What to do if your luggage goes missing on a flight? Experts teach you how to file a claim

▲Checked baggage (Photo / DaZhi / Illustration)

By Rita

One of the most frustrating things that can happen while traveling abroad is having your luggage lost during the flight. Therefore, never put valuables or items that airlines are unlikely to compensate you for in your checked luggage. For details, please seeNever put these in checked luggage！20 things that won’t be covered if lost. So what should you do if, unfortunately, your luggage really does go missing? This article explains many basic steps you should know, though hopefully, you won’t need to use them.

Q. How do I apply for compensation if my luggage is lost or damaged?
A. As follows (Response from Sophie Butler, consumer journalist at the UK’s Daily Telegraph)

If you report the issue to the airline immediately, your chances of getting compensation are higher. After leaving the baggage claim area, go directly to the airline counter. They will give you a“Property Irregularity Report”, fill in the details on it. In smaller airports, the counter might be unattended—you must find a way to complete this form because without it, the claims process will be very difficult..

In addition to providing a detailed description of the items, you also need to fill in your personal and flight information. A better approach is to take a photo of your luggage with your phone, which can help with the description, and write to the airline to request compensation within seven days.

If your luggage arrives a day or two late, the airline will arrange for you to collect it as soon as possible. But if you don’t see your luggage on the carousel, you’ll need to start tracking it: go to the airport baggage service office first and confirm its exact location using the baggage tag number, sokeeping your baggage tag is very important. If there is no news within three weeks, the airline will declare the luggage officially lost.

If you are on vacation and your luggage is lost, the airline is obliged to cover the cost of “essentials.” However, when it comes to compensation, the definition of “essentials” can be quite broad. The airline may say they will only cover toiletries, underwear, and laundry costs—not a whole new set of clothes. So, check the airline’s policy first and keep all receipts related to expenses incurred during this period.

For compensation, initially you may receive daily expenses in cash or via bank transfer based on the receipts you submit. Claims for additional expenses due to lost baggage must be filed within 21 days. Depending on the complexity of the case, the administrative processing time for compensation varies, and it might take several months.

However, you may find that the airline keeps suggesting you contact your insurance company. Going through your insurer may result in higher compensation, but you must first check the fine print—many insurers exclude items that fall under the airline’s responsibility.