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.

The amount of compensation you receive for a lost bag is governed by specific laws and international treaties, most notably the Montreal Convention for international flights and DOT regulations for domestic U.S. travel. In 2026, for domestic flights within the U.S., the maximum liability limit is $3,800 per passenger. For international flights, the limit is approximately 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which currently converts to roughly $1,700 to $1,800 USD. It is important to note that these are "maximums," not automatic payouts; the airline will require you to provide an itemized list of the contents and, in many cases, original receipts to prove the value of the lost items. Airlines generally do not pay the full replacement value for old items, applying "depreciation" instead. Furthermore, certain high-value items like jewelry, electronics, and cash are often excluded from coverage in the airline's contract of carriage, meaning you must rely on private travel insurance or homeowners' insurance for those specific losses.