Last updated · Facts checked against official sources
United Airlines baggage compensation depends on where you flew. On flights within the US, United's liability is up to US$4,700 per passenger. On international flights covered by the Montreal Convention, the limit is 1,519 SDR (about €1,840 or US$2,060 at October 2026 exchange rates; the value moves daily).
Deadlines are strict. After a US domestic flight, report a delayed or damaged bag within 24 hours and submit your claim within 45 days. After an international flight, report damage within 7 days and submit claims within 21 days of arrival.
Report the problem before you leave the baggage claim area if you can. The report (often called a Property Irregularity Report, or PIR) gives you the file reference number every United claim needs.
Key Takeaways
Click each item to mark as read
- 1✓
US domestic flights: up to US$4,700 per passenger. International flights: 1,519 SDR (about US$2,060).
US$4,700 is the federal minimum in 14 CFR 254.4 and the limit United states for travel within the US, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The international limit comes from the Montreal Convention.
- 2✓
Domestic deadlines: report within 24 hours, then claim within 45 days of arrival.
After an international trip, United asks you to report a delayed bag within 21 days, damage or missing items within 7 days, and to submit claims within 21 days of arrival.
- 3✓
Bag delayed more than 12 hours? United refunds the bag fee automatically.
United's thresholds: over 12 hours on a domestic flight, over 15 hours on an international flight of 12 hours or less, over 30 hours on an international flight longer than 12 hours.
- 4✓
No bag 5 days after arrival? File a lost bag claim.
United searches for about 21 days after a lost bag claim. Interim expenses it already reimbursed are deducted from the final payment.
- 5✓
Your file reference number shows the type of problem.
It ends in M for delayed or lost bags (for example ORD12345M), A or D for damaged bags and P for missing items. You need it for every claim.
Which rules apply to your United flight?
| Route | Rules | Max per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Within the US, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands | US DOT rule (14 CFR 254.4) and United's contract of carriage | US$4,700 |
| International (Montreal Convention) | Montreal Convention 1999 | 1,519 SDR (about US$2,060 / €1,840) |
A few routes involving countries that have not joined the Montreal Convention still fall under the older Warsaw Convention, which has lower per-kilo limits. The US$4,700 domestic limit does not apply to wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
How much can United pay for a lost or damaged bag?
The limits are ceilings, not fixed payouts. United pays your proven loss, based on receipts and the value of the items after depreciation, up to the limit for your route.
The limit covers one incident in total. If your bag is delayed and then lost, any interim expenses United already paid are deducted from the final amount.
United's bag-help page still quotes the previous Montreal limit of 1,288 SDR. The limit was raised to 1,519 SDR for losses from 28 December 2024, so use the current figure in an international claim. You can raise the international limit only by making a special declaration of value at check-in, for which a fee may apply.
Tip
Review your travel insurance before you submit the airline claim. You may be able to recover part of the loss there first and then pursue United for the remaining eligible costs.
What should you do first when United delays or damages your bag?
- Report it. At the airport, go to the Baggage Service Office. You can also report a delayed bag online or in the United app, by text ("BAGS" to 32050) or by calling the Baggage Recovery Center on 1-800-335-2247. Green-tagged gate-checked bags must be reported by phone.
- Save the file reference number. It ends in M for delayed bags, A or D for damage and P for missing items.
- Choose free delivery or pickup, then track the bag in the United app or on united.com.
- Buy only essentials and keep dated receipts.
If the last flight on your itinerary was with another airline, report the bag to that airline. Our bag tracking guide explains how to follow a missing bag.
What does United pay for a delayed bag?
United covers reasonable and necessary purchases of clothing and toiletries while your bag is delayed and you are away from home. The amount depends on several factors, including how long you were without your bag.
You need dated receipts that show the items and their cost. Buy for the next day or two, not for the whole trip. More examples are in our delayed baggage compensation guide.
Deadlines for a United delayed bag claim
| Trip | Report the delay | Submit the expense claim |
|---|---|---|
| US, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands | Within 24 hours of arrival | Within 45 days of arrival |
| International | Within 21 days of arrival | Within 21 days of arrival |
How to claim delayed baggage expenses from United
- Open the Interim expenses claim on United's bag-help page.
- Enter your file reference number and trip details.
- List each purchase and upload the dated receipts.
- Submit within the deadline and save the confirmation.
Not sure what you can claim? Check your claim for free. It takes about 2 minutes to start.
Does United refund the bag fee for a delayed bag?
Yes. United says it refunds bag fees automatically when a reported bag is delayed beyond these times:
| Flight | Bag delayed more than |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 12 hours |
| International, flight of 12 hours or less | 15 hours |
| International, flight longer than 12 hours | 30 hours |
When does United treat a bag as lost?
United says a bag may be lost if you have not received it more than 5 days after arrival. You must first have reported it as delayed. Then file a lost bag claim with a detailed list of the contents, receipts and a photo ID.
United searches for about 21 days after the claim and emails you if the bag is not found. Under the Montreal Convention, an international passenger can treat a bag as lost once it is 21 days late. See our lost baggage guide for how items are valued.
How to file a United lost bag claim
- Open the Lost bag claim on United's bag-help page and enter your file reference number.
- List every item with brand, age and approximate value.
- Attach receipts, order confirmations or photos, plus a photo ID.
- Submit within 45 days of arrival (US trips) or 21 days (international trips).
How do you claim for a damaged United bag?
If you are still at the airport, report the damage at the Baggage Service Office; you may be able to get a replacement bag there. If you notice it later, report it by chat, by texting "BAGS" to 32050 or by calling the Baggage Recovery Center.
After the report, an agent tells you the next step. You may be sent to United's repair partner (rynnsluggage.com), in which case you must claim within 14 days of the damage report. Otherwise, use the damaged bag claim on United's site.
Damaged bag deadlines
| Trip | Report damage or missing items | Submit the claim to United |
|---|---|---|
| US, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands | Within 24 hours of arrival | Within 45 days of arrival |
| International | Within 7 days of arrival | Within 21 days of arrival |
Damage or missing items caused during a security screening are claimed from the TSA, not United. Airlines generally exclude normal wear and tear and damage caused by a defect in the bag itself. Our damaged baggage guide explains what usually counts.
Tip
If you cannot report the damage at the airport, photograph it from several angles as soon as you notice it. Early photos make it much easier to prove the damage was linked to the flight.
Which documents do you need for a United claim?
- File reference number
- Boarding pass and checked bag tags
- Dated receipts for interim purchases (delay)
- Itemised contents list with values, proof of purchase and a photo ID (loss)
- Photos of the damage and any repair estimate (damage)
What if United rejects or underpays your claim?
Ask United to explain the decision in writing, then reply with any missing evidence. Quote the right limit for your route: US$4,700 for domestic trips or 1,519 SDR for international ones.
You can also file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation. For international trips, court action under the Montreal Convention must start within 2 years of arrival.
Would you rather not deal with United yourself? Start a free eligibility check. We handle the airline paperwork on a no win, no fee basis, and you only pay if money is recovered.
FAQs
Once the bag reaches your destination airport, United prepares it for delivery or holds it for pickup. United says deliveries can take up to 8 hours in the US and longer abroad, and it holds bags for pickup for 5 days. Track the bag in the United app or on united.com.
Yes, but report the bag first so you have a file reference number, then buy only what you need. United covers reasonable and necessary clothing and toiletries while you are away from home and needs dated receipts.
No. United applies it per ticketed passenger with a checked bag, for loss, damage and delay together on travel within the US. Wheelchairs and other assistive devices are not subject to the limit.
On domestic travel, United says it assumes no liability for high-value, fragile or perishable items in checked bags; its contract of carriage lists the exclusions. Pack valuables in your carry-on.
United says to contact the last airline on your itinerary to report a delayed or lost bag.
Sources: United Airlines bag help, 14 CFR 254.4, ICAO, IMF SDR rates, US DOT. Last checked October 2026.