Who is responsible for luggage?

Airlines are responsible for the entire baggage process, including finding and returning lost baggage to passengers. Airports help passengers locate the right airline contact to resolve problems.



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Airlines are responsible for the entire baggage process, including finding and returning lost baggage to passengers.

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Airlines are not responsible for any pre-existing damage to packed items if you improperly packed them. Airlines are not required to cover normal baggage wear and tear, however, airlines will be required to cover the damage they caused to wheels, handles, straps, and other outer components of checked baggage.

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You always get to keep your original ticket and use it on another flight. If you choose to make your own arrangements, you can request an involuntary refund for the ticket for the flight you were bumped from. The denied boarding compensation is essentially a payment for your inconvenience.

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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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Airlines are legally required to compensate you for lost items and any baggage fees you paid.

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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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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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9 Steps to Take When Your Luggage Is Lost
  1. Contact the airline. ...
  2. Request delivery to your home or accommodation. ...
  3. Request checked baggage fee reimbursement. ...
  4. Submit a claim to the airline. ...
  5. Keep receipts of incidental expenses. ...
  6. Check your credit card benefits. ...
  7. Consider travel insurance and homeowner's insurance claims.


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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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Passengers may return to the airport to pick up their item or may approve someone else, in writing, to do so. Items can be shipped back to the owner at the owner's expense.

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In the Know: Airline Passenger Rights (Part 1)
  • Right to be informed. The passenger is entitled to a full, fair and clear disclosure of all the terms and conditions of the contract of carriage before he purchases his ticket. ...
  • Right to receive full value of service purchased. ...
  • Right to compensation.


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If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including for ticket price, taxes, baggage fees, extra charges and ancillary fees. Travelers must receive that refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card, and within 20 days if by cash or check.

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