If your checked bag never shows up at the carousel, the first hour matters more than any complaint letter you write later. Go to the airline's baggage service desk before you leave the airport. Ask for a Property Irregularity Report, usually called a PIR. That report starts the tracing process. It also gives you the reference number every later claim depends on. Don't leave without it.
Turns out most missing bags are just delayed. Airlines still won't take your claim seriously if there's no PIR on file. The rules also shift depending on where you're flying.
What rule controls your claim
A domestic U.S. trip is governed by 14 CFR Part 254 and the DOT's baggage liability rules. An international trip, including the international part of a mixed itinerary, falls under the Montreal Convention. EU 261 is not the baggage rule. It covers flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. On most international itineraries, Montreal is the treaty that matters for bags.
The labels matter too. Damaged means the bag arrived broken. Delayed means it did not show up with you. Lost means it stayed missing long enough to trigger the full claim.
| Trip type | Main rule | Liability limit | Complaint window |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. domestic | DOT baggage rules, 14 CFR Part 254 | At least $4,700 per passenger | Damage often within 4 hours; delay often within 24 hours, per airline contract |
| International | Montreal Convention | 1,519 SDR per passenger, about $2,000 to $2,100 | 7 days for damage, 21 days for delay |
| Bag still missing | Montreal or airline policy | Same caps, based on proof of loss | Treated as lost after 21 days on international trips |
The Montreal cap was last adjusted effective Dec. 28, 2024. It is not 1,700 SDR. Old guides quoting a different figure are out of date. Check the current ICAO notice or the DOT's international guidance. The cap applies per passenger, not per bag. If two passengers each lose a bag, each can file a separate claim. There is no standard per-kilogram payout for international baggage.
If you're carrying something worth more than the cap, declare excess value at check-in and pay the fee. Otherwise the standard cap applies.
Do this before you leave the baggage area
Do this while you're still in the terminal.
- Go to the baggage service desk for the airline that operated the last leg of your trip.
- File a PIR. Get the 10-character reference code and take a photo of the paper.
- Show your baggage tag and boarding pass. Ask the agent to attach the tag number to the PIR.
- Upload photos of the bag and, if you have them, photos of the packed suitcase.
- Ask what interim essentials the airline will cover and how to submit receipts. Get the answer in writing if you can.
- Start tracking with the PIR through WorldTracer or the airline's app.
That last step matters. United, for example, accepts delayed bag reports by texting BAGS to 32050, through its app, or by online chat. Delta promotes a 20-minute bag guarantee at some airports. Use whatever shortcut your airline offers, but keep the PIR as your anchor.
The documents that decide your payout
A PIR proves the bag went missing. It does not prove value. You'll need an inventory list, receipts when you have them, and photos that connect the bag to you. Keep itemized receipts for replacement clothes or toiletries. If you're claiming the whole bag, list each item, its age, and what it would cost to replace. That sounds like a lot for a missing suitcase, but it's the part that decides the check.
Airlines usually depreciate used items. A five-year-old laptop does not get new-laptop value. A suitcase with a broken wheel may be repaired or replaced at depreciated value. The more specific your list, the harder it is for the airline to lowball you.
Deadlines are shorter than most passengers think
On international trips, the Montreal Convention gives you 7 days to file a written complaint about damage and 21 days for delay. If the bag is still missing after 21 days, you can treat it as lost and file a full claim. Court action has a two-year limit.
For U.S. domestic trips, the DOT's liability floor is $4,700 per passenger. That's higher than the Montreal cap, which surprises people. It does not mean every delayed bag is worth $4,700. You still have to document the loss. Many carriers require damage reports within 4 hours of arrival and delayed-bag notices within 24 hours. Check the airline's contract of carriage, since that contract controls the internal deadline.
Why $50 a day is not the final word
Airlines often offer $50, $100, or $200 a day for essentials. Thing is, that payment is an advance toward your loss, not a legal ceiling. The DOT has said arbitrary daily caps cannot push total domestic reimbursement below the $4,700 liability floor. Keep every receipt. If the airline denies a reasonable expense because of a daily cap, escalate.
For international trips, interim expenses count toward the Montreal cap. The daily number is usually airline policy, not a treaty right.
Airline-specific shortcuts
Some carriers make the first report easier, but the PIR still controls.
| Airline | What to know |
|---|---|
| United | Report delayed bags by text at BAGS to 32050, through the app, or by online chat. United must refund reasonable documented expenses, and it cannot enforce a $50 daily limit on international claims. |
| Delta | Delta says $50 is generally enough for essentials, but it also says that is not a cap. Ask about the 20-minute bag guarantee if your bag is late at a participating airport. |
| American | American sets its domestic liability at the full DOT limit of $4,700. |
| Spirit | Spirit must follow the same $4,700 domestic floor, but its documentation requirements are strict. |
| Emirates and other international carriers | Your itinerary is likely under Montreal. Keep the PIR, track the bag, and submit a written claim before the 21-day delay deadline if the bag has not arrived. |
If the airline stalls
Put your claim in writing. Include the PIR, boarding pass, baggage tag, inventory, receipts, and a specific amount. Ask for a response by a date. If the airline ignores a U.S. domestic claim, file a complaint with the DOT's aviation consumer office. To be honest, that complaint often gets a stalled claim moving. International trips allow court action within two years under Montreal, but most claims settle long before that.
Credit card baggage insurance can help with delays or lost bags. It is usually secondary to the airline payment, so file with the airline first. Read your card's guide to benefits before you count on it.
Sample lost baggage claim letter
Your name
Address, email, phone
Date
Airline baggage claims department
Re: PIR [number], Flight [number], [date]
To whom it may concern:
My checked bag, tag [number], did not arrive on Flight [number] from [origin] to [destination] on [date]. I filed PIR [number] at [airport].
The bag contained:
- [item, age, replacement value]
- [item, age, replacement value]
Total documented loss: $[amount]
I am requesting delivery of the bag or compensation under the Montreal Convention or 14 CFR Part 254, as applicable.
Please respond in writing by [date].
Sincerely,
[Name]Questions that still come up
Does a delayed bag get automatic cash? No. Airlines often cover reasonable essentials with receipts. The daily amount is usually policy, not law. For U.S. domestic trips, the total liability floor is $4,700. For international trips, the Montreal cap is 1,519 SDR.
When is a delayed bag officially lost? On international trips, 21 days is the Montreal trigger. Some airlines may declare it lost sooner. On U.S. domestic trips, the airline's contract and tracing process control. 21 days is a common practical threshold.
Can I claim for jewelry or electronics? You can claim documented loss, but many airline contracts exclude or limit high-value items in checked bags. Check the contract before you pack.
Where do I complain if the airline ignores me? Start with the airline's written claims process. Then file with the DOT for a U.S. carrier or U.S. itinerary. For international trips, the Montreal Convention allows court action within two years.
Start with the PIR. If you already left the airport, contact the airline's baggage office today and ask to file a late report. Then send the written claim. The paperwork you keep now is what you'll rely on later.