Your suitcase did not arrive? What to do

A bag that did not arrive or was damaged is handled directly with the airline, separately from compensation for a delay or cancellation. These are the steps, in order.

1. 1

   Before you leave the baggage hall

   Go to the airline's baggage desk (or the airport handling agent) and file a missing or damaged bag report. Keep the report number: everything that follows uses it.

2. 2

   Keep every document

   The bag tag (the sticker you got at check-in), the boarding pass, the baggage report and receipts for essentials you bought meanwhile, such as toiletries and clothes.

3. 3

   A written claim to the airline

   Send the airline a written claim with the report number and receipts. Under the Montreal Convention: for a damaged bag within 7 days of receiving it, and for a delayed bag within 21 days of the day you got it.

4. 4

   If the bag is not found

   If the bag has not arrived within 21 days, or the airline confirms it is lost, you can claim for a lost bag. Attach a list of the contents and any proof you have.

General information, not legal advice. Also check your airline's conditions of carriage.