Lost luggage at airport? Don't leave before doing these things

Your flight is over, but your baggage has not arrived? Don't simply leave the airport. From filing a PIR to keeping receipts and photographing damaged luggage, these airport baggage rules can help with tracking and claims.

In Short

• Passengers report missing baggage before leaving the airport
• A PIR number helps track the baggage and support a claim
• Receipts and photos can be useful for delayed or damaged baggage claims

You have landed after a long flight, reached the baggage belt and watched other passengers pick up their bags. But yours is nowhere to be seen. Or perhaps the bag arrives, but the wheel is missing, the handle is broken or the zip is damaged. In either case, don’t just collect your things and leave the airport.

Lost luggage, missing baggage and damaged baggage need to be reported to the airline as soon as possible. The first step is to go to the airline’s baggage service desk and register your complaint.

GET A PIR NUMBER FOR MISSING BAGGAGE

If your checked-in baggage does not arrive on the conveyor belt, approach the airline’s baggage service desk and report it. The airline generally creates a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for missing baggage and gives you a reference number.

Keep this number safely. It can be used while following up with the airline, tracking your baggage and, where applicable, making a claim. Airlines also advise passengers to report missing baggage immediately and retain the PIR details.

WHAT IF YOUR BAG ARRIVES DAMAGED?

A bag may arrive but still have a broken wheel, handle or zip, or a torn section. In such cases, report the damage at the baggage service desk before leaving the airport.

Take clear photos or videos of the damage, including the baggage tag. This creates a record of the condition in which the bag was received and may help with a later baggage claim. Whether compensation is payable depends on the circumstances and the airline’s applicable rules.

KEEP RECEIPTS IF YOU BUY ESSENTIALS

If your baggage is delayed during a trip, you may need basic items such as clothes, a toothbrush or toothpaste. Keep the original receipts for these purchases.

Depending on the airline’s policy and applicable rules, such receipts may support a reimbursement claim. However, do not assume that every purchase will automatically be reimbursed. Stick to essential items and check the airline’s terms.

WHEN IS BAGGAGE CONSIDERED LOST?

A bag that does not arrive immediately is not necessarily permanently lost. Airlines may locate and deliver delayed baggage later. For international travel, 21 days is an important point in determining when baggage may be treated as lost under applicable rules.

Flight baggage compensation also does not have one fixed amount for every passenger. Domestic and international journeys can be governed by different rules, including applicable provisions of the Carriage by Air Act and the Montreal Convention.

TAKE A PHOTO BEFORE CHECK-IN

Before handing over your luggage, photograph the bag, its colour and any identifying marks. Also take a photo of the baggage tag. These simple airport baggage rules can make it easier to identify your bag and support a baggage claim if something goes wrong.

The key rule is simple: whether your baggage is missing, delayed or damaged, report it at the airport and keep the complaint record safely.

- Ends