How to Get Lost or Delayed Baggage Compensation

As a traveler who has experienced lost luggage in the past, I always feel a little anxious when I hand my bag over to the airline reps at check-in, unsure whether it will safely arrive at my destination. My trips often involve extended time away from home, multiple destinations with varied weather conditions and holiday visits (which means bringing international gifts for family!), so carry-on-only isn’t usually an option. If you’re like me and not part of the carry-on-only club, you might be wondering what to do if your bags are delayed, damaged or lost; whether you’re entitled to delayed baggage compensation, and what you can do to prevent lost luggage.

The good news is the baggage mishandling rate has dropped. According to the SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 report, despite a 30.2% increase in the number of passengers from 2022 to 2023, there was a 9.2% decline in mishandled bags. SITA’s longer-term data also supports this positive trend, showing that although passenger traffic has doubled from 2007 to 2023, the mishandling rate has dropped by 23% for the same period. With 49% of airports investing in baggage processing, according to SITA, advances and investments in technology have contributed to this trend.

These numbers are encouraging, but with checked luggage, there’s always a chance you’ll be one of the unlucky ones, like me, whose luggage arrives late—or not at all. “Most delayed bags will be delivered to the passenger within one or two days after the passenger notifies the airline. These are cases when the airline failed to load a bag onto a flight and the bag is easily located,” says Andrew Appelbaum, counsel for FlyersRights, a non-profit passenger rights organization. “But it can sometimes take weeks to locate and return a bag.” Read on to learn what you’re entitled to if your bag is delayed, damaged or lost, plus how to get compensated.

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Do airlines have to compensate you for delayed luggage?

“For delayed bags, the airlines have the duty to return the bag to you and reimburse you for any necessary and reasonable expenses,” Appelbaum says. These can include things like toiletries, clothing and shoes.

The Department of Transportation (DoT) refers to these as “reasonable, verifiable, actual incidental expenses that may occur while [the traveler’s] bags are delayed.” So be sure to keep your receipts to submit with your delayed baggage compensation claim, and don’t go overboard with your purchases; while the airline is likely to reimburse you for a few necessary items, they aren’t going to cover a full-blown shopping spree.

If you paid a checked baggage fee, you may also be entitled to a refund of the fee. “A 2024 Department of Transportation rule requires the airline to refund you for any ancillary service that was paid for but not provided,” Appelbaum says. “Passengers are entitled to a refund for checked baggage fees if the bag is delayed by more than 12 hours for domestic flights or more than 15 hours [on an international flight less than 12 hours] or 30 hours [on an international flight longer than 12 hours].”

What are the delayed baggage compensation policies for the major airlines?

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The liability limit is the same for delayed, damaged or lost luggage: $3,800 per ticketed passenger with a checked bag for domestic flights and approximately $1,700 for international, according to the DoT. But the requirements, claim steps, and exclusions can vary, so you’ll need to review your airline’s contract of carriage for details. Here are delayed baggage compensation policies for a few of the major airlines.

United Airlines

For travel in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, delayed bags with United Airlines must be reported within 24 hours of arrival. For international travel (or returning to the U.S. from abroad), delayed bags must be reported within 21 days of arrival. Reports should be made in one of the following ways:

• In person at the United baggage service office on arrival
• Online through the United website or chat
• Via the United app
• By texting “BAGS” to 32050

After reporting your delayed bag, you’ll receive a reference number and can then schedule a pickup or request delivery, and also request delayed baggage compensation for the cost of necessary items you had to purchase while waiting for your bag. In my experience with delayed luggage while flying United, the process was very straightforward and my luggage was delivered directly to the address where I was staying—1.5 hours away from the airport—within the two-day window that they’d promised me. Thanks to the prompt delivery and the fact I always travel with necessities and clothing in my carry-on, I didn’t need to make any purchases or request reimbursement.

Delta

Delta instructs travelers to report delayed bags to the Delta baggage service office before leaving the airport. You’ll be given a reference number and delayed baggage report for tracking. Delayed luggage that’s located within five days of the report will be delivered to the address you submitted. If you’re requesting compensation, you’ll also need to submit a claim with your receipts.

American Airlines

American Airlines requires travelers on international flights to file a delayed baggage report prior to exiting the airport. For domestic flights, the report must be filed within four hours of arrival, so it’s best to do it immediately. You can submit the report online or visit the baggage service office. For trips ending in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you also have the option to submit it by using a QR code that’s posted at baggage claim.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines also requires passengers to submit their delayed baggage report within four hours of arrival and urges passengers to make the report at their baggage service counter before exiting the airport. In some airports, you may need to visit a baggage service counter of a Hawaiian Airlines partner airline (a full list is available on Hawaiian Airlines website).

What should you do if your baggage is delayed?

As an Intrepid tour leader in Jordan, Khaldoun Al-Shawish has experience helping guests deal with delayed luggage. He says the most important thing is to report it as soon as possible and then track its movement. “The first thing we do is ensure our guest files a claim at the airport and receives a claim number to track for updates.” Al-Shawish then advises guests about local shops where they can purchase necessities, and he follows up with the airport team on the status of the bag. In one case he dealt with, a delayed bag didn’t arrive until the day before the guest’s trip was coming to a close. So Al-Shawish and his team coordinated with the airline to hold the luggage at the airport so the guest could retrieve it on the way out, rather than arranging a delivery to her hotel, which could potentially complicate things if the delivery was delayed.

The assistance of a local guide, concierge or tour operator can be helpful in dealing with luggage issues, especially if you don’t speak the local language. If you’re traveling on your own, here are some expert tips on what to do if your luggage is delayed:

1. Report it immediately. “If a bag is delayed or missing, the passenger should notify the airline as soon as possible,” Appelbaum advises. Hang onto your report reference number, flight receipt and baggage claim receipts; you will need them for following up and for filing any claims for reimbursement.

2. Purchase necessary items. “The goal is to remain reasonable, so passengers should buy only what is needed until the airline is able to return the bag to you,” Appelbaum says. “Common items that passengers will get reimbursed for are toiletries, clothes and shoes.”

3. Keep your receipts. You’re required to provide proof of purchase for any items you need while waiting for your luggage to arrive. It’s wise to snap a photo of each receipt and email it to yourself in case you misplace any receipts while traveling.

4. Request reimbursement. Follow the airline’s instructions for filing your delayed baggage compensation claim. “If you had to buy something because your bag was delayed, you should not hesitate to request reimbursement for that,” Appelbaum says. Wondering what to include or how to calculate the reimbursement amount? “The standard is whether you suffered provable, direct or consequential damage,” he says. “The best course is to be reasonable and fair, but don’t hesitate to seek reimbursement for items you are missing. If the items match the purpose of your trip, the airline will be required to cover it.” For example, if you’re heading to a conference and need business attire similar to what you’d packed in your checked bag, or if you’re embarking on a small ship cruise in the Arctic and need wool sweaters like those in your delayed luggage, these would be considered necessary for the purpose of your trip.

5. Follow up. If you don’t receive your delayed bag within a few days, check in with the airline to determine whether it’s lost. Most airlines consider a bag lost after 5-14 days. (You can find more tips about lost luggage below.)

Can travel insurance provide delayed baggage compensation?

Travel insurance may cover the value of your items beyond the airline’s limit, so the experts recommend notifying both the airline and travel insurance company as soon as possible. “We require Intrepid travelers to have at least basic coverage for medical expenses, including emergency repatriation. But we also strongly recommend choosing a policy that covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects,” Al-Shawish says. “This can make a difference if you ever find yourself in a situation like this.”

When filing a claim with a travel insurance company, Appelbaum says you’ll need to communicate the amount the airline covered. “You will not be paid twice for the same item,” he says. “But if the value of your items is more than $3,800, your travel insurance protection will start to pay dividends.”

Do airlines have to compensate you for damaged luggage?

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“Airlines are required to compensate passengers for the value of the items that are lost or damaged,” Appelbaum says. “Passengers should immediately notify the airlines of any damage to their bag. Some airlines have luggage reserves and may offer you a new suitcase if yours is damaged.” However, accepting one of their replacement bags on the spot may mean forfeiting compensation, and the quality may not be comparable to your bag, so you’ll need to decide which option (replacement on the spot versus compensation) is best for you.

Also, keep in mind that not all damage is covered, so you’ll need to check your airline’s contract of carriage for specifics. For example, Delta doesn’t cover “precious” or “unsuitably packed” items; American Airlines doesn’t cover antiques, heirlooms, artwork, and electronics, and United Airlines won’t cover fragile, perishable or high-value items.

When it comes to assistive devices used by travelers with disabilities, according to the DoT, if the airline damages or loses these devices during domestic travel, the liability limit doesn’t apply; the airline is required to cover up to the original purchase price. The actual amount will depend on whether the device must be repaired or replaced. However, in the case of international travel, the liability limit applies.

Do airlines have to compensate you for lost luggage?

Yes, as Appelbaum mentioned, airlines are required by law to compensate you for lost luggage—the bag and its contents—up to the maximum ($3,800 for domestic flights and around $1,700 for international). However, just like with damaged luggage, there are some items that are not covered and those will be laid out in the airline’s contract of carriage. “The most common items that the airlines will exclude are fragile items and cash,” Appelbaum says. So it’s best not to check any valuable, perishable or fragile items. As American Airlines’ contract of carriage states: “A good rule of thumb is never to check anything you can’t live without. If it’s irreplaceable, sentimental or you depend on it for your well-being, keep it on you or leave it at home.”

How do I get a refund if my luggage is lost?

1. Report it. If your bag doesn’t arrive when you do, report it to your airline’s baggage department immediately. It’s best to do this before leaving the airport, whether via the baggage counter, airline app or website. If you’re able to speak directly with a customer service rep, ask for details about what incidental expenses will be covered. They will also give you a reference number for your report; keep it handy for tracking the bag.

2. Purchase necessities. Keep receipts for any necessary and reasonable items you purchase while waiting for your luggage to arrive.

3. Follow up. If your bag doesn’t arrive within the number of days the airline said it would, it may be lost rather than delayed. Reach out to the airline again, ask if it is lost, and request claim filing instructions (you can typically find these on the airline website). Keep in mind a delayed bag can take longer to arrive at a destination that has fewer flights, so it’s best to speak with an airline rep to determine whether the bag is delayed or lost. “The timing [to receive delayed or lost luggage] depends on the airline and frequency of flights,” Al-Shawish says, “For example, if there is a daily flight from the destination where the bags went missing, it might take 24 hours. However, if the flight operates only twice a week, we would have to wait for the next available flight [to receive the bag].”

4. File a complaint. This step is only needed if the airline has not been helpful with declaring your bag lost in a timely manner. “If the airline is unresponsive or provides poor reasoning for not declaring the bag lost after 14 days, I would file a complaint with the DoT,” Abbelbaum says.

5. Submit a claim and itemized list for reimbursement. If your bag is deemed lost, submit a lost luggage compensation claim and provide a list of your items, their value, and receipts, including the cost of your bag, its contents, any checked baggage fees you paid and necessities you purchased. If you don’t have receipts for all items, such as a trusty suitcase you’ve had for years, Appelbaum recommends including the item and its estimated value anyway. “Passengers have to show some proof of the items, but it is unreasonable for an airline to expect a passenger to have receipts for all items, and we have not seen airlines deny claims for run-of-the-mill items due to lack of receipts,” he says. If possible, in lieu of any missing receipts, try to provide proof of credit card charges or receipts for past purchases of the same type of item at a similar price. “Having proof that you have made similar purchases will help.”

6. Check credit card and insurance policies. Some credit cards, travel insurance, and homeowners policies offer lost luggage coverage, so you can check each policy to see what might be covered—in addition to what the airline covers.

7. If no action is taken by the airline, submit a complaint. If you haven’t received reimbursement a week after requesting it, contact the airline. And if you find the airline isn’t working with you to resolve your issue, Appelbaum suggests reaching out to the Department of Transportation.

How long does it take to get lost luggage returned?

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Delayed luggage is typically considered lost by most airlines if it’s not been delivered after 5 to 14 days. How long it takes to arrive varies depending on the number of airlines involved and the number of flights. If multiple airlines and connections were part of your journey and they fail to communicate with each other, it may take longer to locate your luggage. Another factor is the individual airline’s tracking mechanism; the better the tracking system, the faster they’ll be able to find your luggage.

There is also the possibility that your lost luggage may never be returned if the airlines are unable to locate it. Fortunately, SITA’s report found lost/stolen luggage is uncommon—making up only 5% of all mishandled bags in 2023 (whereas delayed bags made up 77% of mishandled bags, and damaged/pilfered bags just 18%).

What’s the best way to prevent lost luggage?

The journey your checked bag takes is mostly out of your control the moment you hand it over to the airline rep at check-in. The easiest way to prevent lost luggage is to skip checking your bag altogether and bring a carry-on only. But that’s not an option for everyone so if you do need to check your luggage, here are some tips for minimizing potential problems:

• Plan ahead. “Taking direct flights, avoiding short connection times, and checking in on time will reduce the risk of a lost or delayed bag,” Abbelbaum says. As direct flights are not always possible, depending on your destination and budget, I personally avoid booking connections that are less than one hour for domestic flights and less than two hours for international. And if I’m flying through a large, busy airport such as the one in Frankfurt, Germany (where my bags have been mishandled in the past), I try to book an even longer layover to ensure that my luggage—and I—can get to the connecting flight in time.

• Take photos. When you’re at home packing, take pictures of the contents of your bag as well as the exterior of the suitcase. If your luggage gets lost or damaged, this can help the airline identify your luggage and you’ll have photos to reference and submit with your reimbursement claim. I also always take a photo of the checked bag receipt that they hand you when you drop off your bag; if you misplace it during your journey, you’ll have a copy just in case.

• Include a unique detail. If you’ve ever stood at baggage claim watching all the plain, black-colored bags passing by on the carousel, you’ve seen how similar many bags look. “A lot of mix-ups happen because someone grabs the wrong bag [at baggage claim] by mistake,” Al-Shawish says. “Try to make sure your bag stands out with a ribbon or a unique marker that’s easy for you to spot.” I agree with Al-Shawish’s advice, and while I personally prefer classic colors and my carry-on bag is black, I’ve been using an orange-colored suitcase for my checked bag for several years. It’s easy to spot, even when I’m stuck trying to get a glimpse of the bags while standing amid hordes of people at baggage claim. And in all of my travels, I’ve not once seen a suitcase similar to this obnoxious orange one circling the luggage carousel.

• Use a tracker. Both experts recommend travelers consider placing an approved tracker, such as an Apple AirTag, in the bag so it’s easier to locate if it gets lost.

• Double-check luggage tags. “Passengers should make sure to have basic contact information on the luggage tag and inside the bag,” Abbelbaum says. If the outside tags get damaged or lost along the way, having one inside can help with identifying the bag. Al-Shawish also recommends taking a look at the computer generated tags before handing your checked bag over at check-in and when you pick it up at baggage claim. If you’re using automated bag drop services without direct assistance from airline staff, double-checking the luggage tag is especially important. After the airline rep tags the bag at check-in, I always take a look at the airport codes on the tag to be sure they match my connecting and destination airports. And, despite the standout orange color of my suitcase, I still always double-check that the tag has my name on it when I grab it at baggage claim to ensure I’m not mistakenly taking someone else’s luggage home.

• Remove old stickers. If your luggage has any routing stickers on it from previous trips, be sure to remove them before checking your bag for a new flight.

• Download the airline app. Most airlines allow you to track your luggage in their app. When I land at connecting airports, I like to check the luggage tracker to be sure my bag arrived with me. Then, I check the tracker again before departing to see that it has been loaded on my next flight. According to SITA’s 2024 report, 46% of mishandled bags are those that are transferred, making it the number one cause of delayed bags. Keeping tabs on your bag can help you catch a problem sooner; if you see that your bag isn’t at your connecting airport or didn’t get loaded onto your next flight, you can speak to an airline rep and potentially get your bag back on track right away—rather than discovering it after you reach your destination.

• Ask whether you need to claim and recheck. If you’re traveling internationally and/or switching airlines, you may need to claim your bag at your connecting airport and recheck it. I always ask at check-in whether my bag will be automatically checked through to my final destination, or I will need to pick it up and recheck it along the way. If you do need to take that step, the nice thing is, you’ll physically see your bag again en route (and if you don’t, you can take the opportunity to alert the airline staff that your bag is missing).

• Keep valuables close. You can avoid losing important items that you need to travel with—such as medications, electronics, and items of sentimental value—by keeping them in your carry-on rather than your checked bag.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on lost and delayed baggage compensation, Sunny Fitzgerald tapped her experience as a travel journalist and interviewed two travel experts for advice. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Andrew Appelbaum,  counsel for FlyersRights, a non-profit passenger rights organization.
• SITA: “Baggage IT Insights 2024 report”
• Department of Transportation: “Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Baggage”
• United Airlines: “Bag Help”
• Delta Airlines: “Damaged, Delayed, or Lost Baggage”
• American Airlines: “Delayed or Damaged Bags”
• Hawaiian Airlines: “Delayed or Damaged Baggage”
• Khaldoun Al-Shawish, an Intrepid tour leader in Jordan.

Additional reporting by Danielle Braff

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