Most delayed bags are reunited with their owner within a few days. Acting fast protects your money and your claim.
Part of our complete guide to airline customer service.
Quick answer: Report a missing bag at the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the airport and keep the file reference (PIR). Most delayed bags are returned within 24–72 hours.
1. Report it before you leave the airport
Go straight to the airline’s baggage desk in the arrivals hall and file a report. You will get a file reference (often a PIR number). Do not leave without it — claims filed later are much harder. Take a photo of the report and your bag tag.
2. Track the bag
Use the file reference on the airline’s baggage-tracking page or app. Many bags are simply on the next flight and arrive within 24 hours. The airline usually delivers a delayed bag to your address at no charge.
3. Keep receipts for essentials
If your bag is delayed, you may buy reasonable essentials — toiletries, a change of clothes — and claim them back. Keep every receipt. Airlines reimburse “reasonable” amounts, so keep purchases sensible.
4. When a bag is officially lost
If a bag is not found within a set period — commonly 21 days — it is declared lost and you can file a full claim for its contents. You will need an itemised list and, ideally, proof of value for higher-value items. Compensation is capped by international conventions and the airline’s policy.
5. Damaged bags
Report damage at the baggage desk before leaving, the same as for a delay. Many airlines repair or replace damaged luggage.
6. How to follow up
Call the airline’s main customer service line and use the baggage prompts, or the dedicated baggage number if it has one. Have your file reference ready. Travel insurance and some credit cards also cover baggage — check those in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if the airline loses or delays my bag?
Report it at the airport baggage desk before you leave and get a file reference (a PIR). Keep your bag tags and boarding pass, and confirm where the bag will be delivered.
How much can I claim for delayed or lost baggage?
On US domestic flights, airline liability for lost bags runs into the low thousands of dollars; international limits are set by the Montreal Convention. Keep receipts for essentials you buy while your bag is delayed — many airlines reimburse reasonable expenses.
How long before delayed baggage is officially considered lost?
Most airlines treat a bag as lost after a set number of days (often around five to fourteen) with no trace. At that point you file a full claim for the bag and its contents.