Lost, Damaged and Delayed Baggage

The airport carousel has always kept every traveller in suspense. Will my bags arrive? Will they be intact? There’s always a sigh of relief when you see your baggage appear after a long journey.

However, mishaps can happen – your baggage may not arrive on the same flight as you, or it may be lost or damaged during the flight. If this happens, you may be entitled to compensation for the inconvenience caused.

To claim compensation, you must file a written complaint with the airline.

• For damaged baggage, you need to file a complaint on arrival, or within 7 days of arrival.

• For delayed baggage, you must file it on arrival or within 21 days of arrival. It is strongly encouraged to file your complaint immediately upon arrival.

A *Property Irregularity Report (PIR) filed with the airline will also constitute a formal complaint.

Airlines are liable to pay compensation for lost, delayed, or damaged baggage up to a maximum of 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The value of SDR is determined by five major currencies – the US dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, Pound Sterling, and Chinese renminbi.

You can check the current SDR rate here.

It is important that you keep receipts or proof of the value of items in your baggage to validate your claims. Generally, airlines are liable to pay compensation in the event of lost,damaged or delayed baggage, regardless of whether the traveller had purchased any travel insurance. Wear and tear on baggage, such as minor cuts and scratches, are not claimable.

Note:

* Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is a formal document completed at the airline’s baggage service desk to report lost, damaged, or delayed baggage. It serves as an official record of the issue and is required to initiate a compensation claim.