If your baggage has gone missing, the airline has 21 days to find it and deliver it to you. If you get your baggage back within 21 days, you can still claim compensation for delayed baggage. If you don't, you can file a lost baggage claim.
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Once an airline determines that your bag is lost, the airline is responsible for compensating you for your bags' contents - subject to depreciation and maximum liability limits.
What airlines lose the most luggage Europe? And if you've flown in Europe, we probably don't even need to tell you who it was. That's right: Ryanair. It led the pack of damaged luggage claims by a considerable margin, nearly tripling those made against second-place Emirates.
JFK leads the list of worst airports for lost luggage and damaged bags with the most property loss claims (1.93 claims per 100,000 domestic passengers) and property damage claims (1.48 claims per 100,000 domestic passengers) between 2013 and 2022.
The region with the highest rate of mishandled bags in 2022 was Europe, with 15.7 per 1,000 passengers, a threefold increase from the previous year. This compared to 6.35 per 1,000 passengers in North America and three per 1,000 in Asia.
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.
If your flight has been delayed for more than three hours, you will need to fill out and submit an Air Passenger Rights EU Complaints Form to claim compensation. This simple form should be sent to the operating airline (presuming it was an EU airline or an airline operating a flight within an EU country).
You need to assume your bag is lost for a minimum of 5 daysAirlines 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.
Contact a Baggage Claim DeskAs soon as you notice your baggage is missing, contact the Baggage Claim Desk, which is located within the airport (usually near the baggage carousels) and inform the staff about the situation. If there is no desk around, get in touch with the airline whose aircraft you were on.
Lost, Damaged, or Delayed LuggageIf your baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged on flights that are covered under EU261, there are protections in place. If your baggage is delayed or lost, you can claim damages up to ?1,300 ($1,728 CAD).
Filing a Lost Luggage Report Probably Won't HelpIf this is a simple issue of delayed baggage, it should show up in the next three days. FAA data shows that delayed baggage usually arrives within 3-7 days. However, if the bag is truly lost, your chances of finding lost luggage after 30 days are cut in half.
The Points Guy notes that this equated to approximately seven bags out of every 1,000, or 0.7%. American Airlines' average came in slightly higher, at nine per 1,000 or 0.9%. Allegiant performed far better, with less than two bags per 1,000 going missing.
Generally, most of the European airlines limit carry-on luggage to a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 20 cm ( 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in); however, a few airlines do accept bags up to 25 cm wide (9.84 inc) or do not accept more than 35cm tall (13.7 in).
Ryanair disputed the figures, with a spokesperson saying: Ryanair operates over 3,200 daily flights across more than 230 destinations and leads the industry with fewest lost bags – one bag mishandled per almost 10,000 passengers.
Bags that are lost foreverAt this point, passengers can claim compensation for their bags, and the bag, technically at least, becomes the property of the airline. Of course, the airline doesn't really want a bag full of your dirty laundry and holiday souvenirs, so these unclaimed and untraceable bags are passed along.
Travelers who suspect they were a victim of stolen luggage should immediately notify their airline of the situation. A stolen luggage report can also be filed with the airport police, in the event your property is recovered on baggage handlers or other employees.
If you must check your suitcase, try to book a non-stop flight whenever possible — especially if you're flying international. According to SITA, the mishandling rate on international routes is 8.7 bags per thousand passengers; on domestic routes, it's 1.85 bags per thousand. Go carry-on only.