Lost luggage: how to get money back for delay and damage

Someone else's bags arrive on the baggage carousel, and your suitcase is still nowhere to be seen. Or it comes out with a cracked corner. Don't leave the terminal empty-handed and don't wait for the problem to resolve itself.

The airline is responsible for checked baggage along the entire route. You can get reimbursed for essentials you need in the first few days, for damaged items, and for a lost suitcase. The compensation cap under the Montreal Convention is 1,519 SDR per passenger, or about €1,700 (as of 09/2026, ICAO official website).

Below, we'll walk through the steps to take at the airport, the deadlines for filing a claim, and the limits for regular and package tours.

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What to do at the airport: first steps

💡 In short:

• Go straight to the Lost & Found desk and fill out a PIR form.
• Keep your boarding pass and baggage tag, and photograph any damage.
• Buy only essentials and keep your receipts.
• Limits and deadlines: 09/2026, verified on the ICAO official website.

Act on the spot while you're still in the terminal. An airline employee will file a Property Irregularity Report, or PIR for short. This form records that your suitcase went missing or was damaged during the flight.

Take your boarding pass and baggage tag. They confirm that you checked your belongings. Photograph any dents or tears right away, and before your trip, take a picture of your suitcase and make a list of its contents.

© Asurnipal · CC BY-SAPhoto: Asurnipal, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

A PIR does not replace a written claim to the carrier. That must be filed separately and within its own deadlines. If you traveled on a package tour, also send a copy of your message to the tour operator.

Send the written claim by registered mail or through the airline's website form, and keep a copy for yourself. In the claim, include the flight number, departure date, baggage tag number, and the amount you're requesting. It's best not to hand over original receipts; attach copies to your correspondence.

What the airline pays for when baggage is delayed

If your suitcase arrives after you do, you have the right to buy essentials. This means underwear, toiletries, a T-shirt, pajamas. The carrier reimburses these expenses, but keep them within reasonable limits.

The purchase rule applies at the start of your vacation, when your suitcase is still in transit. On the return trip, you have spare clothes with you, so compensation for purchases is usually not paid. Keep every receipt; without one, you can't prove the amount.

How much you get for a lost suitcase

The compensation cap is 1,519 SDR per passenger (as of 09/2026, according to ICAO). At the current exchange rate, that's about €1,700. You confirm the exact amount with receipts, the baggage tag, and a list of contents.

• For new items with a receipt, the carrier pays the full purchase price.
• For used items, the residual value is calculated taking depreciation into account.
• The airline is not liable for valuables; keep jewelry, cash, and laptops in your carry-on.

The carrier pays not only for purchases, but also for everything that went missing or was damaged in your suitcase. Expensive items are safer to carry with you.

You can file a special declaration of value at the baggage check-in desk if your belongings include expensive electronics or gifts. This declaration raises the liability limit but requires a small surcharge. If your suitcase is lost, prepare a detailed list of items with approximate values and attach receipts, online store order confirmations, or card statements.

Deadlines for filing a claim

File your claim in writing, even if you filled out a PIR on the spot. The deadlines are strict. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed delivery within 21 days. If your suitcase hasn't been found after 21 days, it is considered lost (as of 09/2026, Your Europe portal). The 7-day deadline does not apply to a lost suitcase.

Attach copies of the baggage tag, PIR, and receipts to your claim. If the carrier doesn't respond, send a follow-up claim and contact the national passenger rights authority. Don't delay; the statute of limitations for a lawsuit is 2 years.

You file a complaint with the national authority in the country of departure, usually online and free of charge. The agency reviews your correspondence with the carrier and requires a written response. Many airlines only respond after such a complaint, so don't give up halfway.

Baggage lost on a package tour

On a package tour, you can additionally claim a price reduction for the days you were without your baggage. Delayed or lost baggage counts as a tour deficiency. Claim the price reduction from the tour operator, and baggage compensation from the airline. File claims with both, ideally right at your destination.

The amount of the reduction depends on the case and the number of days affected. German courts award a partial refund for each day without belongings, but the exact amount is determined by the circumstances. This is an additional payment; it does not cancel the carrier's compensation.

Contact the tour operator in writing and attach a copy of the PIR. While your complaint is being reviewed, keep all documents and correspondence. A refusal can be challenged in court, but most cases are resolved at the claim stage.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

What is a PIR and why do I need it?

A Property Irregularity Report is filed at the airline desk at the airport. The form records that your suitcase didn't arrive or arrived damaged. A PIR helps prove that the problem is linked to a specific flight. The form alone does not replace a written claim to the carrier, so file that too within the required deadline.

Does the airline pay for clothing when a suitcase is delayed?

Yes, if you're left without your belongings at the start of your trip. Buy only essentials: underwear, toiletries, a T-shirt. Keep your receipts, otherwise you can't prove the expenses. On the way home, purchases are usually not reimbursed because you have spare clothes with you.

What is the maximum payout for a lost suitcase?

The liability limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger, or about €1,700 (as of 09/2026, ICAO 2024 report). The amount is confirmed with receipts and a list of contents. For new items, the full price is paid; for used items, the residual value. The carrier is not liable for jewelry or cash.

What are the deadlines for filing a claim?

Damage must be reported in writing within 7 days, delayed delivery within 21 days. The 7-day deadline does not apply to a lost suitcase; a lawsuit must be filed within 2 years. Deadlines run from the moment baggage is delivered or damage is discovered (as of 09/2026, Your Europe data).

Can I get a payout from both the airline and the tour operator?

Yes, on a package tour these claims don't exclude each other. The airline reimburses the value of your baggage and purchases; the tour operator reduces the tour price for the days you were without your belongings. File claims with both, ideally while you're still on vacation, so you don't miss the deadlines.

In short: what to do if your baggage is lost

Act while the trail is still warm. File a PIR, keep your baggage tag and photos, and keep purchases within reasonable limits. After that, it all comes down to deadlines: 7 days for damage and 21 days for delay (as of 09/2026, according to the EU portal).

• If your baggage was delayed at the start of your trip: buy essentials and keep receipts.
• If your suitcase was damaged: photograph it and file a claim within 7 days.
• If your suitcase was lost: assess the contents and claim compensation up to the limit.
• If you traveled on a package tour: send a copy of your claim to the tour operator.

For your next trip, compare baggage insurance options, and if your flight is delayed or canceled, check your right to compensation on AirHelp.