If your checked bag doesn't arrive, report it before leaving the airport if possible, get a baggage reference number, and submit a separate written claim with supporting documents. A Property Irregularity Report (PIR) starts the airline's search, but it usually isn't the compensation claim itself.
For international carriage covered by the Montreal Convention, baggage that hasn't been delivered after 21 days can generally be treated as lost. A purely domestic U.S. trip is governed by U.S. Department of Transportation rules, the airline's contract of carriage, and other applicable law, so the international 21-day rule and compensation limits may not apply in the same way.
Immediate lost baggage checklist
Complete these steps at the airport if you can:
- [ ] Go to the airline's baggage service office before leaving the arrival area.
- [ ] Report the missing bag and request a PIR, delayed-baggage report, or equivalent case number.
- [ ] Get a copy or photograph of the report, including the file reference and contact details.
- [ ] Keep your baggage claim tag, boarding pass, ticket, and itinerary.
- [ ] Describe the bag accurately, including its brand, size, color, identifying marks, and tag number.
- [ ] Give the airline a reliable phone number and delivery address. Update the information if you change hotels or return home.
- [ ] Ask how to track the case and whether the airline has a separate form for essential purchases or a formal lost-bag claim.
- [ ] Keep receipts for necessary toiletries, clothing, medication, or other purchases made because of the delay.
- [ ] Save emails, chat messages, app updates, call dates, and screenshots of tracking information.
If there is no baggage desk, report the problem through the airline's official website or app as soon as possible. Ask the airline to confirm in writing that it received the report. Leaving the airport without a report doesn't automatically destroy a claim, but it can make the timing and facts harder to prove.
Delayed, lost, or damaged baggage?
The remedy depends on what happened to the bag.
| Problem | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed baggage | The bag is missing at arrival but is later delivered | Report it promptly and claim reasonable, necessary expenses with receipts |
| Lost baggage | The airline admits the loss, or an international bag remains undelivered for 21 days | Submit an itemized claim for the bag and its contents |
| Damaged baggage | The bag arrives but is broken or its contents are damaged | Photograph the damage and report it within the applicable deadline |
The 21-day rule applies to international carriage covered by the Montreal Convention. It doesn't mean you should wait 21 days before submitting receipts or asking the airline to investigate. Start documenting the loss immediately.
For a domestic U.S. itinerary, ask the airline when it changes the case from delayed baggage to a lost-baggage claim. Airlines can use different internal procedures and deadlines.
Which rule controls your baggage claim?
The route and type of carriage matter more than the airline's brand name.
Purely domestic U.S. flights
For covered domestic baggage claims, 14 CFR Part 254 sets a $4,700 per-passenger liability limit. That figure is a ceiling, not an automatic payment. You still need to show that the airline mishandled the baggage and support the value of the loss.
The airline's contract of carriage can also explain excluded items, notice requirements, valuation methods, and the process for delayed or damaged baggage. Read the contract attached to your ticket or linked from the airline's website.
International flights
The Montreal Convention generally applies when the itinerary qualifies as international carriage and the relevant legal requirements are met. Its baggage liability limit was revised to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), effective December 28, 2024. The dollar or euro value changes with the SDR exchange rate.
The limit is the most the airline may owe under the treaty in a standard claim. It doesn't guarantee the maximum amount, and an airline may calculate the current value of older items rather than paying the original retail price. The European Consumer Centre's baggage guidance explains the treaty framework and the revised limit.
If the Montreal Convention doesn't apply, the ticket or itinerary may refer to the Warsaw Convention or another applicable rule. A public-service explanation of international baggage claims notes that the governing convention may be identified in the travel documents.
What IATA and EU261 do not do
IATA is an airline industry association. Its guidance and tracing systems can help airlines handle baggage, but IATA doesn't create an enforceable compensation award for an individual passenger.
EU261 is mainly associated with flight cancellations, long delays, and denied boarding. It doesn't create an automatic fixed payout for every lost bag. Baggage claims involving Europe are generally analyzed under the Montreal Convention or another applicable baggage regime.
What can you claim?
Necessary expenses during a delay
You can usually request reimbursement for reasonable, necessary purchases made while waiting for the bag. Examples may include basic clothing, toiletries, medication, and other immediate necessities. Keep the receipts and avoid luxury purchases or items unrelated to the delay.
An airline may have a daily allowance or preferred list of expenses, but company policy isn't the same as a universal legal entitlement. Ask whether the airline requires prior approval before you make larger purchases.
The bag and its contents after confirmed loss
For a lost bag, prepare an itemized claim for:
- The suitcase or other checked container
- Clothing and personal items inside it
- The reasonable current value of the contents
- Necessary expenses that remain unpaid
- Any other documented loss allowed by the applicable rule or airline contract
Airlines may reduce the value of older items for age and wear. List the purchase date, original cost, and amount you're claiming. A receipt, photograph, credit-card statement, warranty record, or product serial number can help establish value.
Don't assume the airline will pay for cash, jewelry, fragile goods, business equipment, or electronics packed in checked baggage. These items may be excluded or limited by the contract. A special declaration of value made at check-in may change the liability limit if the airline accepted it and charged a fee.
A refund of the checked-bag fee
A checked-bag fee refund is separate from reimbursement for essentials and the value of missing contents. For flights covered by U.S. DOT passenger-protection rules, a refund may be required when a checked bag is lost or significantly delayed. The general timing thresholds are:
- 12 hours after the aircraft reaches the gate on a domestic flight
- 15 hours for an international flight lasting 12 hours or less
- 30 hours for a longer international flight
Ask for the fee refund separately if it doesn't appear. The DOT Air Consumer Protection site provides current consumer information, and the airline's baggage file should contain the report needed to connect the refund to your case.
Documents for a lost baggage claim
Build one digital folder and keep the originals.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| PIR or baggage case report | Shows that the loss was reported and identifies the case |
| Baggage tag | Connects the bag to your itinerary |
| Boarding pass, ticket, and itinerary | Establishes the journey and applicable carrier |
| Itemized inventory | Shows exactly what was inside the bag |
| Receipts and account statements | Support the value of the items |
| Photos of the bag and contents | Help identify the bag and substantiate ownership |
| Essential-purchase receipts | Support a delayed-baggage expense claim |
| Airline correspondence | Creates a record of promises, denials, and deadlines |
| Insurance policy and claim number | Shows other available coverage |
A simple inventory table is more useful than a single total:
| Item | Purchase date | Original cost | Claimed current value | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suitcase | Month and year | Amount | Amount | Receipt or photo |
| Clothing | Month and year | Amount | Amount | Receipt or account record |
| Toiletries | Travel date | Amount | Amount | Store receipt |
Use honest values. Inflated estimates can delay or weaken a claim.
How to file the formal claim
- Check the airline's baggage policy. Look for the deadline for a delayed, damaged, or lost-baggage claim. A carrier's internal filing deadline can be earlier than the deadline for bringing a court action.
- Confirm the bag's status. If it has arrived, update the delayed-bag file. If it hasn't, ask whether the airline has opened a lost-property or contents-claim file.
- Submit a written claim. Use the airline's claims portal or the address provided in the PIR. State that you're making a formal baggage claim, not merely checking the tracking status.
- Attach the evidence packet. Include the PIR, baggage tag, itinerary, inventory, receipts, photographs, and a timeline of your contacts with the airline.
- Request the amount supported by your records. Separate essential expenses, the value of the bag and contents, and any checked-bag fee refund.
- Save proof of submission. Download the confirmation page and keep a copy of every attachment.
- Follow up in writing. Ask for a status update, the department handling the file, and a list of anything still missing.
A tracking update or phone conversation doesn't replace the formal claim. If the airline says the PIR is enough, ask for written confirmation that it has also accepted your compensation request.
United, Delta, and Emirates may use different online forms, case labels, and internal deadlines. Use the carrier's current official baggage page and follow the instructions attached to your case. Keep the original reference number rather than filing duplicate reports without explaining the connection.
Deadlines that matter
Deadlines vary by jurisdiction and by the type of baggage problem.
- At the airport: Report the problem immediately.
- International damage: A written complaint generally must be made within 7 days after receiving the damaged baggage.
- International delay: A written complaint generally must be made within 21 days after the baggage is placed at your disposal.
- International court action: The Montreal Convention generally has a two-year period for bringing an action, subject to rules about how the period is calculated and where the case is filed.
- Domestic U.S. claims: Follow the airline's contract and claim form. Don't assume that the international 21-day rule or two-year period controls.
Treat every airline deadline as urgent. The two-year period for a lawsuit isn't a safe reason to postpone the airline claim, and a claim deadline can depend on whether the bag was delayed, damaged, or declared lost.
What to do if the airline denies or stalls the claim
A denial is easier to challenge when you respond to the stated reason instead of repeating the original complaint.
- Read the denial carefully. Identify whether the airline says the claim was late, the items were excluded, the value was unsupported, or the bag was delivered.
- Ask for the exact contract provision. Request the policy section used to deny or reduce each part of the claim.
- Send a written appeal promptly. Follow the deadline in the denial letter. If none is provided, responding within 30 days is a practical target, not a universal deadline.
- Correct the evidence gap. Add receipts, photographs, purchase records, delivery proof, or a clearer inventory.
- Use tracking evidence carefully. AirTag or other tracker timestamps can show a last known location and help challenge an inaccurate search record. They don't by themselves prove that the airline owes the claimed amount.
- Clarify the responsible carrier. For a codeshare, ask the baggage office and the operating carrier which department owns the claim. Keep the original case number rather than filing duplicate reports without explanation.
- Request a final written decision. Ask the airline to state what it will pay, what it is excluding, and why.
You can file a complaint through the DOT consumer complaint form if a U.S. airline or a flight covered by U.S. consumer rules doesn't resolve the issue. DOT complaints can prompt a carrier response and help regulators identify patterns, but DOT generally doesn't act as your lawyer or guarantee a personal award.
If you have travel insurance, renters insurance, homeowners insurance, or credit-card baggage coverage, check those policies too. Coverage may have a deductible, item sublimits, exclusions, and its own notice deadline. Avoid collecting twice for the same loss and tell the insurer if the airline later pays or recovers the bag.
Using airline apps and AirTags
Airline apps can show baggage scans and provide a case reference, but a missing scan doesn't prove that a bag is permanently lost. WorldTracer or a similar tracing system is an operational tool, not a compensation decision.
If an AirTag or another tracker was inside the bag:
- Save screenshots showing the date, time, and location.
- Provide the information through the airline's baggage channel.
- Share the item's serial number or identifier if requested.
- Ask the airline to coordinate recovery.
- Don't enter a restricted airport area or confront a person based only on a tracker location.
A tracker may show a stale or approximate location. Use it as supporting evidence, not as a substitute for the PIR and formal claim.
Short lost baggage claim letter
Subject: Formal baggage claim - PIR [number]
Dear Baggage Claims Department,
I am submitting a formal claim for baggage that did not arrive on
[airline, flight number, date, and route]. My PIR or case number is
[number]. The bag is [brand, color, size, tag number, and identifying marks].
The bag has [not been delivered / arrived damaged]. I am requesting:
- Necessary delay expenses: [amount]
- Bag and contents: [amount]
- Checked-bag fee refund, if applicable: [amount]
I have attached my itinerary, baggage tag, PIR, itemized inventory,
receipts, photographs, and correspondence. Please confirm receipt and
identify any missing documents. If you deny or reduce an item, please
cite the applicable policy or legal provision.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:Common questions
Is a PIR the same as a compensation claim?
Usually not. The PIR documents the mishandling and starts the search. Submit the airline's separate written claim for expenses or the value of the bag and contents.
How long before luggage is officially lost?
For international carriage covered by the Montreal Convention, baggage undelivered after 21 days is generally treated as lost. A domestic U.S. airline may use its own status rules, so ask when to file the lost-baggage form.
Can I buy clothes and toiletries while waiting?
You can request reimbursement for reasonable, necessary purchases, but approval isn't automatic. Buy modest essentials, keep itemized receipts, and check whether the airline requires prior approval.
Does an AirTag guarantee compensation?
No. It can provide useful location and timing evidence, but the claim still depends on the applicable rule, proof of ownership and value, and any exclusions in the airline's contract.
Will DOT decide how much the airline must pay?
Usually not. DOT can receive and refer a consumer complaint, but it generally doesn't calculate damages or act as a private attorney. Preserve your documents and consider insurance or other remedies before a limitation period expires.
If the bag is already past the applicable deadline, send the formal written claim now, then calendar the airline's response date and any appeal deadline.