Just about everyone who has flown knows that sinking feeling when they are the last person at the carousel and it dawns on you that your baggage is not going to arrive. Fortunately most baggage is not permanently lost and it will turn up sooner or later. If that is the case what can you do about it?
You must complain within 21 days of receiving your baggage
Your complaint must be made in writing
The maximum you can claim is 1,288 SDRs. An SDR (Special Drawing Right) is an international unit of currency. (The value fluctuates but in October 2020 one pound was worth about 0.92 SDRs.)
In most airports there will be a desk where you can report your delayed baggage but if you cannot do this then you will still have 21 days after receiving your delayed baggage to make a complaint in writing. At the lost baggage desk you will probably be given a ‘Property Irregularity Report’ (PIR). Make sure you fill this in and keep a copy. You will need the information on it if you are going to make a claim.
What can you claim for?
You should be able to claim for reasonable expenses to cover things like cosmetics, underwear, laundry costs and essential clothing. This could extend to swimwear if you are on a beach holiday or more formal clothes if you were presenting at a prestigious international conference. However you must not treat the delay as an excuse to go out and buy a new wardrobe.
It is absolutely essential that you keep all your receipts for anything you buy because the airline may refuse to pay out if you cannot prove your losses.
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