Lost Luggage

Lost,delayed or damaged luggage will happen to all of us at some point on our travels – it’s the moment every traveller dreads. Here, we offer advice on what to do when it happens to you.

FIRST MOVES AT THE AIRPORT

Head for your airline’s desk to fill in a missing or damaged bag form specific to that carrier. Most airlines have a desk in the baggage reclaim area but, if not, don’t leave without a member of staff filling out a Property Irregularity Report. Keep a copy of this. If your luggage or items are damaged, photograph them straight away.

DAMAGED LUGGAGE

You should submit a claim for damaged luggage in an email or letter within seven days. Include your journey and contact information – along with details about what was damaged and how – with before and after pictures if possible. The seven-day deadline is crucial. After this, the airline may not be legally obliged to compensate you.

LOST LUGGAGE

Keep receipts for anything you buy as a result of a lost or delayed bag. You can claim from any of the airlines you have travelled with on a journey, although the final airline usually handles the claim so start there. You will need receipts to prove the value of your bag and its contents. If you buy expensive luggage, photograph or scan the receipts and save them to a cloud-based device ready for the day it goes missing. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) notes that airlines do not allow for “new for old” replacements and look at the value of the item based on its age when lost.