TRAVEL PROBLEMS · BAGGAGE
Lost or delayed luggage: what the airline owes you
If your checked bag doesn't come off the carousel, the airline can owe you three things: your interim expenses while it is missing, the bag fee back if it is late enough, and compensation up to a legal limit if it is lost or damaged. The deadlines matter, so here is what to do and when.
Paid link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The one Amazon button on this page opens search results for luggage trackers; I have not tested individual products. Claiming from the airline is free. Prepared with AI assistance.
The 30-second answer
- Report it before you leave the airport and keep the report reference.
- Keep receipts for essentials you buy while the bag is missing. US rules say the airline must reimburse reasonable, verifiable expenses, with no fixed daily cap.
- Write to the airline within the deadline: under EU rules, 7 days for damage and 21 days from getting a delayed bag back.
The limits at a glance
| Trip | Maximum the airline is liable for | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US domestic flight | $4,700 per passenger | US DOT |
| International trip (Montreal Convention) | 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger (DOT gives about $2,175) | US DOT |
| Flight under EU rules | About €1,300 for checked luggage | Your Europe |
These are maximums, not automatic payouts. You claim what you actually lost or spent, and you may be asked for receipts.
Delayed bag: what you can claim while you wait
The US Department of Transportation says airlines must reimburse reasonable, verifiable and actual incidental expenses while a bag is delayed, within the liability limits, and that they cannot set a fixed daily cap. In practice that means toiletries, a change of clothes and other things you need because the bag is not there.
- Buy what you need, not a new wardrobe. "Reasonable" is the test.
- Keep every receipt and the mishandled baggage report reference.
- Ask the airline at the desk what it will cover and how to submit receipts.
Get the bag fee back
If you paid to check the bag, US rules refund that fee when the bag is significantly delayed:
| Flight | Bag fee refund if not delivered within |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 12 hours of arrival |
| International, 12 hours or less | 15 hours of arrival |
| International, over 12 hours | 30 hours of arrival |
You need to have filed a mishandled baggage report. More on fee refunds in US airline refund rules.
When a delayed bag becomes "lost"
DOT says most airlines declare a bag lost between five and fourteen days after the flight, depending on the airline and the itinerary. At that point you claim for the bag and its contents, up to the limits above. Make a list of what was in it and gather any receipts or photos you have.
Damaged bag
- Report visible damage at the airport if you can, with photos.
- Under EU rules, complain in writing within 7 days.
- On US domestic trips, airlines may exclude some items in their contract of carriage, such as fragile items, electronics, cash and other valuables. DOT notes that on international trips airlines are responsible for such items if they accepted them for transport. Carry valuables in your cabin bag.
Deadlines to put in your phone
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Any missing or damaged bag | Report as soon as possible, ideally before leaving the airport |
| Damaged bag, EU rules | Written complaint within 7 days |
| Delayed bag, EU rules | Written complaint within 21 days of getting it back |
Next time: know where your bag is
A small tracker in a checked bag lets you see where it is and tell the airline. It does not change what the airline owes you, but it can shorten the search.
See luggage trackers on Amazon →
Affiliate link to Amazon search results. Check airline rules on batteries in checked bags before you fly.
Flight also delayed or cancelled? See flight delay compensation and what the airline owes you overnight.