Watching the baggage belt stop without your suitcase is one of the worst moments in travel. Most "lost" bags are actually delayed — sent on a different flight or left behind at a connection — and are reunited with their owners within a few days. What you do in the next hour decides how smoothly that goes.
Step 1: Report it before you leave the baggage hall
Go to the airline's baggage service desk in the arrivals hall (it may be run by a ground-handling company on the airline's behalf). Ask for a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and make sure you leave with:
- A copy of the report and its file reference number
- The contact details and tracking link for your file
- Your baggage tag stub (usually stuck to your boarding pass) — keep it
Give a detailed description: brand, colour, size, hard or soft shell, ribbons or straps, and key contents. Provide an address where the bag can be delivered, and the dates you will be there.
Step 2: Know the deadlines
For most international flights, the Montreal Convention sets the framework for baggage claims. The key time limits are:
- Delayed baggage: submit a written claim within 21 days of the bag being returned to you.
- Damaged baggage: submit a written complaint within 7 days of receiving it.
- Lost baggage: if the airline admits the bag is lost, or it has not arrived 21 days after it should have, you can claim for it as lost.
Compensation under the Convention is capped (the limit is set in Special Drawing Rights, an international reserve unit, and is roughly 1,500 SDR per passenger). Domestic flights and some routes follow different rules — check your airline's conditions of carriage. A claim made in writing, with your file reference, is what counts; a phone call alone is not enough.
Flying in or from Europe? The EU air passenger rights (Your Europe) page explains your rights for delayed, damaged and lost baggage in plain language. The airline industry body IATA also describes how bags are tracked between airlines on its baggage operations page.
Step 3: Keep receipts for essentials
If your bag is delayed, you can usually claim reasonable costs for essentials — toiletries, a change of clothes, a phone charger. Ask the airline desk what they cover, keep every receipt, and do not overspend; airlines can refuse costs they consider unreasonable. Check whether your travel insurance or credit card also covers baggage delay.
Step 4: Track and chase
Use the tracking link or the airline's baggage tracing page with your file reference. If you put a tracking tag in your bag, its location can help — share it with the baggage desk. If nothing changes after a few days, follow up in writing and keep copies of all messages.
Step 5: If your bag is declared lost
- Submit the airline's lost-baggage claim form with an itemised list of contents and their value. Receipts or photos help a lot.
- Claim any remaining amount from your travel insurance, if you have it.
- Report the bag on DokiFinder too. Bags do leave airports in the wrong hands — picked up by mistake at the carousel, or found later. Report your lost luggage free with photos so a finder can match it.
Make your bag easier to find next time
- Put your name and a phone number or email inside the bag as well as on the tag.
- Use a tracking tag and something distinctive on the outside — a strap or ribbon.
- Photograph your bag and its contents before you travel.
- Keep valuables, medication and documents in your hand luggage.
Left something in the cabin rather than in your checked bag? That is lost property, not a baggage claim — see who has your item at the airport.
FAQ: Lost luggage
How long does it usually take to get a delayed bag back?
Most delayed bags are traced and delivered within a few days, often within 48 hours.
I already left the airport without reporting. Is it too late?
No. Contact the airline immediately and file the report online or by phone. Reporting before leaving is easier, but you can still report afterwards — do it as soon as possible.
Which airline do I claim from on a connecting trip?
Usually the airline that operated your last flight, where you collected (or should have collected) your bag. It handles the report even if another airline caused the delay.
Can I claim for items inside my bag?
Yes, up to the airline's liability limit. Many airlines exclude or limit valuables such as electronics and jewellery, so carry those in your hand luggage.