Imagine the peak of frustration as you’re preparing to take a flight, only to discover that your luggage isn’t in the best shape. You might have a split suitcase, a busted handle, or even a zipper that’s seen better days. There’s one question that crosses the minds of most travelers when they face these problems: Can I seek compensation, and if so, how?
There’s a misconception, but yes, airlines are supposed to take care of your checked luggage. You also have the option to request reimbursement, replacement, or repair for your luggage if it sustains damage. However, it is essential to note that it is necessary to understand the guidelines and take the right steps to have a damaged luggage claim approved.
Everything’s important, starting with the check-in process and the asymmetric time window for lodging your complaint. This page aims to cover the typical conditions under which you can make a damaged luggage claim, the appropriate time to make a claim, and a step-by-step guide on what to do next. Knowing these steps can be helpful to ensure that, in case of damaged luggage, travelers can make a claim and be compensated for their loss.
When is Luggage Deemed Lost or Damaged?
When such circumstances occur, such as when the airline is unable to locate and return the passenger’s luggage within a specified timeframe, it is considered lost. Baggage is typically deemed lost if the airline does not collect it within 21 days of receiving a complaint.
Furthermore, if there is apparent outward damage, such as dents, cuts, or scrapes, the luggage is considered damaged. Likewise, damage is defined as any wear and tear that impairs the baggage’s ability to function, as well as any harm that affects its contents, such as spills or breakage.
Can I Claim for the Damaged Luggage?
When checked baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, the airline’s contract of carriage will assist you in the process. Airlines such as Lufthansa or Delta Air Lines may give a specific dollar amount for what they consider “reasonable expenses”, but there is a minimum amount set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that airlines must provide.
How Can I File a Damaged Baggage Claim?
If you come to know that your luggage is missing or damaged, inform the airline’s baggage claim counter right away. Airlines have set processes in place for complaining about damaged or misplaced luggage. The official website of the airline you are flying with has all the information you need. The passenger can submit an online or offline claim if their luggage has been damaged as a result of the airline’s negligence. In the event that your luggage is misplaced or damaged, you must take the following fundamental actions:
Express Concern
Inform the airport baggage claim desk right away if you find out your luggage is missing or damaged. Report any damage or loss before you depart the airport.
File Complain
Fill out the baggage complaint form if your luggage is misplaced. Give all the relevant information, such as the bag’s size, color, and appearance, among other things. Likewise, if your luggage is damaged, complete the necessary complaint form and include all relevant information about the damage.
Give Accurate Contact Details
Make sure you provide the airline with your current address and phone number. This will enable the airline to notify you periodically of the status of your baggage.
Documentation
Keep a copy of the receipt of the complaint form, the airline, such as Southwest, and other supporting paperwork. It is essential to keep these records. These records will assist you in keeping track of and submitting any compensation or reimbursements for which you qualify.
Document Expense
Fees, such as buying necessary items, may be incurred due to the baggage delay. Save the receipts for any associated costs. When submitting a compensation claim, these receipts will be needed.
| For Online Claim | For an Offline Claim |
| Primarily, go to the airline’s or airport’s official website. Then, send the carrier an email to report damaged luggage. | Before departing, proceed to the airline counter at the airport of arrival.Another option is to contact the airline or airport directly. |
Guidelines for Delayed, Misplaced, or Damaged Luggage
The contract of carriage for an airline outlines what to do if your checked suitcase is delayed, lost, or damaged. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a minimum sum that airlines must pay for incidental charges resulting from the mishandled bag. However, they are free to specify a precise monetary figure for what they consider “reasonable expenses.”
Bags that are Missing or Broken
Airlines like Spirit Airlines are liable for repairs or reimbursement if your bag or its contents are misplaced or broken. The airline will negotiate a compensation sum based on the depreciated value of the bag and its contents, excluding perishables, electronics, cash, and fragile items, if the damage cannot be fixed. Each airline’s contract of carriage contains a comprehensive list of exclusions.
Airlines’ maximum liability for misplaced or damaged luggage and its contents is as follows:
- Every passenger traveling on a domestic flight incurred a cost of $4,700. You are not obligated to receive reimbursement from airlines for things that are excluded.
- $1,700 for each passenger on the majority of overseas flights. If an airline accepts an item for transportation but excludes it, they are liable for paying you for it.
Moreover, the flight is not obligated to offer compensation above these thresholds, but it may choose to do so. Verifiable incidental costs, such as clothing and toiletries, resulting from improperly handled baggage, are included in these restrictions. Just remember to save your receipts, as you will need to provide them to the airline to receive a refund.
Delayed Luggage
If your checked bag is delayed, the fees for the bag will be refunded under the following circumstances:
- For domestic flights, your bag is not delivered within 12 hours of arriving at the gate.
- For international flights of 12 hours or less, your bag is not delivered within 15 hours.
- For international flights of more than 12 hours, your bag is not delivered within 30 hours.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules require baggage fees to be automatically refunded within seven business days to 20 calendar days, depending on your form of payment. In addition to the bag fees, airlines are required to compensate you for verifiable incidental expenses incurred during the delay.
Bottom Line
Generally, you can file a claim for reimbursement from an airline for damaged luggage, but the success of your claim depends on adhering to the proper protocol and taking prompt action. Examine your luggage as soon as you arrive, and notify the airline’s baggage care counter of any damage before you leave the airport. Ensure that you include supporting documentation, such as pictures of the damage, your boarding pass, and baggage tag. Your chances of a successful claim are increased if you are aware of your rights and take prompt action, even if compensation varies depending on the airline and the level of damage.
More Queries? Here Are the Answers!
The airline is often liable if the damage occurred during transportation (loading, unloading, or transit).
Yes, however, you must provide proof that the damage most likely occurred during the flight and file a formal claim with the airline within the allotted period (typically seven days).
Your boarding pass, baggage claim tag, a copy of the PIR, pictures showing the damage, and a receipt or an estimate of the luggage’s value are usually required.
Depending on the damage and their guidelines, several airlines offer to replace the luggage, repair it, or refund the money.
Yes, extra losses or things the airline won’t pay for might be covered by travel insurance. For specifics, review the guidelines.
Yes, you can claim for damage to hard-shell baggage as long as it wasn’t brought on by natural wear and tear or overpacking.
