Your Rights If Your Luggage Is Lost

If an airline loses your luggage, your first step is to report it. According to this Associated Press article, the next move might be to buy a change of clothes. Airlines are required to reimburse passengers for clothing and toiletries in the event of a lost or delayed bag. But getting reimbursement may require both persistence and knowing the rules.

But first things first, you should immediately file a missing bag claim to the airline you were travelling, and stand up for you rights to get some vouchers for the clothing shops. I doubt that all people gets those but try. You ain’t going to lose anything.

What will happen when I report lost luggage?The clerk at the baggage claim window will track your bag on the computer first, using your stubs. If the bag isn’t on another flight, the clerk will begin calling around to track it down or send baggage guys who work for the airline to look for it. Describe your stuff and produce a picture of your baggage (above) now. Use this time to get out your itinerary, as it can be wildly frustrating to listen to this search process.

The clerk will next ask you to fill in a claim form with pertinent personal info (use your itinerary) and bag description. Supply a way to be reached (like a working phone) over the next few days. Give the clerk your bag’s picture. Keep a copy of the form.

You’ll then be told that the airline will look for your baggage and return it to you if it is found. Yes, ominous words. It’s now safe to assume it may be officially lost luggage, unless the clerk tracks it as having been delivered to the carousel — in that case, it may be stolen and you will now need the police.

What the airline will do if your baggage is gone

If the airline finds your bag, they’ll get it to you. If not, the airline will try to replace the lost luggage itself with the closest match possible (this didn’t work out very well in my dismal personal experience). You’re entitled to contents recompense — varies by airline, but policy limits amounts; you may not get what you’d like. Do find out if you’ll be reimbursed if you buy replacements for items from your lost luggage now (while you’re traveling) like clothes and toothpaste.