Key Takeaways
Click each item to mark as read
- 1✓
After 21 days, your bag is officially lost - not delayed. You can now claim in full.
Some airlines declare a bag lost earlier (after 5 days), but 21 days is the international legal threshold under the Montreal Convention. Keep pressing for updates until then.
- 2✓
International cap: ~$2,000 USD / EUR 1,920. US domestic claims can reach $1,700.
SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is an IMF currency unit. The exact dollar or euro value shifts with exchange rates, calculated at the time your claim is formally assessed.
- 3✓
Claim for the bag AND its contents - itemise everything with estimated values.
The burden of proof is on you. A thorough itemised list with purchase prices and receipts for expensive items leaves far less room for the airline to dispute your loss.
- 4✓
Your evidence file is critical - PIR, baggage tag, boarding pass, receipts, contents list.
A clean, well-documented claim resolves faster and pays out more. Start building this file at the airport. Disorganised claims give airlines grounds to delay or reduce settlements.
- 5✓
Act early - waiting months weakens your case significantly, even with 2 years to sue.
While the Montreal Convention allows 2 years for legal action, airlines respond far better to timely claims. Evidence becomes harder to gather and verify the longer you wait.
Most missing checked bags turn up within a few days. If yours has been gone for 21 days, international rules usually treat it as legally lost, which means you can shift from tracing updates to a full compensation claim.
The strongest lost baggage claims are built around three things: the right compensation rule, a clear loss timeline, and a clean evidence file with the PIR, baggage tag, receipts, and item list.
How much can you claim for lost baggage?
On international flights, you can usually claim up to 1,519 SDR per passenger for lost baggage, which is roughly $2,000 USD / EUR 1,920 depending on exchange rates. US domestic baggage claims can go up to $1,700 under DOT rules.
What is an SDR?
SDR stands for Special Drawing Rights, which is an international unit of value set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It is a global reference unit used to calculate compensation across different countries. The value shifts over time, so the exact conversion is usually worked out using the rate that applies when the claim is assessed.
Can you claim more than the maximum if your bags were lost?
There are two situations where you may be able to recover more than the standard Montreal limit.
- You declared a higher value at check-in. If you told the airline in advance that your bag was worth more than the standard limit and paid any required extra fee, the claim can rise to that accepted value.
- The airline acted recklessly or intentionally. The usual cap can fall away if you can prove willful misconduct, such as deliberate mishandling or another very serious failure by the airline.
When is a bag considered lost?
A bag is usually treated as lost once the airline admits it cannot be found, or once it has been missing for 21 days after the flight. At that point, the case moves from tracing updates into a formal lost baggage compensation claim.
If you are still in the waiting-and-searching stage, our delayed baggage guide explains what to do next, which airport report to file, and which receipts and updates to keep.
What the airline owes you for lost baggage
If your checked baggage did not show up and you reported it properly, the airline can owe compensation for the suitcase itself and for the contents that were inside it, subject to the applicable liability limit.
You can now file an official lost baggage claim. BagHelp will handle the entire process on your behalf.
This means you can claim for the cost of your:
Be aware that the airline will not usually pay the original purchase price for these items. Some depreciation may be applied, but you are still entitled to a fair replacement value.
Build the proof before you argue the value
Once you understand the legal cap, the next step is evidence. Airlines pay stronger lost baggage claims when the file clearly shows what was in the bag, what the bag itself was worth, and what happened after the loss was reported.
How do I get compensated for lost baggage?
To get money back from the airline for baggage mishandling, file the written claim with as much supporting evidence as possible.
- Property Irregularity Report (PIR). This proves the airline was told about the loss and had the chance to trace the bag.
- Item list and value evidence. Add receipts, card statements, order emails, or photos that help show what was inside the bag and what each item was worth.
- Proof of the suitcase value. Include the receipt for the bag itself or any other evidence showing what it cost.
- Replacement purchase receipts. If you bought essentials while waiting, save every receipt and piece of evidence so those costs can form part of the claim.
- Boarding pass and booking confirmation. These documents link you to the flight and help show whether domestic or international rules apply.
What is the deadline for filing a lost luggage claim?
You have two years from the date it was deemed officially lost.
Two years sounds like a lot of time, but claims left too long are harder to prove. The sooner you start the process, the better your chances of a successful claim. Also, the deadline could be different for domestic flights, so be sure to check with your airline.
Need help with a lost luggage claim? Enter your flight details to get started.
FAQs
Yes. The Convention covers the flight itself, not how you booked it. Your rights are the same whether you bought directly from the airline or through a third party.
Yes, in principle. Costs you had to cover as a direct result of losing your bag (including emergency medication) can be included in your claim, up to the compensation limit. Keep every receipt.
Not without checking first. A standard goodwill payment isn't the same as full compensation under the Convention. Work out whether the offer genuinely covers what you lost before you sign anything. Once you accept a settlement, you generally can't go back and ask for more.
Try to find alternative evidence like a bank or card statement showing the purchase, a screenshot of what the item costs now, or a written declaration of the item's value. The airline may offer less for items without receipts, but your claim won't be automatically denied.
The Montreal Convention applies to commercial flights, meaning the ones you pay for in the usual way. Private charter arrangements can be more complicated. If you're in this situation, it's worth getting specific legal advice.
If your bag was lost on a trip that had a connecting flight operated by a different carrier, it can feel like nobody wants to take responsibility. You can send your claim to any of the airlines you flew with for the full amount, and they will work out the split among themselves. If you booked your whole trip through one airline and a partner carrier lost your bag on a connecting leg, your ticketing airline is still responsible.