Lost luggage: what to do and what the airline owes you

By the Jumbo Flights editorial team · Published November 4, 2026 · Updated November 4, 2026

If an airline loses or delays your checked bag, file a mishandled baggage report at the airport before you leave, because that report is what triggers your rights. Under US Department of Transportation rules, the airline must then refund your checked bag fee once the bag is significantly delayed, and you can claim for the contents under liability limits that start at $4,700 per passenger on domestic itineraries.

This guide covers the steps to take at the airport, the exact delay thresholds for a refund, what you can claim for the bag and its contents, how international trips differ, and what to do if the airline stalls. Figures reflect the rules published by DOT and the Montreal Convention as of November 2026; your airline's own contract of carriage may add more.

What should I do first if my bag does not arrive?

Go to the airline's baggage service desk in the arrivals hall before you leave the airport and file a mishandled baggage report (MBR).

Do not wait until you get home. DOT's rule says an airline has no obligation to refund your bag fee unless you filed an MBR with the carrier that operated your flight or, on a multi-airline trip, the carrier that operated the last segment. Reporting immediately also keeps your claim clean, because it ties the problem to the airport and date of arrival.

1. Stay at the airport and file the report. Give your bag tag number, a description of the bag, and a delivery address.
2. Get a reference number in writing. Ask for a copy or a photo of the report and the airline's tracking contact.
3. Photograph your bag tag and boarding pass. They prove which flight and bag are involved.
4. Ask about essentials. Policies on interim expenses vary, so ask what is reimbursed and keep every receipt.
5. Track the file. Most airlines run an online baggage tracker where you enter the reference number.

If the baggage desk is closed or you are told to file online, do that the same day and save the confirmation.

How long until a delayed bag counts as lost or late for a refund?

For refund purposes, a bag is significantly delayed after 12 hours on a domestic trip, 15 hours on most international trips, and 30 hours on the longest ones.

DOT's refund rule (14 CFR 260.2) defines a significantly delayed checked bag by how long it takes to reach you after your last flight arrives. The clock runs from the moment you are given the chance to deplane at your final destination to the time the bag is delivered to an agreed location or picked up. The thresholds are:

DOT adds that the 15-hour and 30-hour standards also apply to the domestic segments of an international itinerary. The refund is automatic once the bag is late by that much and you have filed the MBR, so you should not need to submit a separate request, though it is wise to confirm in writing. A lost bag also qualifies for the fee refund.

This refund is only for the fee you paid to check the bag. It is not payment for the contents or for the inconvenience, which is a separate claim covered below. For the wider rules on refunds when flights are canceled or changed, see our guide to US airline refund rules.

What can I claim for a lost or damaged bag?

You can claim the documented value of the bag and what was in it, up to the airline's liability limit.

For domestic itineraries, DOT's rule at 14 CFR 254.4 says that on a flight segment using large aircraft, or any segment on the same ticket as one, an airline must not limit its liability for provable losses from the disappearance of, damage to, or delay in delivery of a passenger's baggage to less than $4,700 per passenger. DOT adjusts that figure periodically, and the figure shown in the eCFR was updated in October 2024. The word that matters is "provable": the airline expects evidence of what was in the bag.

Airlines typically ask for a claim form, proof of purchase or value for major items, and the original report number. Expect them to apply depreciation to used items rather than paying replacement cost, and to exclude certain valuables in their contract of carriage. Read the airline's baggage liability section before you pack electronics, jewelry or cash in a checked bag, and carry those items on board.

• Before you travel: photograph the open bag and keep receipts for expensive items.
• After a loss: list items with purchase dates and prices, and add receipts or card statements where you have them.
• For damage: photograph it at the airport and report it before you leave.

How are international trips different?

On most international tickets, the Montreal Convention sets the airline's baggage liability, at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger since December 28, 2024.

The Hong Kong government's notice on the revised limits states that the baggage limit for destruction, loss, damage or delay rose from 1,288 SDR to 1,519 SDR, and the Canadian Transportation Agency also publishes the Convention limits. SDR is an International Monetary Fund unit, so its dollar value moves daily; check the current rate rather than relying on a fixed conversion. That limit is the ceiling, not an amount you are owed automatically. You still need to show the loss.

The Convention also sets short written-complaint windows, generally a few days for damage and about three weeks for delay, counted from when the bag is placed at your disposal. File at the airport and follow up in writing so you do not miss them. Your airline's conditions of carriage may state the exact deadlines.

For a delayed bag on a European trip, remember that delayed baggage is a different problem from a delayed flight. If your flight itself was late or canceled, our guide to EU261 flight delay compensation covers that separately. On a flight like New York to London or Los Angeles to London, both the baggage claim and any flight compensation claim can apply to the same trip. You can check the second one with our flight compensation checker.

How common are lost bags, and do they usually come back?

Most mishandled bags are simply late, and the large majority are reunited with their owners.

SITA, the air transport IT provider, reported in its Baggage IT Insights 2025 release that the mishandling rate fell to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2024, down from 6.9 the year before. Delayed bags made up 74 percent of mishandled baggage, lost or stolen bags 8 percent, and damaged or pilfered bags 18 percent. SITA said transfer mishandling, which happens when bags change planes, was the biggest cause at 41 percent.

That last point matters for planning. Tight connections raise the risk, so a longer layover or a nonstop flight lowers it. Our guide to bumped-flight compensation covers the other common way a trip goes wrong at the airport.

What should I pack to protect myself?

Pack a carry-on kit so a missing bag does not ruin the first days of your trip.

• Medications, chargers, passport, and valuables in the cabin bag.
• A change of clothes and basic toiletries (remember the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule).
• A name tag inside the bag as well as outside, in case the outer tag tears off.
• A photo of the packed bag and a list of its main contents on your phone.
• A small tracker if your airline allows it. Check the airline's policy first.

If you land in another country without data, getting online fast helps you check the airline's tracker, so an eSIM set up before departure is useful.

What if the airline does not resolve my claim?

Escalate in writing, then file a complaint with DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection office.

1. Send the airline your report number, claim form, receipts and photos, and keep copies.
2. Follow up in writing after a reasonable time if you hear nothing.
3. If the airline denies the claim or does not respond, file a consumer complaint with DOT.
4. If a bag fee refund never arrives after you filed an MBR, cite 14 CFR 260.5 in your complaint.
5. Consider your insurance or card benefits, which often require the airline's written decision.

Keep every message. A clear paper trail is the strongest thing you can bring to any dispute.

Sources

• eCFR: 14 CFR Part 260, refunds for airline fare and ancillary service fees (incl. § 260.5 baggage fees)
• eCFR: 14 CFR Part 254, domestic baggage liability
• Hong Kong Government: Montreal Convention liability limits revised from December 28, 2024
• Canadian Transportation Agency: Limits of liability for passengers and goods
• SITA: Baggage IT Insights 2025 press release

Frequently asked questions

General information, not legal advice. Found an error? Tell us and see our corrections policy.