1. Act ImmediatelyÂ
Airlines are more likely to accept responsibility for missing or damaged luggage if you report the problem straightaway. Before leaving the luggage reclaim hall, go to the airline desk.
2. Fill Out A Form
Youâll be given a copy of the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) thatâs used by airline staff to record the details. While this isnât a legal requirement, and there maybe a reason why itâs not possible to get one (an unmanned desk at a small airport, for example) youâre still entitled to claim. But without a PIR, the process is likely to be more of an uphill battle.
3. If The Bag Is Damaged
If you want to claim compensation, write to the airline within seven days of receiving your luggage, enclosing a copy of the PIR.
4. If the bag is missing
As well as personal and flight details, youâll need to give an accurate description of a missing bag, recording any distinguishing features. A good tip (for the highly organised) is to keep a photo of your luggage on your phone in case you ever need to make this sort of report. Photographic evidence can also help if you are reporting damaged luggage.Â
5. Observe the deadlines
Write to the airline, enclosing the a copy of the PIR, within seven days of the flight. If your luggage turns up a day or two late, itâs up to the airline to make arrangements for getting it to you as efficiently as possible.
6. Monitor progress
Where luggage doesnât show up, you should be able to monitor it through the tracing procedure, either by contacting baggage services at the airport, the airlineâs central department or by logging into an online baggage-tracing page with a reference number. This reference will relate to the luggage receipt usually attached to your passport or boarding card at check-in or bag-drop, so youâll need to keep it to hand. If thereâs no sign of it after three weeks, the bag will be declared lost.
7. Make a claim
Ask the airline what its policy is and keep receipts for anything you buy. A potential complication is when your bag has been transferred to another one or two airlines within a single journey. In this case it makes sense to claim from the last one flown, as itâs this airline which usually handles the claim.
Compensation usually comes in the form of an upfront cash payment, a fixed daily budget or remittance once your claim and receipts have been submitted. A claim for a delayed bag must be sent to the airlineâs customer relations department within 21 days of handing your luggage to the airline. Depending on various factors such as how complicated your claim is, and the time of year, it may take as long as a couple of months to process.
To claim compensation for missing bag, you must write to the airline within seven days of the luggage being declared lost.
8. Check the rules
If your bag has gone missing on the outward flight and you find youâre on holiday with no possessions, airlines are obliged to cover costs of âessential itemsâ. However, this definition can be a sticking point when it comes to compensation. Depending on the attitude of the airline, it may argue that âessential itemsâ are classified as toiletries, underwear or laundry costs rather than a brand new outfit. In most cases the airline will track down your bag quickly and return it to you within a couple of days.
9. Check your insurance policy
However, youâre likely to find the airline tries to pass the buck by suggesting you take the issue of compensation up with your travel insurer. Depending on your policy, you may get a higher level of cover this way. Be sure to check your insurerâs excess charge and small print first - some policies provide minimal or no cover for luggage while in the care of an airline.
© 2023 The Clever Travel Companion All Rights Reserved.