My Baggage Did Not Arrive

Most bags that do not arrive on the carousel are delayed rather than lost, and the majority turn up within a couple of days. The process for getting them back is standardised, and the important part happens before you leave the airport.

Do not leave the airport without filing a report

Find the baggage services desk in the arrivals hall, usually near the carousels. File a Property Irregularity Report - the PIR - and get the reference number.

This report is the record that everything else depends on. Filing it later, from your hotel, is much harder and in some cases the airline will refuse.

You will need:

• Your baggage tag receipt, the sticker attached to your boarding pass
• Your flight details and booking reference
• A description of the bag, ideally with a photo
• An address and phone number where the bag can be delivered

This is the moment the photo you took of your suitcase before travelling earns its place.

Tracking

Most airlines provide an online tracker using the PIR reference. Bags are scanned at handling points, so the tracker often shows where the bag actually is, which is more useful than the status text.

Give it 24 hours before escalating. Bags that missed a connection typically follow on the next flight and are delivered the following day.

Essentials while you wait

Airlines are generally expected to cover reasonable essential purchases when a bag is delayed - toiletries, underwear, a change of clothes, and any specific items you need for the purpose of the trip.

Practical approach:

1. Ask the desk what the daily limit is and get it in writing if possible
2. Buy modestly and keep every receipt
3. Do not replace the entire contents of the suitcase on day one
4. Submit the claim through the airline's process, not by handing receipts to a random staff member

Your travel insurance may also cover delayed baggage after a set number of hours, and that cover often sits alongside the airline's rather than instead of it. Read both.

When a bag is declared lost

Airlines usually treat a bag as lost after 21 days, though some declare it sooner. At that point you move from delay to a loss claim.

Liability for international flights is generally governed by the Montreal Convention, which caps the airline's liability at a defined amount per passenger, not per bag. That cap is often lower than the value of a well-packed suitcase, which is why valuables belong in the cabin.

You will typically need an itemised list of contents with approximate values and, where possible, receipts for higher-value items. Depreciation is usually applied.

Damaged bags

Report damage before leaving the airport, same desk, same principle. Most airlines have a short window - often seven days - to report damage discovered later, but reporting at the airport is far stronger.

Wear and tear, minor scuffs, and damage to protruding parts such as wheels and handles are commonly excluded. Photograph the damage immediately.

Reducing the risk next time

• Keep essentials, medication and valuables in the cabin
• Remove old tags so scanners cannot read the wrong route
• Put contact details inside the bag as well as outside
• Consider a tracking device, which will not make the airline move faster but does end the argument about where the bag is
• Avoid checking bags on connections under an hour where you can

For the wider rules on what goes where, see our guide to baggage rules.