Delayed, damaged or lost luggage: how do I claim compensation?

Delayed, damaged or lost luggage: how do I claim compensation?

Flight-delayed helps to empower travellers, before, during and after their trip, and set new standards for the entire industry. Essentially, we try our very best to help you claim the compensation for your disrupted flight that you are entitled to. You could be entitled to up to EUR 1000 (£890) in compensation for your delayed, damaged or lost luggage.

However, sometimes other unfortunate events may further frustrate passengers. This could include your luggage being delayed, damaged or lost. Regardless, it is helpful to know that you have passenger rights, including the right to be compensated in case of certain faults to your luggage.

When am I entitled to compensation for lost, delayed or damaged luggage?

Similar to delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights you are entitled to compensation under certain conditions. You are entitled to compensation for your lost, delayed or damaged luggage if:

• The flight on which your affected luggage was booked onto, departed from and landed at an airport within the EU.
• Alternatively, if your flight was operated by a European carrier, depart from a non-European airport and arriving in Europe.
• If the delayed, damage or loss is due to fault of the airline.

How do I claim compensation for my delayed luggage?

In order to claim compensation for delayed luggage we advise:

• Keep your boarding pass! You will need your boarding pass or alternatively your booking reference if you can’t find your boarding pass.
• Let the airline your luggage was booked onto know that your luggage has not turned up.
• Complete a Property Irregularity report (PIR). These are normally available at airports so as soon as you realise that your luggage has not turned up, let airport staff know and fill out a report.
• When filing a report, you will be given a case reference number which enables you to track your luggage and determine when you will receive it.
• If you incur in any additional costs because you need essential items make sure you keep all receipts. When you file a claim, you can add these receipts onto your claim in order to be reimbursed for the additional expenses.

How do I claim compensation for damaged luggage?

In order to claim compensation for damaged luggage we advise:

• Keep your boarding pass! You will need your boarding pass or alternatively your booking reference if you can’t find your boarding pass.
• Report the damage as soon as you notice the damage to your luggage. Best to do this at the airport as damage policy varies depending on the airline.
• File a damaged luggage claim with airline or in alternative a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Depending on the airline you may find also find an option to claim damaged luggage online.
• If you have the chance to make the damaged luggage claim at the airport then make sure to bring your luggage for evidence or to possibly negotiate whether your luggage will be replaced, repaired or whether the airline is willing to compensate for the damage.
• If you incurred in any damage to items within the luggage itself, then make sure you file a claim for these damaged items too!

How do I claim compensation for lost luggage? 

Your luggage is officially considered as ‘lost’ 21 days after you have reported your luggage as delayed/missing. 

In order to claim compensation for lost luggage we advise:

• Make sure you hold onto the luggage reference number that you received when you filed an PIR.
• Remember to keep all your receipts for essential items which you have purchased that you have had to rebuy.
• Try and find all receipts for the items in your luggage so that you can attach these to the claim in order to be compensated for the loss of these items.

Did you book your flights using a tour operator or was your booking part of a package tour?

Did you book a package travel? You can make the tour operator liable as they are in charge of all operations including the organisation of your luggage. In other words, the tour operator is responsible for the execution of your trip. Check if your tour operator is a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to check the terms & conditions if the tour operator could be liable.

What are the time limits in which you can claim for your disrupted luggage?

The time for how long after your damage, delayed and loss to your luggage you can claim varies per scenario.

• Damaged luggage – 7 days after collecting your luggage
• Missing or damaged contents of your luggage - 7 days after collecting/receiving your luggage
• Delayed luggage – for up to 21 days after your flight schedule
• Lost luggage (lost 21 days after the luggage is delayed/missing) – as early as possible

Our tips to reduce the risk of delayed, damaged or lost luggage

Here are our tips to reduce the risk of your luggage being delayed, damaged or lost:

• Before you book your flights check out the airline’s record when it comes to transportation of luggage!
• Avoid connecting flights as these may increase the risk of your luggage being lost in between flights.
• When you buy your luggage-case choose something that will stand out amongst other cases. E.g. a case with a bright colour!
• Before dropping your bag off, make sure to remove all old tags from your case in order to avoid confusion when airport and airline staff register your luggage.

Luggage collected but your flight was delayed, cancelled or overbooked? Claim compensation now!

You received your luggage but your flight was delayed and you are frustrated because you have had to rearrange your travel plans? We have your back! You may be entitled to compensation for your disrupted flight.

Very often, airlines make the process of claiming as complicated as possible to simply avoid compensating their passengers. They also overuse the argument that the flight disruption was caused by an extraordinary circumstance. More often than not, one sees passengers lose hope and accept the airline’s rejection as the truth.

Fortunately, we have the adequate tools and databases to ensure that your rights are honoured and to fact-check the airlines. We will even take them to court when necessary and all of the legal costs will be covered by our win-fee. If you wish, we can take care of everything and help you enforce your rights!