What to do if my baggage is delayed?

If your baggage did not arrive as expected at the baggage claim, you should proceed to your airline's baggage service office at the airport. Filing a claim is the first step in getting your bags back and ensuring that you can later claim for incidental expenses against the airline.



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Delayed Baggage When a checked bag does not arrive at its destination, airlines are responsible for locating the bag. Airlines have tracking systems in place to try to identify the bag's location.

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If your luggage doesn't arrive on the same flight as you, it's considered delayed. Your bag won't be considered lost until it cannot be located for a specific number of days as determined by the airline, usually between 5-14 days after your flight.

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Speaking with the baggage claim or check-in desk agent is your fastest option. Call the airline if you cannot find an airline representative. When applicable, complete any airline forms to submit your claim while you are at the airport.

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Airport baggage procedures can be complex at large hubs, so waiting 30 to 45 minutes for bags can be normal. Luggage can come in waves from a single flight as well, so just because your suitcase didn't arrive initially doesn't necessarily mean it's lost. Patience goes a long way in times like these.

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Which airlines are the worst for lost, delayed or damaged luggage? American, the largest airline in the world, ranked at the top for mishandling luggage, closely followed by economy carrier JetBlue. Here's the list.

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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 recommend that passengers collect their baggage as soon as possible, suggesting they should not wait longer than 30 to 40 minutes after the aircraft has landed.

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Normally, passengers can expect to see their checked bags anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes after arrival, according to Nick Gates, a director at SITA, an aviation technology company. An airport's size, passenger capacity and the degree of modernization in its bag handling all play a role.

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Where's My Suitcase contact info: Phone number: (800) 221-6903 Website: www.wheresmysuitcase.com What does Where's My Suitcase do?

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Travelers who lose their luggage during a domestic flight can claim up to $3,000 per person. In the case that a luggage piece contains the belongings of two air passengers, then the maximum compensation amount will be $6,000.

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Why Do Airlines Lose Luggage? As with anything, accidents do happen. The leading cause of lost luggage is the mishandling of the bags between flights or from the sorting office to your airplane. Depending on the airport you fly out of, the actual sorting of luggage is done by a robot or workers.

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As a rule of thumb, you could probably expect your bags to arrive within 20 to 30 minutes of the plane arriving at the gate but arrival time for checked bags can sometimes be hard to predict.

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These are the worst airlines for lost and mishandled luggage in the United States:
  1. American Airlines. American Airlines is the number one worst airline for losing or damaging your luggage, with 5.34 incidents per 1,000 bags. ...
  2. United Airlines. ...
  3. Alaska Airlines. ...
  4. JetBlue. ...
  5. Frontier Airlines. ...
  6. Delta Air Lines. ...
  7. Hawaiian Airlines.


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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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Delayed aircraft are estimated to have cost the airlines several billion dollars in additional expense. Delays also drive the need for extra gates and ground personnel and impose costs on airline customers (including shippers) in the form of lost productivity, wages and goodwill.

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Some legal experts and consumer advocates say that while airlines never had the authority to dispose of lost baggage, passengers' use of tracking devices could become a new test of the legal soundness of that practice.

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Or, go online to your airline's website and enter in your name and your luggage reference number or bag tag number. Find your luggage easily by using a brightly-colored suitcase or suitcase cover. Track your luggage yourself by using an electronic GPS locator, like AirTags or Tile.

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If you can't find your bags after landing, file a report at the Baggage Service Office before leaving the airport. For flights within the U.S., report delayed bags: Within 4 hours of arriving at your destination.

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