Disruption recovery

Lost or delayed baggage

Lost, damaged, or delayed checked baggage is covered by the Montreal Convention — up to ~€1,500 per passenger. The clock starts the moment you land.

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Compensation summary

Up to ~1,288 SDR (~€1,500) per passenger for lost or damaged baggage. Daily allowance for delayed baggage if you need to buy essentials.

What to do right now

  1. Don't leave the airport without filing a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airline's baggage desk. This is the only way to start a claim.

  2. Save the PIR reference number and your baggage tag (the sticker on your boarding pass).

  3. If your bag is delayed and you're far from home, buy essentials: toiletries, change of clothes, phone charger. Keep ALL receipts — typically reimbursed at €50–€100/day.

  4. Track the bag online via the airline's WorldTracer link (printed on your PIR). Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours.

Your rights

  • Up to ~€1,500 (1,288 Special Drawing Rights, 2024 figures) per passenger for lost baggage.
  • Reimbursement of essentials if bag is delayed > 24 hours and you're not at home.
  • Compensation for damaged contents — file within 7 days of receipt.
  • If lost permanently (no recovery in 21 days), file a full lost-baggage claim including itemized list and receipts.

How to claim

  1. File PIR at the airport before leaving (this is the deadline; you cannot claim without it).

  2. Submit a written claim within 7 days for damaged baggage, 21 days for delayed/lost.

  3. Send the claim to the airline (not airport) with: boarding pass, PIR reference, baggage tag, itemized list of contents, receipts for any essentials bought.

  4. If denied or lowballed, escalate to national enforcement body or small-claims court. Montreal Convention is enforceable internationally.

When compensation is NOT due

  • You didn't file a PIR at the airport.
  • You filed claim outside the time limits (7 days / 21 days).
  • Items you packed were on the prohibited list (cash, jewelry, electronics in checked bags — depends on airline's contract of carriage).
  • Damage was pre-existing or due to overweight contents.

Estimate your EU 261 compensation

Flights to/from the EU, delayed 3+ hours or cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, are eligible for €250–€600 in compensation. Check your eligibility in 60 seconds:

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Other scenarios

Flight cancelled

Full refund or rebooking + compensation up to €600.

Flight delayed

Care after 2h, compensation after 3h, refund option after 5h.

Missed connection

Single-ticket vs separate-ticket rules differ massively.

Denied boarding

Overbooking and involuntary denial — full EU 261 rights.

Lost baggage

Up to €1,500 under Montreal Convention; PIR mandatory.

Overbooked flight

Same rights as denied boarding; negotiate volunteer compensation.