Report it before you leave the airport
If the carousel stops and your bag is not there, do not walk out through arrivals. Go to the baggage service desk in the reclaim hall and file a report while you are still airside. You will normally be asked for your boarding pass, the baggage tag receipt that was attached to your booking or boarding pass, and a description of the bag and its contents.
You should receive a reference number. Keep it safe, take a photo of any paperwork, and ask how you will be updated and how the bag will be delivered once it is found.
Describe the bag precisely
A clear description speeds up the search. Brand, colour, size, type of wheels, any ribbons or straps, and a few distinctive items inside all help. This is where a photo of your bag taken before the trip is invaluable. Many travellers now also use a small Bluetooth tracker inside their luggage, which can help show where a bag ended up.
Include a reliable phone number and the address where you are staying, along with the dates you will be there.
Cover your immediate needs
Most delayed bags are traced and delivered within a day or two. In the meantime, you may need basic toiletries and a change of clothes. Keep receipts for anything essential you buy, and keep purchases reasonable. Airlines and travel insurers generally consider claims for necessary items, but they will want to see proof.
If you packed a small survival kit in your hand luggage, this is the moment it earns its place.
Follow up and claim
If you have not heard anything within a couple of days, contact the airline using your reference number. If the bag arrives damaged, report it as soon as possible, ideally before leaving the airport or within the short deadline the airline sets. Under the rules that apply to most international flights, there are time limits for submitting written claims for delayed and damaged baggage, so act promptly rather than waiting until you are home.
Check your travel insurance policy too. Some policies pay a set amount after a bag has been delayed for a certain number of hours, and some cover items that the airline does not.
Good to know
- Never leave the reclaim hall without filing a report if your bag is missing.
- Keep every receipt for essentials bought while you wait.
- Photograph your bag and its contents before every trip.