Report it at the airline’s baggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall, and keep the report reference. Keep receipts for essentials you buy. For a damaged bag, write to the airline within 7 days; for a late bag, within 21 days of getting it back. If it hasn’t arrived 21 days after it should have, you can treat it as lost.
What to do
- Report it before you leave the airportAt the airline’s baggage desk in arrivals. Keep the report and its reference.
- Keep your boarding pass and bag tagThey prove the bag was checked in on your flight.
- Buy only what you need, and keep receiptsToiletries and clothes while you wait. The airline, then your insurer, will ask for receipts.
- Write to the airline in timeWithin 7 days of getting a damaged bag, and within 21 days of getting a late bag back.
- Lost after 21 daysIf the bag hasn’t arrived 21 days after it should have, you can claim it as lost.
- Claim the rest from your travel insuranceFor what the airline doesn’t pay, within your policy’s limits and per-item limits.
The airline’s limit
On most international flights the Montreal Convention applies. Since 28 December 2024 the airline’s liability for a lost, damaged or late bag is limited to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger (about US$2,000, says ICAO), unless you declared a higher value when you checked in and paid any fee asked.
The three insurers
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Questions
How long do I have to report a damaged bag?
Under the Montreal Convention, write to the airline within 7 days of getting it.
When is a delayed bag treated as lost?
If it hasn’t arrived 21 days after it should have.
How much does the airline pay for a lost bag?
Up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger on most international flights, unless you declared a higher value.
Sources
- The Montreal Convention, 1999, Articles 17, 22 and 31 (EUR-Lex)
- ICAO: liability limits increase from 28 December 2024
- Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 (EUR-Lex)
Rules checked against these sources on 24 Oct 2026.
Keep reading
Updated 2026-10-24.