Key Takeaways
Click each item to mark as read
- 1✓
Report your baggage issue at the airport before you leave - no exceptions.
Without a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) filed on the day, Lufthansa can reject your claim outright. The baggage help desk is your first stop, even before collecting your other bags.
- 2✓
Lufthansa's maximum liability is 1,519 SDR - roughly EUR 1,900.
This is set by the Montreal Convention. Lufthansa cannot pay more than this cap, regardless of what your luggage was worth. High-value items should always be covered by travel insurance.
- 3✓
Damaged bags: 7-day deadline. Delayed bags: 21-day deadline. Lost bags: 2 years.
These deadlines are strict and non-negotiable. Missing any one of them gives Lufthansa legal grounds to close your case before it even begins.
- 4✓
Lufthansa depreciates the value of bags and contents by ~15% per year of ownership.
A 3-year-old suitcase won't be valued at its original price. If your bag and contents were worth EUR 1,500 new but are 4 years old, expect Lufthansa's valuation to reflect that depreciation.
- 5✓
Keep every receipt for essentials bought while your bag was delayed.
Toiletries, underwear, and basic clothing are reimbursable. Luxury purchases are not. Submit everything in one go with your PIR number to maximise your delayed baggage claim.
When Lufthansa loses, delays, or damages your baggage, the steps you take right away will determine the outcome of any claim you submit later. While the airline has its own process for handling luggage problems, your rights don't come from Lufthansa alone. They're backed by the Montreal Convention, which sets out what airlines legally owe you when your luggage goes missing on international flights.
This guide breaks it all down clearly, so you know exactly what to do and what you can realistically claim.
You must report luggage issues immediately at the airport and get a PIR number. Reports and claims for damage must be filed within 7 days of your flight, and claims for delayed baggage must be submitted within 21 days. You have 2 years to file a claim for lost baggage.
- Total compensation for baggage mishandling is capped at 1,519 SDR (approx. EUR 1,900)
- For damaged and lost luggage, Lufthansa depreciates the value of the bags & contents by roughly 15% for each year of ownership (up to 70% total)
- If you miss the reporting and claim-filing deadlines, your case will likely be rejected
Your rights if Lufthansa mishandles your luggage
When your bags are delayed, lost, or damaged, your rights are protected by an international treaty called the Montreal Convention.
These rules apply to both international flights and many domestic ones within participating countries, including Germany. For checked baggage, the airline is generally responsible if your bag is mishandled, even if no specific fault is proven.
That said, your rights only apply if you follow the specific steps within the correct time frames. If you miss the reporting and claim deadlines, Lufthansa can reject your case.
How much compensation can you get?
Based on the Montreal Convention rules, compensation for baggage mishandling is capped at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights, which is roughly EUR 1,900, although the exact amount can change slightly with exchange rates.
Lufthansa delayed baggage
If your baggage doesn't arrive, submit a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) straight away, ideally before you leave the airport. Leaving it until later can make things more complicated if you need to claim. If there is no one at the baggage help desk, you can make a report on Lufthansa's official site or app.
Once you've reported it, you'll receive a reference number (PIR) via email, which you can use to track your luggage. Keep this number in a safe place because you will need it for tracking your baggage and filing a claim.
Most bags are found within 24 hours. Once this happens, Lufthansa will send it to your destination airport, and then it will be delivered to you or you can choose to pick it up at the airport. After that, you have 21 days from the date of your flight to file a reimbursement claim
Tracking a delayed Lufthansa bag & what happens after five days
You can track your delayed baggage using your PIR number via Lufthansa's Chat Assistant, where you can also update your contact and delivery details. If you change hotels or enter the wrong address, for example, your bag could end up in the wrong place, so keep your details up to date.
If your bag is still missing after 5 days
If your bag hasn't been found after five days, you'll be asked to make a full list of your bag's contents on Lufthansa's baggage status page. This info will help them match your bag with any unclaimed luggage in the system. Provide as much detail as possible! The more specific you are, the better your chances of getting your luggage returned quickly.
Getting reimbursed for essentials when your bags are delayed
If your baggage turns up late, you can buy essentials like toiletries and basic clothes, and then claim the cost back later. Just keep all your receipts, as you'll need them to get reimbursed.
That said, you're expected to keep your spending reasonable. Lufthansa will likely reimburse you for a few essentials needed if you're away from home, but they might reject your claim if it has expensive or unnecessary purchases. In other words, don't go buy a whole new wardrobe and expect to be paid back.
Lufthansa lost baggage
Lufthansa won't classify your bag as officially lost until it has been missing for 21 days. So, if you've been waiting for your delayed bags to be delivered, and the 21st day passes, you have two years to file a compensation claim for:
The value of your bag and
Its contents.
Your claim maximum will be the 1,519 SDR (around EUR 1,900) minus any reimbursement payments already made for Lufthansa delayed baggage.
Tip
If your checked bag contains expensive items, consider extra insurance or a higher declared value before the flight. That is the only way to protect baggage that is worth more than the standard Montreal Convention limit.
"The biggest misunderstanding in baggage claims is thinking the airline owes a standard payout just because a bag was delayed or never came back at all. Under the Montreal Convention, the real question is what loss you can prove and whether you followed the reporting rules properly. The passenger who keeps receipts, completes the contents list carefully, and acts quickly is usually in a far stronger position for a decent payout than the passenger who waits and guesses." - Michael Higgins, Aviation Lawyer
What to do if your Lufthansa baggage is damaged
If your checked bags show up with damage, you'll need to file a Property Irregularity Report immediately at the airport. If you only notice the damage later, report it through the Lufthansa app or website.
You have seven days from the date of your flight to make the report! If you miss this deadline, your claim will probably be rejected.
Once you've reported the damage, you'll get an email confirming your case with a reference number (PIR number). This email is important, because it outlines exactly what happens next and what, if anything, you need to do. Also, to ensure a successful claim, it's very important to keep your:
- Bagtag
- Boarding pass
- Photos of the damage
Repairs & compensation
Lufthansa uses a company called Dolfi1920 GmbH to process damaged baggage reports and claims. So, after you send your report, Dolfi1920 GmbH will contact you about their assessment of your case and explain what you should do next.
Your bag may be repaired or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage. If neither option works, you may be offered compensation based on the bag's current value rather than what you originally paid.
This value is reduced over time to reflect wear and use. Typically, around 15% is deducted for each year (or part of a year) the bag has been used, up to a maximum reduction of 70%.
What won't be covered as damaged
Lufthansa will not repay you for just any damage to your bag. Minor wear and tear, like scratches, small dents or scuffs, is usually not covered, especially if it doesn't affect how your bag works. Damage caused by overpacking will also, most likely be rejected.
Deadlines for making baggage report and claims
Baggage mishandling reports and claims are different and they each have their own deadlines, as you can see in the following table.
Lufthansa baggage claim deadlines
How to file a Lufthansa baggage claim
The strength of your luggage claim really comes down to the quality of the evidence you provide. So, as you prepare your claim, here are some things to remember:
- If your bag was delayed, include every receipt for essentials
- If the baggage was damaged, include clear photos from multiple angles
- If the bag was lost, try to reconstruct its contents carefully and honestly. If you have receipts, proofs of purchase, or photos of the bag and the things you packed, your case will be even stronger
- Include your boarding pass, baggage tag, PIR reference number, delivery updates, and receipts for replacement items to help create a timeline
- Collect all these pieces of evidence and upload copies with your claim
How long will it take for my claim to be processed?
Baggage claim processing times vary a lot, so if you don't get a response from Lufthansa after a week or so, definitely write to them to follow up. If they ignore your claim, if they reject it, or only give you a low-ball offer, BagHelp can step in and handle your case. We can even take the airline to court on your behalf, all on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Just enter your basic flight details to get started.
Start my claim.
FAQs
Not necessarily. Lufthansa says replacement purchases must be essential and reasonable, and it expects passengers to keep costs as low as possible. It may also reimburse reusable items such as clothing only in part, while single-use items like toiletries are more likely to be reimbursed in full.
That can become a separate issue from simple delay. You should report missing contents as soon as possible and provide as much detail and evidence as you can. The sooner the issue is raised after delivery, the better your chances of showing that the loss happened during the baggage handling process rather than afterwards.
The legal treatment of hand luggage is different from checked baggage, and Lufthansa specifically reminds passengers that they are responsible for their carry-on baggage. In other words, the strongest and clearest baggage rights usually attach to checked baggage that was accepted into the airline's custody.