Airlines rarely get bags back to passengers in 48 hours. Most bags that fall into the delayed baggage category make it back to the passenger in 3-7 days. Figure out what you need for a few days and immediately buy those items.

If your baggage is "delayed" (meaning the airline knows where it is but it didn't make your flight), it typically arrives on the next available flight, often within 12 to 24 hours. Most airlines aim to deliver the bag to your hotel or home via a courier service by the following evening. However, if the bag is "misrouted" to the wrong continent or if the airline is experiencing a "meltdown" (like during major winter storms or IT failures), the delay can extend to 3 to 7 days. According to international aviation law (Montreal Convention), a bag is not officially considered "Lost" until 21 days have passed. During this window, you are entitled to "reasonable" reimbursement for essential items like toiletries and a change of clothes—usually around $50 to $100 per day—provided you keep all your receipts. If your bag still hasn't appeared after 21 days, you can file a formal claim for the total value of the contents, up to approximately $1,700 USD. Using a tracking device like an AirTag is the best way to speed this up, as you can often tell the airline exactly which terminal your bag is sitting in before they even find it themselves.