How much do airlines pay for damaged luggage?

For domestic flights, if an airline damages your bags, the maximum an airline will be responsible for is $3,800.00. Airlines may pay more than the limit but are not required to do so. International flights are governed, for the most part, by a treaty called the Montreal Convention.



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According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you are entitled to compensation for reasonable incidental expenses you incur because of your delayed baggage, up to the maximum liability limits, set by statute. For U.S. domestic flights, this is $3,800 per passenger.

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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. The cheapest option for airlines is a bag repair.

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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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Delayed Baggage Compensation: What To Do?
  1. Hold onto your boarding pass and your checked luggage receipts. ...
  2. Report the damage before leaving the airport after receiving your bags. ...
  3. Fill out a damage claim form, or Property Irregularity Report. ...
  4. Present your bags for inspection so they can be repaired or replaced.


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Can I Sue for Lost Luggage in Small Claim Court. If you can't come to an agreement with the airline, you may be able to sue for lost or damaged baggage in your local small claims court without hiring a lawyer. However, each state has a maximum amount that you can seek to recover in small claims court.

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You should return to the airport or call the Baggage Recovery Center within 24 hours of your arrival. You should return to the airport or call the Baggage Recovery Center within 7 days of arrival to report damaged bags, or within 21 days to report delayed or lost bags, or missing items.

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According to the US Government, they are but it's not always the case. It depends on the airline and its regulations. I highly recommend you before booking your flight checking the airline's policies.

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This depends very much on the price of your bag. The more expensive your luggage is, the more likely it is to be worth repairing it. While less expensive bags may be cheaper to just replace. The cost does also depend on the repair, some things are more expensive to replace or fix than others.

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Steps to Consider if Airline Damaged Your Luggage
You can also consider filing a complaint against the airline with the Department of Transportation. Send the airline a formal complaint letter. Consider filing a lawsuit against the airline in small claims court.

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On <date> I flew with <name of airline> from <place of departure> to <place of arrival>. This concerned flight <enter the flight number that is on your flight ticket>. Upon arrival, my baggage came off the conveyor belt damaged. <Write a short description of the damage>.

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The DOT does not require the airline to offer compensation, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

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According to the DOT, airlines are not required to provide money or other compensation when flights get delayed, regardless of how late they are. However, when a “significant delay” takes place, passengers may receive refunds for seat selection fees or checked baggage fees.

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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.

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Airline liability
  • International laws for air travel.
  • Death or injury to passengers.
  • Lost or damaged luggage.
  • Delayed passengers and luggage.
  • Missing or damaged luggage.
  • Claiming compensation.


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Airlines are technically not responsible for damage to checked car seats (or strollers either) under their contracts of carriage. This is why it is so important not to fly with expensive baby gear! As with many things in air travel, however, employees do have some flexibility to address grievances.

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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 during transportation (subject to maximum limits on liabilities).

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When it came to airlines that lost the most baggage, that same study found that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines came in ninth out of 17 major airlines. “Of all national airlines, American Airlines lost the most bags in 2022, losing 850 bags per 100,000.

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Can you sue an airline for wasting your time? Generally, yes you can sue an airline in small claims court. The U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”), which is a federal agency that regulates airlines operating in the U.S, even publishes a Consumer's Guide to Small Claims Court.

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Baggage loss insurance covers baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during your trip. But not everything in your bags might fall under the insurance coverage.

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Claiming Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations
Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late. Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.

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