Lost luggage at the airport: what to do?

Your flight has landed, the carousel has stopped, and your checked bag is not there. It is a stressful moment, but the steps you take in the next hour matter most. Most delayed bags are reunited with their owners within a few days, and reporting the problem correctly at the airport gives you the best chance of a quick recovery.

What is happening

A bag can be delayed because it was left behind at a connecting airport, loaded on the wrong flight, or held for additional screening. In rarer cases it is genuinely lost or mislaid. Under the Montreal Convention, which most international flights follow, the airline is responsible for your checked baggage while it is in its custody.

What to do first

1. Do not leave the baggage hall yet. Check the carousel screen again, look in the oversize and odd-size baggage area, and ask staff whether a second carousel is being used for your flight.
2. Go to your airline's baggage service desk. This is usually in the arrivals hall near baggage claim. If the desk is closed, ask any airline representative or airport information desk to contact the handler.
3. File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). This is the official record of the missing bag. You will need your baggage tag number, boarding pass and a description of the bag. Keep the PIR reference number safe.
4. Give a reliable delivery address and phone number for the next few days, and ask how you will be contacted.
5. Ask about interim expenses. Many airlines will reimburse reasonable costs for essentials such as toiletries and clothing while your bag is missing. Ask what they will cover and keep every receipt.

What NOT to do

• Do not leave the airport without filing a report. It is much harder to resolve a claim later.
• Do not throw away your baggage tag, boarding pass or PIR copy. They are your proof.
• Do not buy expensive replacements without asking the airline first, as reimbursement is usually limited to reasonable essentials.
• Do not rely on phone calls alone. Confirm important details in writing.

If your bag is delayed

Keep a simple log of who you spoke to, when, and what they promised. Follow up in writing if you have not heard back within the timeframe the airline gave you. If you had to buy essentials, submit receipts with your claim. Ask the airline for its written policy on delayed baggage expenses.

If your bag is lost or damaged

If the bag is not found after the airline's tracing period, ask for the formal claim process. For international flights under the Montreal Convention, there are time limits for claiming: generally 7 days for damaged baggage and 21 days for delayed baggage from the date you received it. For lost baggage, claim within the limit set by the airline and the convention. Ask the airline to confirm the deadlines in writing. Keep all correspondence and receipts.

How to reduce the risk next time

• Put a name tag with a phone number and email inside and outside the bag.
• Take a photo of your bag and its tag before checking it in.
• Pack essentials and medication in your carry-on.
• Remove old baggage tags so scanners do not read the wrong destination.

Act at the airport, keep your reference number, and put your claim in writing. That gives you the strongest position if your bag is delayed or lost.