Lost, Damaged or Delayed Baggage: The Complete Compensation Guide
Short answer: The Montreal Convention obliges every airline on an international flight to compensate for lost, damaged or delayed baggage — up to about €1,900 (1,519 SDR) per passenger, based on proven damages. The critical condition: written notice within 7 days for damage, 21 days for delay. Latebird (latebird.ai) is an AI flight-compensation service that handles baggage claims too — free until we win.
The first, critical step: a PIR form at the airport
Before leaving the airport, go to the ground-handling desk (Lost & Found) and file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report). It opens your case and is your strongest piece of evidence. Forgot? Some airlines accept late filings online — but don't count on it.
The deadlines — where most passengers lose
| What happened | Written-notice deadline |
|---|---|
| Bag damaged | 7 days |
| Bag delayed | 21 days |
| Bag lost entirely | Usually declared lost after 21 days — then a loss claim opens |
Miss the deadline and in most cases the right is gone — even if the claim is entirely justified. Don't "wait and see".
How much can you claim?
Up to 1,519 SDR — roughly €1,900 per passenger (the cap was raised in December 2024). Unlike flight compensation, baggage liability is based on proven damages: the value of lost contents, repair or replacement of the bag, and what you had to buy while waiting (clothes, toiletries). So the rule is receipts, receipts, receipts — both for what was inside (old invoices, order screenshots) and for what you bought in the meantime.
Which flights are covered?
Any international flight between states party to the Convention — which is most of the world, including Israel, the EU and the US. The airline is liable even if the damage happened at its ground-handling contractor. Mobility equipment (strollers, wheelchairs) is covered, as are consequential costs of a delayed bag — like ski gear you had to rent because yours never showed.
What a winning baggage claim looks like
- At the airport: PIR form + photos of the bag and damage + keep the bag tag.
- In the following days: a written demand to the airline within the deadlines, with an itemized contents list and receipts.
- When the airline responds: first offers tend to be low, based on internal "depreciation tables" — that's an opening position, not something you must accept.
- Or the short way: upload everything to Latebird and we run it like a flight claim — reasoned demand, negotiation, escalation if needed. First claim free; afterwards 15%, success-based only.
FAQ
I didn't file a PIR at the airport. Is the claim dead?
Not necessarily. Some airlines accept reports filed later online, and as long as your written notice met the 7/21-day deadlines the right is preserved. The more alternative documentation you have (photos, correspondence), the better your odds.
My bag arrived four days into my trip and I bought clothes. Who pays?
The airline. Reasonable expenses caused by the baggage delay — clothing, toiletries, essentials — are covered by the Montreal Convention up to the cap. Keep every receipt and give written notice within 21 days of receiving the bag.
I had expensive items in the bag — a camera, jewellery. Are they covered?
Up to the overall cap (~€1,900), provided you can prove the value. For unusually valuable items, declare them at check-in in advance (for a fee, the cap rises) — or simply carry them in the cabin.
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