipts and avoid luxury replacements.
4. Submit the written claim promptly. Use the template and the airline's official form or portal.
5. Track the file. Check the airline's baggage tracker and retain screenshots of status updates.
6. Update the claim if the bag arrives. Change the request from a lost-bag contents claim to documented delay expenses, while reporting any damage separately.
7. Follow up in writing. If the airline doesn't confirm receipt or provide a substantive update, send a short follow-up with the original reference and a reasonable response date.
8. Escalate if necessary. For a U.S. itinerary, you can complain to the U.S. Department of Transportation after giving the airline a fair opportunity to resolve the matter. For an international itinerary, the appropriate national enforcement or consumer body depends on the route and carrier.
9. Check other coverage. Travel insurance or a credit-card baggage benefit may cover losses the airline doesn't pay. Follow that policy's notice deadline and disclose any airline reimbursement to avoid duplicate recovery.

Notes for Ryanair, United, and Delta

The airline named on the ticket doesn't always determine the applicable baggage rule. Check the route, operating carrier, and current claim instructions. Claim routes can change, so don't rely on an old email address copied from another template.

• Ryanair: Use the current baggage claim process on Ryanair's website or app and enter the PIR exactly as issued. Keep the online submission confirmation.
• United: Start with the baggage service office or tracking instructions supplied for the arrival airport, then submit the reimbursement or lost-bag claim through United's current baggage portal. Include the file number in every follow-up.
• Delta: Report the issue at a Delta Baggage Service Office and keep the reference number. Delta's published instructions separate delayed, lost, and damaged baggage handling; follow the route shown for your country and itinerary in its baggage instructions.
• Codeshares and connections: Identify the operating carrier for the segment where the bag went missing. If one airline tells you to contact another, keep both reference numbers and ask the first carrier to note the transfer in the file.

Follow-up email after the bag becomes lost

Use this version after 21 days have passed on an international claim, or after the airline has declared the bag lost. For a domestic claim, adapt the wording to the carrier's status and claim instructions.

Subject: Update to lost baggage claim - PIR [reference] - [flight number]

Dear [Airline baggage claims team],

I am following up on my baggage claim for [bag description], connected with [flight number] on [date]. The bag was reported under PIR [reference] at [airport].

Twenty-one days passed on [date], and the baggage has not been delivered. Please update the file to lost-baggage status, or confirm the date on which the airline declared it lost.

I am claiming $[amount] for the documented value of the bag and its contents. The attached inventory identifies each item, its purchase date or estimated age, supporting evidence, and claimed value. I have also attached the PIR, itinerary, baggage tag, and previous correspondence.

Please confirm the claim number, any remaining documents required, and the next decision or update date. If the airline applies a liability limit or valuation adjustment, please explain the calculation in writing.

Sincerely,

[Full name]
[Contact details]

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting 21 days before reporting the missing bag
• Treating the PIR as a complete compensation claim
• Claiming the maximum limit without an itemized loss
• Buying expensive or unnecessary replacements
• Sending receipts without explaining their connection to the delay
• Using flight-delay compensation figures in a baggage claim
• Sending sensitive identity or banking information through an unverified email
• Missing the written notice deadline for damaged or delayed baggage
• Assuming a generic customer-service email is the correct claims route

Before submitting, check that the PIR, bag tag, itinerary, receipts, itemized total, and delivery address all match. Then save the portal confirmation and a copy of everything you sent.