Lost Luggage: What to Do When Your Bags Don't Arrive

Understanding How Baggage Gets Lost

The vast majority of baggage delays — approximately 80% according to IATA's 2023 Baggage Report — are caused by mishandled transfers: bags that fail to make a connecting flight or are loaded onto the wrong aircraft. True losses, where a bag disappears entirely, account for less than 3% of all baggage incidents. The remaining cases involve damage during handling. This distinction matters practically: most "lost" bags are simply delayed and located within 24 to 72 hours.

The baggage handling process involves multiple automated sorting stages. When your bag is checked in, it receives a bar code tag linking it to your booking. At each airport, belt systems read the bar code and route the bag to the correct aircraft. Misreads, system errors, and physical jams in the belt system are the primary causes of misdirection. RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, now used by approximately 47% of checked bags worldwide, reduce mishandling rates by about 70% compared to bar codes by enabling the system to locate a bag precisely within the airport at any point.

The risk of delayed bags is significantly higher on connecting itineraries with short transfer times. If you check a bag and run to make a 45-minute connection, your bag is unlikely to make that flight even if you do — airport handling systems prioritize passenger safety and often cannot transfer bags fast enough to meet minimum connection times for cargo. On tight connections, traveling carry-on only eliminates this risk entirely.

Airlines log baggage incidents by the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. Delta Air Lines consistently performs among the best U.S. carriers, reporting roughly 2.5 to 3 incidents per 1,000 passengers. The industry average is approximately 5 per 1,000. LATAM, American, and several European flag carriers have historically higher rates. Choosing airlines with strong baggage performance records reduces risk on important trips.

Immediately After Your Bags Don't Arrive

If your bags have not appeared on the carousel within 30 to 40 minutes of your flight's bags beginning to arrive, do not leave the baggage claim area. First, check all carousels in the area — bags are occasionally sent to a secondary carousel when the primary one is full. Check the carousel assignments on the arrival screens rather than assuming your flight's bags are only on one belt.

If your bags genuinely haven't appeared, proceed directly to the airline's baggage services desk located in the baggage claim hall — not to the main check-in counter in the departures area. This is a critical step: baggage services desks have direct access to the airline's baggage tracking system and can initiate a trace immediately. The main check-in counter has limited authority to resolve baggage claims.

At the desk, you will file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). You need your boarding pass, bag tags (the small sticker stapled to your boarding pass at check-in), flight details, and your contact address at the destination. The PIR generates a tracking reference number — this is your primary tool for monitoring the bag's progress. Keep the reference number accessible; save it in your phone as text and email a copy to yourself.

Describe your bag precisely: dimensions, hard or soft sided, brand name if known, color, any distinctive markings or tags, and the contents (not in exhaustive detail, but the general category: clothing, electronics, sports equipment). A photo of your bag and a copy of packing receipts for high-value items, ideally taken before you travel and stored in cloud storage, dramatically aids identification and claim processing.

Tracking and Communication

Most major airlines now offer online bag tracking through their website or app. Delta's Fly Delta app includes real-time bag tracking using RFID scan data. United's app allows passengers to track bags with confirmed RFID tags. British Airways' app and website show bag status with scan points at check-in, loading, and arrival. If your airline offers tracking, check it before filing a claim — your bag may already be on the next flight to your destination.

The World Tracer system is the global baggage tracking database shared by most airlines and airports. When you file a PIR, your missing bag is entered into World Tracer and matched against all bags found without a registered owner across the airline network. The matching process is largely automated and typically locates delayed bags within six to 24 hours. You will receive updates by email or SMS if you provided contact details on the PIR form.

If you have not received an update within 24 hours, call the airline's baggage services line directly — not the general customer service number, which has less direct access to baggage systems. Have your PIR number ready. At 24 hours, escalate your inquiry: most airlines have a formal escalation process for delayed bags that brings in supervisors with more authority to expedite searches. At 48 hours without resolution, consider filing a written complaint through the airline's formal complaints channel, which triggers additional oversight.

Compensation and Your Rights

Under the Montreal Convention, which governs international air travel baggage liability, airlines are liable for baggage delays up to approximately 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) — equivalent to about $1,700 USD in 2024. This is not automatic compensation — it applies to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred because of the delay. You must document and claim these expenses.

In the EU, Regulation EC 261/2004 supplements the Montreal Convention for flights operated by EU carriers or departing EU airports. Airlines must provide vouchers for essential items — toiletries, clothing — when baggage is delayed on international routes. Keep all receipts for replacement purchases of essential items. "Essential items" is interpreted broadly: underwear, basic clothing, toiletries, and any medications that were in the checked bag are all claimable.

In the U.S., DOT regulations require airlines to pay a minimum $200 per person for delayed bags on domestic routes (as of 2024 rule updates) without requiring passengers to itemize expenses. For international routes, the Montreal Convention limit applies. Always request reimbursement in writing — airlines sometimes deny verbal requests that they would honor in response to a formal written claim with documentation.

For permanently lost bags (declared lost after 21 days of delay), the Montreal Convention limit applies to the total value of the bag and contents. Crucially, this limit applies regardless of what the bag actually contained. Valuable items — jewelry, electronics, cameras — should never be placed in checked baggage. If you must check valuables, declare the excess value at check-in and pay for excess declared value coverage (offered by most major carriers at a per-bag per-value charge).

Prevention Strategies

Apple AirTags, Tile trackers, and similar Bluetooth tracking devices placed inside checked bags allow you to monitor bag location through your smartphone. The Apple Find My network has hundreds of millions of iPhones acting as passive relays, giving AirTags remarkably dense coverage at airports worldwide. Knowing exactly which airport carousel your bag is at, or confirming it was loaded onto your connection, gives you a significant information advantage when filing a claim.

Baggage insurance is available as a standalone travel insurance add-on or as part of comprehensive travel insurance policies. American Express Platinum card includes baggage insurance up to $2,000 for checked bags on covered trips. Annual travel insurance policies from providers like Allianz, World Nomads, and AXA typically include $1,500 to $3,000 in baggage coverage per trip. For trips involving expensive equipment — camera gear, sports equipment, musical instruments — a standalone insurance endorsement may be worth considering.

Pack smart to reduce the cost of a delayed bag. Essential medications, prescription glasses, electronics, jewelry, and the first night's clothing should always be in your carry-on. A bag that arrives 48 hours late containing only non-essential clothing is an inconvenience; a bag that arrives late containing your heart medication and your work laptop is a crisis. The overhead bin is for everything that genuinely cannot wait.

File a Property Irregularity Report before leaving the baggage claim area. The earlier the trace is initiated, the higher the chance of a same-day recovery. Most delayed bags are found within 24 hours — the immediate filing makes the difference.