The short answer
For many international journeys, the Montreal Convention governs loss, damage or delay and currently limits baggage liability to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger. That is a ceiling, not an automatic payment. The passenger must prove the loss. Written complaints for damage generally have a seven-day window, while delayed-baggage complaints generally have a 21-day window after the bag is returned.
Report before you leave if practical
Ask the baggage desk to create a mishandled-baggage or Property Irregularity Report and keep the reference. If the desk is closed, use the airline’s official baggage channel promptly and preserve proof of submission. The airport report is useful evidence, but it may not replace a later written claim required by the applicable rule or airline terms.
Delayed bag: buy only reasonable essentials
Keep itemised receipts for necessities purchased while waiting. What is reasonable depends on the trip, location and duration. Submit the receipts with the tracking reference after the bag returns, and keep copies. U.S. rules also provide a checked-bag-fee refund after specified significant delays when the required mishandled-baggage report is on file.
Lost or damaged bag: prove the value
Build an itemised inventory with purchase evidence where available. Photos, receipts and card statements can help establish ownership, age and value. Liability ceilings do not guarantee the maximum, and airlines may account for depreciation or excluded items. For damage, photograph the bag and contents immediately.
Do not miss the written-complaint clock
For Montreal Convention claims, written notice for damaged baggage is generally required within seven days of receipt. For delayed baggage, written notice is generally required within 21 days after the bag is delivered. Court action has a separate two-year limit. Domestic rules and airline contracts can differ, so use the rule governing the actual itinerary.
Common questions
Can I claim delayed luggage compensation?
You may be able to claim reasonable, documented losses or essential purchases, but a liability limit is not an automatic payment. The route, the governing rule, the baggage report and the evidence all matter.
What should I report before leaving the airport?
Ask the baggage desk to create a mishandled-baggage or Property Irregularity Report, and keep the reference, baggage tags and any written confirmation. That report can be important evidence for the later claim.
How long do I have to make a baggage claim?
For many international journeys under the Montreal Convention, written notice for damage is generally due within seven days of receipt and delayed-baggage notice within 21 days after delivery. Domestic rules and airline terms can differ.
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