Lost, delayed, or damaged luggage? You may be entitled to up to €1,507 in compensation under the Montreal Convention. Our free tools help you calculate your exact claim and get the airline to pay.
Maximum compensation per passenger
Success rate for documented claims
Bags mishandled globally per year
When delayed bag becomes "lost"
Calculate your potential compensation in 60 seconds. Based on Montreal Convention and EU/US airline liability rules.
The Montreal Convention is an international treaty that governs airline liability for baggage issues on international flights. It replaced the older Warsaw Convention in 2003 and provides stronger protections for passengers.
Airlines are liable for up to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (approximately €1,507) per passenger for baggage issues.
Applies to all international flights where both the departure and arrival countries have ratified the treaty (195+ countries).
Must file Property Irregularity Report (PIR) immediately. Written claims within 7 days for damage, 21 days for delay.
Airlines are strictly liable unless they can prove they took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage.
Special Drawing Rights (SDR) are an international reserve asset created by the IMF. The Montreal Convention uses SDR to avoid currency fluctuations. Current conversion rate: 1 SDR ≈ €1.17 (varies daily).
File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with the airline BEFORE leaving the airport. Without a PIR, your claim will likely be denied. Get a copy for your records.
If your bag is not located within 21 days, it is officially declared "lost" and you can claim full compensation for the bag and its contents, up to the Montreal Convention limit.
Before leaving the airport, go to the airline's baggage desk and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Get a reference number.
Airlines have 21 days to locate and return your bag. During this time, the bag is "delayed" - you can claim essential items.
After 21 days, if the bag is still not found, it's officially "lost." You can now file a full compensation claim.
Send written claim with PIR number, itemized list of contents, receipts/proof of value, and compensation demand.
Airline must respond within 6 weeks. If denied or lowballed, you can escalate to regulator or small claims court.
Full value of bag and contents up to Montreal Convention limit. Provide receipts, purchase records, photos, or other proof of ownership and value.
Limited compensation without proof. Airlines typically offer €25-50 per kg of bag weight, or a flat €300-500. Fight for more if contents were valuable.
Always pack one change of clothes and essential medication in your carry-on. This protects you if your bag is delayed or lost, and airlines use it as an excuse to lower compensation ("you should have packed essentials in carry-on").
If your checked bag doesn't arrive with you, it's "delayed." You can immediately claim reimbursement for essential items you need to purchase while waiting for the bag to arrive.
Airlines must reimburse "reasonable expenses" while you wait for your bag. Courts and regulators have established these guidelines:
| Delay Duration | Reasonable Daily Amount | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 days | €50-100/day | One set of clothes, basic toiletries |
| 3-5 days | €75-150/day | Additional clothing, laundry costs |
| 6-10 days | €100-200/day | More clothes, gym clothes, swimwear |
| 11-21 days | €125-250/day | Week's worth of clothes, work attire |
These are guidelines. Actual reimbursement depends on your specific needs (business trip vs beach vacation), destination cost of living, and whether you have access to laundry.
Swimsuit (€40), 2 t-shirts (€30), shorts (€25), flip-flops (€15), sunscreen (€12), toiletries (€18)
Suit (€200), dress shirt (€50), tie (€25), shoes (€80), belt (€20), underwear (€15), toiletries (€20)
Kids clothes (€80), adult clothes (€120), diapers (€30), baby formula (€25), toys for kids (€40)
Every purchase receipt, no matter how small. Airlines will reject claims without proof.
Take photos of items you buy, especially clothing. Proves they are reasonable replacements.
Airlines look suspiciously at purchases made days later. Buy essentials immediately.
A €30 t-shirt is reasonable. A €300 designer t-shirt will be rejected.
If buying a suit for a business meeting, keep the meeting invitation/email as proof.
If your bag is still delayed after 21 days, it's officially declared "lost." At that point:
If the airline finds your bag after you've been compensated for "lost" baggage, you must return the compensation or return the bag (your choice).
Compensation limits and rules vary by jurisdiction and flight type. Here's a comprehensive comparison:
The US Department of Transportation has issued new regulations strengthening passenger rights for baggage issues, effective 2024-2025.
Airlines must provide automatic refunds of checked bag fees if your bag is not delivered within:
If you paid a $35 checked bag fee and your bag arrives 18 hours late on a domestic flight, the airline must automatically refund the $35 to your original payment method within 7 business days (credit card) or 20 days (other payment).
Maximum liability increased to $3,800 per passenger (up from $3,500) for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage on US domestic flights. Adjusted for inflation every 2 years.
Montreal Convention still applies (1,288 SDR ≈ $1,850-2,175 depending on exchange rate). US DOT rules do not override international treaty obligations.
Airlines must acknowledge baggage claims within 24 hours and provide substantive response within 30 days (down from 60 days).
If claim is approved, airline must pay compensation within 7 business days for credit card refunds, 20 days for other payment methods.
DOT has clarified that "reasonable expenses" for delayed baggage include: clothing, toiletries, medication, and other necessities. Airlines cannot arbitrarily reject reasonable purchases.
Airlines must accept digital receipts, photos of receipts, and credit card statements as proof of purchase. Cannot require only original paper receipts.
For damaged baggage, airlines cannot depreciate items by more than 10% per year for first 3 years, 5% per year thereafter. Cannot claim items are "too old" to have value.
These new DOT rules only apply to flights operated by US airlines or flights departing from US airports. For international flights on foreign airlines, Montreal Convention rules apply. If you have a choice, booking on a US airline may give you stronger protections.
Flight from Paris to Tokyo. Bag never arrived, declared lost after 21 days. Submitted itemized list with receipts for clothing (€400), laptop (€600), camera (€250), toiletries (€38). Airline initially offered €500. Cited Montreal Convention, threatened regulator complaint. Airline paid full €1,288 within 3 weeks.
Business trip to New York, bag delayed 5 days. Purchased suit (€180), shirt (€40), shoes (€70), toiletries (€20), underwear (€30). Kept all receipts, submitted claim with PIR within 21 days. Airline reimbursed full €340 without dispute.
Suitcase arrived with broken wheel and cracked shell. Filed PIR at airport, took photos, got repair estimate (€120). Airline offered €50. Argued bag was only 6 months old, provided purchase receipt (€250). Airline settled at €175 to avoid regulator complaint.
Use our free tools to calculate your compensation and generate a claim letter. Most passengers receive payment within 6-8 weeks.