How often do suitcases get lost on ? According to Interia, airlines carry around 3 billion pieces of luggage every year. Around 25 million of these are lost. Around one in 120 does not find their suitcase at the airport after arriving. Theoretically, this is not much, but in practice it means that the chance that you will be unlucky increases with each piece of luggage and each . Bags . This is where the most complaints were received in 2023, as many as 25.5 percent. What to do when checked luggage is lost?
What to do when your luggage is lost? Don’t waste time. Without it, you won’t get compensation
The procedures for handling such situations depend primarily on the carrier. Regardless of who operated the flight, it is worth reporting the missing suitcase as soon as possible. LOT advises that if your suitcase does not appear on the belt, “you should immediately report this fact and prepare a complaint protocol”. Only then will the luggage be searched for within the World Tracer system. The passenger will receive a confirmation of the report and a special number, thanks to which they will be able to check the status of the search themselves.
Once you have notified the carrier that your bag is missing, you need to be patient. After five days, if the bag has not been found, you need to contact the airline again. If after 21 days your checked baggage has not been found and delivered or the airline admits it has been lost, you are entitled to claim compensation.
What to do if your luggage is lost? (illustrative photo) Photo: rrecrutt / iStock
Compensation for delayed baggage and lost suitcase. How much can you get for lost baggage?
How much compensation for a lost suitcase? According to consumer.gov.pl, the maximum compensation for lost or delayed luggage is 1288 SDR (non-cash international settlement unit), which is PLN 6762.13. This is the upper limit of liability, but compensation may be higher if you submit a special declaration of interest in delivery before your trip.
To file a complaint you will need additional documents:
- detailed flight information, including booking and flight number,
- copy of PIR report,
- copy of baggage receipt,
- copies of receipts and invoices for the items that were in the suitcase.
To prove the value of your lost luggage, you will need a full list of items that were in your suitcase, along with invoices, bills or receipts confirming their value. The lack of proof of purchase does not necessarily mean that compensation will be refused. Some airlines pay compensation based on the weight of checked luggage.
ADVICE! The sooner you report a missing suitcase, the better. Report its absence to the baggage claims office at the airport (it may be marked as “Lost and Found” or “Baggage claim”). Only then will you receive a PIR, or Baggage Discrepancy Report, without which you will not be able to file a complaint and receive compensation. If you’d like, please vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
