Lost luggage is a risk when you travel. Few things can make your heart sink faster than waiting at the baggage carousel and realizing that your suitcase isn't there. Loss of luggage doesn’t have to be permanent, though. Often, you can retrieve your bags by following these steps.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Report the Loss Immediately
Who to Contact at the Airport
Report your lost suitcase immediately and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Many airports have a dedicated office in the baggage claim area so travelers can report misplaced luggage quickly. If this isn’t the case, ask staff where to find your airline’s baggage service desk.
Filing a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)
To file a Property Irregularity report, you’ll need to provide:
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Your baggage claim ticket.
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A detailed description of your lost luggage, including color, size, brand, and any unique features or luggage tags that will make the misplaced bag easier to identify.
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Your contact information.
Don't leave the airport without filing a PIR: failing to report the loss significantly reduces your chances of locating lost luggage.
Step 2: Track and Document Everything
Keep All Travel and Claim Documents
Ideally, your misplaced luggage shows up quickly. It’s possible, however, that your bags may not show up, in which case you should be eligible for compensation. To increase your chance of a successful claim, keep all of the following documentation:
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Baggage claim tag (the sticker you receive when you check your luggage).
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Boarding pass (to prove you were on the flight).
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Property Irregularity report, which includes a reference number for your case.
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Any receipts for determining essential purchases, such as toiletries and clothing.
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A detailed list of bag contents and their estimated value. Include photos and serial numbers of items.
Use Airline Apps and Tracking Devices
When you file a PIR, you receive a claim number, which you can use with the airline’s online tracking system to check for updates on your lost luggage. If you use your own tracking devices, use the airline's online tracking system with the claim number provided. If you use Apple AirTags or other luggage-tracking devices, share any real-time location data you receive from them with the airline to speed up the recovery process.
Step 3: Know Your Rights and Airline Policies
What Compensation You’re Entitled To
If the airline cannot locate your bag, the airline should compensate you for loss of luggage. The compensation rate depends on whether you’re flying domestically or internationally.
International vs. Domestic Travel Policies
Domestically, the Department of Transportation has a maximum liability of $4,700 per passenger. Airlines base compensation on the depreciated value of luggage contents, not replacement value.
The Montreal Convention covers compensation for international lost luggage. The convention capped baggage compensation at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights, which translates to approximately $2,175.
In addition to compensation for lost luggage, airlines must also refund your baggage fees.
Step 4: Contact Your Travel Insurance Provider
If you took outtravel insurance, your provider may offer compensation for loss of luggage.
How to File a Claim for Lost or Delayed Bags
Contact your provider as soon as possible to report lost luggage and ask what documentation they require to file a baggage claim. The provider works with the airline to provide immediate compensation for essential items you need while you wait for your bags. You can either call the provider to make their claim, or use their online app or website.
Submitting a lost luggage claim to a travel insurance provider requires the same documents you need for an airline claim, including your PIR, boarding pass, baggage claim tags, an inventory of luggage contents, and receipts for essential items purchased due to misplaced luggage, including toiletries and clothing. Include any written communication from the airline regarding lost luggage. If someone stole your bags, your insurance provider will also need proof that you filed a police report.
What Coverage Typically Includes
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Travel insurance coverage typically includes:
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Reimbursements for essential items if luggage is lost or delayed.
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The value of the contents of the lost suitcase is up to the amount set in your policy. High-value items like electronics may have a sub-limit, and some items may be excluded. Check your policy for details.
Travel insurance acts as a secondary insurer to cover costs not reimbursed by the airline.
Step 5: Prevent Lost Luggage Next Time
What Coverage Typically Includes
Smart trackers and durable luggage tags help reduce the risk of lost luggage and make it easier to locate and identify misplaced bags. Colorful luggage also helps airlines locate missing bags, as it stands out from the typical blues, blacks, and browns. Learning what to write on luggage tags also helps.
Keep Essentials in Your Carry-On
When possible, pack essentials and high-value items in carry-on bags, including medication, a change of clothes, toiletries, and travel documents. If your checked luggage is misplaced, you’ll have most of the essentials you need for a day or two.
Register Your Luggage Warranty with TravelPro®
Misplaced luggage may show up damaged. Durable, well-made luggage like the Platinum® Elite Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner handles rough handling common to lost luggage better than bags made from lower-quality materials. Registering your TravelPro® luggage warranty protects you if your bags return with scratches, dents, or similar damage.
A Lost Bag Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Trip
Lost luggage can leave you feeling stressed and frustrated, but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip. Report the lost bags promptly, contact your travel insurance provider, share any tracking device information with the airline, and your chance of finding your misplaced luggage goes up by a considerable margin. Airlines find most lost luggage within 48 hours, so try not to worry chances are your bags will show up. Stay prepared, track your bags, and travel smart!
