Delayed, Damage or Lost Luggage Compensation

Airlines must compensate for delayed and lost luggage during travel. Regulations for these situations are governed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Montreal Convention. Airlines have limited liability for baggage compensation. The airline has a limit to compensating one person at 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The SDR is a currency supported by the major currencies (Euro, US dollar, yen, renminbi, and pound sterling), which is an international reserve currency developed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In the current situation, the 1,288 SDR is approximately $1,705.

Rules for Lost, Damaged or Delayed Baggage

There are some cases when passengers might fail to retrieve their luggage at the airport or they might receive a defaced bag or fail to reach it. In any of the above, the airline will be under an obligation to compensate the passenger regarding the inconvenience. An airline may define a dollar amount that they are willing to pay as reasonable expenses but the DOT has set the minimum dollar amount that airlines will pay when it comes to incidental expenses on mishandled baggage.

Lost or damaged bags

The airlines will have the following maximum liability for the lost or damaged bags and items:

• Domestic Flights: The maximum liability of the airline for lost or damaged bag is $4,700 per person.
• International Flights: The airline is responsible for paying an amount of $1,700 per person for lost or damaged luggage.

Occasionally, the airline might decide to pay you more than the limit; this is not a must. These limits include verifiable incidental costs that occur as a result of mishandled baggage, such as toiletries and clothes. The passengers are also told to retain their receipts and will be expected to present them to receive compensation.

Note: In case you are traveling with an item that does not fall within the list of compensation, the airline can not pay you the cost of these items.

Delayed Bags

The passengers are liable to receive delayed baggage compensation if they are unable to collect their bags on time at the airport. Along with the compensation, the passenger will also get the baggage fees back under the following situations:

• Once you have traveled on a domestic flight and encountered a situation where you cannot get your luggage within 12 hours after your arrival at the airport, you have the right to get a refund.
• In cases where you have taken an International flight that is 12 hours or less, the baggage must be delivered within 15 hours or your luggage fee shall be refunded.
• In the event that you have been traveling on an international flight of over 12 hours, you would receive your luggage within 30 hours after arriving at the gate and if your luggage fails to arrive; you would be compensated by way of luggage fees.

Under the DOT rules, a refund may be credited to a passenger's account not exceeding 7 to 20 business days after the concern is raised, depending on the mode of transaction applied by the passenger. In addition to baggage fees, when you incur incidental expenses incurred on a delay period, the airline will reimburse the money spent.

Individual Airline Policies

Different airlines might have different policies, procedures, and deadlines to reimburse the amount in the situation of luggage that is missing, delayed, or damaged, even though the amount might be the same. To get a picture of this, read the individual policies on delayed, lost, and damaged luggage of the airlines.

Alaska Airlines

Rewards for short delays: The Alaska Airlines guarantee of 20 minutes of the delivery of the luggage implies that the customer will be able to have their baggage in 20 minutes after they reach the gate. In the event of any passenger who does not receive his or her luggage within 20 minutes, he or she will have the right to be compensated with 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage miles or a $25 discount in the subsequent Alaska Airlines booking. To secure the miles or discount code, the passenger has to call the baggage office within two hours of arriving at the airport.

When do you report bag issues?

• Bags Damaged: The complaint must be submitted by the passengers within 24 hours of arrival for domestic flights. For international flights, the complaint can be raised within 7 days of arrival. If you have repaired your damaged luggage, you must submit the bills within 60 days to receive reimbursement for incidental expenses.
• Bags Delayed: The concern must be raised within 24 hours of arrival for domestic flights. For an international flight, the passenger can submit the report within 21 business days.

Where to submit the complaint?

Passengers can submit a complaint regarding lost, delayed, or damaged baggage at the airline's baggage service office located at the airport.

What items are excluded?

• Jewelry
• Contracts
• Personal electronic devices
• Cash
• Medications
• Optical devices
• Antiques
• Business papers

How long does it take to get compensated?

The airline typically takes 4 to 6 hours from the time of travel to deposit the compensation amount into the passenger’s account.

Allegiant Airlines

Rewards for short delays: Allegiant Airlines does not have any such policy where it offers a reward to its passengers for minor delays.

When do you report bag issues?

• Bags Damaged: Passengers are required to submit a complaint within 12 hours of arrival at the gate for domestic flights. For international flights within seven days of arrival. 
• Missing Items: Notify the airline within 24 hours of arrival for domestic flights, and within seven days for international flights.
• Bags Delayed: Submit the request for compensation for late baggage within 12 hours of flight arrival.

Where to submit the complaint?

The complaint for delayed, lost, or damaged luggage can be submitted through the airline’s official website or at the airport's baggage service office.

What contents are excluded?

• Medicines
• Optics
• Money
• Electronic equipment
• Orthotics
• Electronic cigarettes
• Blueprints
• Photographs
• Books and manuscripts
• Business and personal documents
• Jewelry
• Business equipment
• Artistic items, fur products
• Antiques
• Collectables
• Items intended for sale
• Silverware
• Heirlooms
• Spare lithium batteries

How long does it take to get compensated?

The airline generally compensates passengers within 45 days of submitting the complaint.

Delta Airlines

Rewards for short delays: Delta Airlines has a 20-minute baggage guarantee which means those people who arrive at the gate receive their luggage within 20 minutes. In case of a passenger arriving at a destination and his/her baggage is not received within this time, the airline will compensate 2,500 bonus SkyMiles as long as one completes an online form within three days upon arrival.

When do you report bag issues?

• Bags Damaged: The airline requests that passengers report concerns within 24 hours and 7 days of arrival for domestic and international flights, respectively.
• Bags Delayed: The airline has not specified any timeframe, but passengers must submit the complaint before they leave the arrival airport.

Where to submit the complaint?

Travelers can file a complaint at the baggage service office at the airport of arrival if their luggage is delayed, missing, or damaged. The airline representative in the office will provide the traveler with a code to create a claim on the official Delta Airlines website.

What contents are excluded?

• Perishable items
• Money
• Jewellary
• Fragile item
• Antiques
• Lithium batteries
• Artwork
• Precious metals and stones

How long does it take to get compensated?

Delta Airlines does not specify when the passenger will receive the compensation. To find out the timing details, the passenger can contact the airline’s agent directly, who is available to assist them in the best possible way.

American Airlines

Rewards for short delays: No, American Airlines does not provide any kind of rewards for short delays of baggage.

When do you report bag issues?

• Bag Damaged: The passenger must report the bag issue within 24 hours of arrival for domestic flights. The timeline extends to seven days for international flights.
• Bag Delayed: If your baggage is delayed at the airport, please contact the airline's baggage service help desk within four hours of arrival.

Where to submit the complaint?

To submit a complaint regarding delayed, lost, or damaged luggage, passengers should contact the baggage service office at the arrival airport. The passenger will receive a code from the airline’s representative at the office to generate a claim on the American Airlines’ official website.

What contents are excluded?

• Antiques or artifacts
• Perishable goods
• Books or documents
• Orthotics or surgical supports
• Silverware
• Computers and other electronics
• Securities or negotiable papers
• Business equipment or samples
• Furs
• Heirlooms
• Photographic and video equipment
• Liquids
• Medication
• Money
• Jewelry
• Artwork
• Precious metals or stones
• Fragile items
• Unique or irreplaceable items

How long does it take to get compensated?

Once the passenger has filed the complaint with the airline, the compensation will be made within 4 to 6 hours.

Frontier Airlines

Rewards for short delays: No, Frontier Airlines does not offer any rewards for brief baggage delays.

When do you report bag issues?

• Baggage Damaged: If your bags are damaged during the trip, the passengers must submit the complaint within four hours of arrival.
• Baggage Delayed: Passengers must submit the baggage delay compensation claim to the airline's baggage service office within four hours.

Where to submit the complaint?

Passengers can easily file a claim at the airport's baggage service office or by logging into the airline's official website or mobile app to report an issue with their bags.

What contents are excluded?

• Alcohol
• Antiques
• Art and paintings
• Art supplies
• Artifacts
• Blueprints
• Business documents
• CDs
• Cell phones
• Manuscripts
• Medication
• Precious metals or stones
• Hand and power tools
• Dentures
• Drugs
• DVDs
• Eyeglasses
• Files
• Perishable items
• Fragile items
• Fur products
• Heirlooms
• Irreplaceable items
• Jewelry
• Tobacco products
• Photographic equipment
• Optics
• Orthodontics
• Silverware
• Collectibles
• Computer and electronic equipment
• Sunglasses
• Surgical supports

How long does it take to get compensated?

When the passenger will receive the reimbursement is not specified by Frontier Airlines. The traveler can speak directly with an airline representative to learn more about the timing information; they are available to help in the most effective manner.

Southwest Airlines

Rewards for short delays: No award for short delays.

When do you report bag issues?

• Baggage Damaged: For domestic flights within four hours of arrival and international flights within seven days of arrival.
• Baggage Delayed: Applicable for domestic flights arriving within four hours and international flights arriving within seven days.

Where do you report it?

The passenger can report at the baggage service office or at the Southwest Airlines official webpage.

What contents are excluded?

• Money
• Jewelry
• Video and optical equipment
• Computer software
• Computers and other electronic equipment
• Liquids
• Precious gems and metals
• Fragile or perishable items
• Negotiable instruments
• Items intended for sale
• Paintings
• Artifacts
• Securities
• Business or personal documents
• Antiques
• Photographic
• Collectors items
• Unique or irreplaceable items
• Manuscripts
• Furs

How long does it take to get compensated?

The airline has not specified the timeline for the compensation.

How to Claim Compensation for Mishandled Baggage

You may demand compensation in case of damaged, late, or lost bags in case the case happened when your luggage was under the airline's protection. The following is a brief step-by-step guide per mishandling type:

1. Damaged baggage compensation

   • Report instantly: Contact the baggage service at the airline immediately at the airport.
   • Make a PIR: Have a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) entered and take a copy.
   • Photo Evidence: Take pictures of the damage.
   • Make a claim: Write to the airline within seven days of taking delivery of your baggage, containing the evidence of value and PIR reference.
   • Compensation: Airlines can either fix the bag or pay the equivalent of what the bag was worth; the ordinary wear and tear is not involved.

2. Delayed baggage compensation

   • Emergency Initiative: Report the delay and file a PIR at the airline counter.
   • Baggage Reference: Get a baggage reference.
   • Important Buyings: Have receipts of necessary items bought during your bag is delayed.
   • Compensation Process: Determine whether they have a lump sum compensation or reimbursement. Evidence may even be used to submit the claims.
   • Period: In case the bag is not delivered even after 21 days, it is considered lost.

3. Lost Baggage Compensation

   • Lost Declaration: Normally declared lost after 21 days of being missing.
   • Claim Process: Fill in a claim for lost baggage compensation with the PIR reference, a detailed list of contents, and documentation of their value.
   • Amount of Pay: There will be a maximum amount, such as 1,288 SDRs for international journeys, unless a declaration and insurance coverage are provided.
   • Insurance: Extraordinary sums can be covered if travel insurance is in place.

What Can I do if my Suitcase or Luggage is Delayed?

When your suitcase or your baggage arrives late, the first thing you should do is report to the baggage claim department or the customer service desk of the airline at the airport. They will most probably offer a reference number to follow up on your luggage. Second, you should claim compensation in case of need, particularly when your luggage is not returned after a long time. Retaining receipts in case of any important item is also good advice to save yourself from any inconvenience after getting at receiving point. Lastly, remember to follow the status of your luggage using the airline tracking system or an application.

How Long do I Have to File a Claim for Lost or Damaged Luggage?

You usually have a shorter period to claim luggage missing or damaged, and this may also differ with the airline. In most cases, you are advised to file the lost luggage report when you have landed just after a couple of hours and most airline companies demand that you place a formal request within 21 days. When there is damaged luggage, it is worth to think of filing the claim as soon as you realize that luggage was damaged, in some cases in several days. They may or may not be changed in each airline, it is better to confirm.

Delayed Baggage on Domestic Flights and International Flights: How Much Compensation Can You Get?

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation, passenger rights and interests are secure, and they are eligible to receive compensation for delayed, damaged, or lost luggage. Below is a table that represents the maximum compensation they can get as per the official rule and as per the general conventions of the airways:

Travel Insurance for Lost and Delayed Baggage Compensation

It may be very useful to offer some form of financial security for any lost and delayed baggage, and this can be addressed through travel insurance, when the airlines may not be able to compensate. At the point of purchase of travel insurance, you normally get a cover of personal assets, which could be your luggage, that can help ease the burden and expenses incurred in the transportation of luggage.

In case of lost luggage, you can be compensated by your travel insurance to the value of the lost items, and you can buy some replacement items to cover some necessities as you await the recovery of your bag. Such coverage normally entails the prices of basic needs such as clothes, toiletries, and other necessities. The policies are different, but most insurers provide coverage that costs anywhere between hundreds and thousands of dollars, depending on the particular plan you adopt.

In case of luggage not arriving on time, the insurance might result in compensation of extra costs related to waiting several days until your luggage arrives, including buying some necessities without it. There are other policies that could provide a daily allowance until the return of the baggage, and this policy could be especially useful when you are stranded without your luggage.

The tiny line print on the travel insurance coverage may give one a clear view of what the maximum cover limit is or what type of coverage it provides, as well as indicating the steps to follow in terms of making a lost luggage claim or compensation for delayed or damaged luggage. In most cases, it is vital to keep receipts of anything that was purchased during the delay to have a reimbursement.

In conclusion, travel insurance is an added protection for travelers, as they can be assured that they will not suffer financial loss, as all inconveniences like lost or delayed baggage are covered by the insurance.