Airline Lost Your Luggage? Here's What to Do
It’s a terrible, sinking feeling when you realize everyone else’s luggage came through the baggage claim except yours. Travel is supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime and this is no way to end a trip.
Still, there are a few methodical steps you can take, not only to locate your lost luggage, but also seek out a reimbursement for most – if not all – of your belongings. Here’s everything you need to know once you realize an airline lost your luggage.
Keep a Cool Head
Here’s the good news: over 360 million bags are checked for direct flights on the 10 major airlines. Out of all those bags, only a little over 2 million are actually lost or damaged.
When you notice everyone else’s bag has come down the conveyor belt, but yours hasn’t arrived, don’t jump to the worst case scenario.
It may simply be delayed. The employees might have suffered a delay. Something could have happened with the electronics or machinery.
A good rule of thumb is to wait 30 to 45 minutes for your luggage to arrive. Regular systems and processes can get backlogged at major hubs, as well.
You’ll also notice that luggage from the same flight comes in waves. If your suitcase isn’t the first to pop out and you’re starting to see the same bags circle the conveyor, don’t worry yet. There’s likely another wave on its way.
Give it a little bit of time to see what might’ve happened before you jump to the worst case scenario: that your luggage is lost and all your belongings will never be seen again.
Once you realize the baggage claim is starting to display the details for another flight, then you can take the next steps.
Locate the Airport Unclaimed Baggage Office
If you were on a direct flight, it’ll be clear where you need to go. If, however, you were on a connecting flight, you may wonder which airline desk to seek out. You’ll want to approach the airline from your most recent flight.
When an airline loses your luggage, one of the first things you want to supply is a copy of the bag tag the clerk gave you at check-in. This will help the new clerk attempt to locate your bag and see where it is in transport.
Nowadays, some airlines even offer baggage tracking on their apps. See if this is possible with your current carrier. It can’t hurt to see what you can find out while the airline agent conducts their search. If neither of you are having any luck locating your luggage, then it’s time to file a claim.
File a Claim
Although the gist is generally the same, each airline has a slightly different process for filing a claim.
No matter what, it’s best to find an agent for your airline as soon as you realize your bag never came through. Some airlines go so far as to impose a four-hour window for the initial claim to be filed.
Here are a few examples of the rules and regulations major airlines abide by.
American Airlines
With American Airlines, you need to visit their Baggage Service Office before departing the airport.
This is where they’ll give you an identification number which you’ll use to file a claim online for reimbursement.
Delta
You can file a claim with Delta here. While your claim is being processed, keep a file of all your receipts so you can submit them with Delta’s Out of Pocket expense form.
Delta states it will not honor reimbursements without proof of purchase. Typically, they try to enforce an average of $50/day for what they consider reasonable expenses. But, this is not something they can legally uphold, so be sure to keep your options open.
Southwest Airlines
Use this online form to file a claim with Southwest. They also require this to be done within four hours of your arrival at the airport.
If you need to submit receipts for the purchases you made while your items were delayed or lost, you can upload them through the same portal. After five days, Southwest allows customers to submit a claim for compensation for lost items.
United Airlines
You can file a claim here or visit the United Baggage Service Desk. Claims are usually processed within four to six weeks. However, you can submit receipts for costs incurred while your baggage is missing here.
Once a bag is deemed lost, you can file another claim, where you’ll be required to describe the bag, detail what’s inside, and submit proof of the contents.
Keep a Record of All Your Receipts
Did you know federal regulations require airlines to reimburse passengers for reasonable and verifiable expenses incurred when their bags are lost? Note the words “reasonable” and “verifiable.”
If you lost a $250 Zara dress and replace it with a $2,500 Diane Von Furstenberg frock, they’re not going to honor that. While it’s not legal for them to set a limit, such as $50 a day, you’ll notice that’s the benchmark most airlines try to set.
Here are some [other guidelines](https://www.transportation.gov/lost-delayed-or-damaged-baggage#:~:text=Under%20DOT%20regulations%20(for%20domestic,damaged%2C%20delayed%2C%20or%20lost.) to keep in mind as you seek out reimbursements for the days without your luggage and/or the point at which your bag was officially labeled lost.
Remember the Difference Between Delayed vs. Lost
Sometimes, bags are just delayed, but the responsibility to find the luggage still falls squarely on the airline’s shoulders. They have systems in place to track a bag’s location.
While they’re handling their side of the street, start filing your claims online.
Although most airlines have different standards, most will deem a bag lost after anywhere from five to fourteen days. At this point, they’ll be required to uphold federal regulations regarding reimbursements for reasonable and verifiable expenses.
Seek Out Reimbursements for Lost Luggage
Once the window of time has passed for your bag to advance from delayed to lost, it’s important to understand your rights.
For domestic flights, the Department of Transportation (DOT) allows airlines to limit the amount they reimburse their passengers. Right now, the limit is $3,800. Of course, airlines are free to surpass that limit. But, given the fact that it’s common for them to try to offer a $50 voucher, this is unlikely.
For international flights, a treaty exists called the Montreal Convention which limits reimbursements to $1,700. Again, airlines are free to pay out more than this. But, it may be a tough road to secure such a payday.
Use Your Evidence
This is the stage when all your receipts for expenses will come in handy. If you needed to replace basic essentials while you were without your luggage, now’s the time to upload all those receipts to the online portal to secure a reimbursement.
Check Out Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, AL
Take heart as you remember 99.5% of suitcases do not get lost. And some airlines take up to three months to try to reunite passengers with their bags.
Even still, millions of people travel every day and about 2 million suitcases are lost per year. So, where do all those items go?
To Unclaimed Baggage – a huge department store the length of one city block in Alabama where 7,000 items are listed per day.
If you can’t get your own luggage back, perhaps you can commiserate with someone else who lost their items and pick up a few replacement products for a bargain.
How to Prevent This From Happening Again
Once you realized your luggage was delayed and you needed to purchase a few replacement items, you were probably quite diligent about keeping a record of your receipts.
But, most of us don’t think about taking a detailed inventory of the items in our bag prior to takeoff.
Here are some steps you can follow to seek out a full and complete reimbursement should – worst case scenario – this ever happen to you again:
Itemize everything in your luggage.
Take pictures of each item, making the tags visible.
If you’re good about keeping all your receipts, store those in an electronic folder for each item in your luggage.
Record all of your serial numbers if you need to check electronics.
Take pictures of the outside of your suitcase.
Include the cost of the actual luggage, as well.
Place an Apple AirTag in your luggage in case an airline’s tracking system is unable to locate your belongings.
If an Airline Lost Your Luggage, You Have Options
The bottom line is, you’re not completely defenseless if an airline lost your luggage. Try to keep your most expensive and valuable items with you in your carry on bag.
Be diligent about whatever you pack into the luggage you check at the airport. If you bought keepsakes throughout your trip, save all those receipts and itemize them by taking pictures as you pack.
If you’re offered an initial voucher for a mere $50, don’t accept it. Your rights extend beyond that and, thankfully, airlines are held to certain federal standards.
Stay safe out there! Be diligent. And trust that everything will come together in the end.