Under DOT regulations (for domestic travel) and international treaties (for international travel), airlines are required to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed, or lost.
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Airlines are responsible for repairing or reimbursing a passenger for damaged baggage and/or its contents when the damage occurs while the bag is under the airline's control, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection division.
Fragile and valuable items. If you're traveling with expensive items, items that can break, or food that can go bad, we recommend you bring them in your carry-on bag or as your personal item whenever possible. These items do count toward your carry-on or checked bag allowance and may be subject to fees.
Report the damage at the Baggage Service Office in the airport or you can submit a claim online. For domestic flights, report the damage within 24 hours of receiving your bags.
There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers. If your flight is experiencing a long delay, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.
What are airlines' responsibilities when they damage your baggage? Airlines are responsible for repairing or reimbursing a passenger for damaged baggage and/or its contents when the damage occurs while the bag is under the airline's control during transportation (subject to maximum limits on liabilities).
If you have experienced a loss or damage to your property and you feel that this loss or damage occurred as a direct result of negligence by a TSA employee, you may file a claim with TSA. If you feel the loss or damage was due to the negligence of your air carrier, please file a claim directly with the air carrier.
The reimbursement is based on the value of the bag and its depreciation, the DOT says, subject to liability limits. For flights within the United States, the maximum liability for a lost, delayed or damaged bag is $3,500. The limit on international flights, per the Montreal Convention, is about $1,600, the agency says.
However, if your first flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline that caused the delay. In addition to compensation, the airline must offer you a choice between: Reimbursement of your ticket and a return flight to your departure airport if you have a connecting flight.
Individuals can sue airlines in small claims court for damages caused by an airline's negligence. For example, damages can arise from personal injuries (for example a broken arm) or from emotional distress caused by an airline's negligent treatment.
Lost items on an aircraftSo long as you have a boarding pass and know your seat number, an airline should be able to track your belongings. Or else, if a trusty member of the service team catches the items, they can report it to the airline.