The carousel stops, the last bags are collected, and yours isn't there. It happens to a small share of passengers on every busy day, and most bags turn up within a day or two. What you do in the next hour, and in the following weeks, decides whether you are reimbursed for the trouble.
This guide covers international flights, where the Montreal Convention of 1999 sets the airline's liability. Most countries have joined it, including the EU states, the United States, the United Kingdom, India and the Gulf states. Domestic flights can follow national rules.
Before you leave the baggage hall
- Go to the airline or baggage services desk in the arrivals hall, before passing customs if you can.
- File a report. The European Consumer Centres advise filling in a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and keeping a copy: you will need it to claim compensation.
- Note the reference number and the tracing contact. Most airlines let you follow the search online.
- Give a delivery address and a phone number for the days ahead.
- Take photos of any damage to a bag you did receive, and report it at the same desk.
Keep everything: your boarding pass, the bag tag stub stuck to your ticket or passport, the PIR copy and every receipt. These are the evidence your claim rests on.
If your bag is delayed
A delayed bag is one that arrives later than you did. You can claim the reasonable cost of essentials you had to buy while you waited. The European Consumer Centres say compensation covers necessary purchases only, so buy what you genuinely need, such as toiletries and a change of clothes, and keep copies of the receipts.
Some airlines pay a small fixed sum at the airport. Ask what they offer, but keep your receipts anyway.
The deadline matters. Under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention, you must complain in writing within 21 days from the date the bag was delivered to you. If you miss it, the Convention says no action can be brought against the airline, except in the case of fraud.
When a delayed bag counts as lost
Article 17 of the Convention gives a clear point: if the airline admits the bag is lost, or if it has not arrived 21 days after the date it should have, you can claim for it as lost.
For the claim, list the contents and their value, with receipts or other proof where you have them. Airlines usually take the age of items into account, so an old coat is not worth the price of a new one.
If your bag is damaged
For damage to checked baggage, the Convention requires you to complain at once after discovering it, and at the latest within 7 days of receiving the bag. Report it at the airport if you notice it there, and follow up in writing.
For hand luggage and personal items you keep with you, the rules are different: the airline is liable only if the damage resulted from its fault or that of its staff.
How much the airline must pay
The Convention caps the airline's liability for destruction, loss, damage or delay of baggage per passenger. The cap is expressed in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), a unit defined by the International Monetary Fund whose value in your currency changes daily.
ICAO reviews the limits every 5 years. Since 28 December 2024, the baggage limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger, up from 1,288 SDR. The European Consumer Centres put it at about 1,800 euros.
This is a maximum, not an automatic payment. You are paid for the loss you can show, up to that cap. The airline can also escape liability for a delay if it proves it took all reasonable measures to avoid it.
Two ways to cover more:
- Declare a higher value. Article 22 allows a special declaration of interest when you check the bag in, with a supplementary fee if the airline requires one.
- Travel insurance. Your Europe suggests private insurance for valuable items. Check what your policy pays for delayed and lost bags, and whether it expects you to claim from the airline first.
Which airline to contact
Contact the airline that brought you to your destination, even if another carrier operated an earlier flight on the same ticket. Send your claim in writing, attach the PIR and your receipts, and keep proof of when you sent it.
If the airline does not answer or refuses, and it is based in the EU, or you flew from the EU, the European Consumer Centres and national enforcement bodies can help. Under Article 35, a court claim must be brought within 2 years of arrival.
Before your next flight
- Put a name tag inside and outside every bag.
- Photograph your bag and its contents before you travel.
- Pack medicines, documents, valuables and a change of clothes in your cabin bag.
How long do I have to claim for a delayed bag?
Under the Montreal Convention, you must complain in writing within 21 days from the date the bag was delivered to you.
When is a bag considered lost?
When the airline admits it is lost, or when it has not arrived 21 days after the date it should have.
How much compensation can I get for lost luggage?
Up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger on international flights covered by the Montreal Convention, for the loss you can prove. The European Consumer Centres put it at about 1,800 euros.
What is the deadline for damaged luggage?
Complain as soon as you discover the damage, and at the latest within 7 days of receiving the bag.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk — Montreal Convention 1999 (Carriage by Air Act 1961, Schedule 1B) (checked September 30, 2026)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) — International air travel liability limits set to increase (checked September 30, 2026)
- Your Europe (European Union) — Air passenger rights (checked September 30, 2026)
- European Consumer Centre Netherlands — Lost or damaged luggage: what are my rights? (checked September 30, 2026)
About the author
Bookskies Editorial TeamBookskies uses AI for drafts and translations. This organizational byline does not identify a named expert or certify a human review. Check the guide’s sources and documented review status before relying on time-sensitive claims.
