Delayed Baggage: Step by Step Guide
If your checked baggage has been delivered to you within 21 days, then:
- Immediately upon delivery, inspect it for damage. If damage is found, you must complain to the airline in writing within 7 days. See Damaged Baggage for further steps, and
- within 21 days of receiving your checked baggage, you must complain to the airline in writing.
- Next Step:Within 21 days of receiving your baggage: complain in writing
If your checked baggage has not been delivered to you within 21 days, then it is deemed to be lost for the purpose of compensation. See Lost Baggage for further steps.
Within 21 Days of Receiving Your Baggage: Complain in Writing
Deadline and Form of Complaint
- You must complain in writing to the airline about delay of your checked baggage within 21 days of getting it.
- Complaint in writing means: email, fax, or registered mail.
- Keep all records about the transmission and delivery of your written complaint.
To whom to Complain
- The complaint must be sent to one or both of the following airlines:
- the airline that checked in your baggage (“first carrier”), and
- the last airline that handled your baggage (“last carrier”).
Content of the Complaint
- Your written complaint should contain sufficient information to allow the airline to identify you and your bag:
- Your name, mailing address, and email address.
- Details of your travel: date(s), airline(s) involved, and flight number(s).
- Baggage tag number(s).
- Date and time when your baggage was delivered to you.
- Copy or scan of your Baggage Irregularity Report, if you filed one at the airport, or evidence of your being unable to do so.
- Copy or scan of your itinerary, boarding passes, and baggage identification tags (if available).
- A table containing the date, description, and amount of all your expenses.
- Copies or scans of all receipts supporting the expenses in the table.
- An affidavit or witnessed declaration supporting the expenses in the table for which no receipt is available.
- Sample Complaint - Domestic Itinerary
- Sample Complaint - International Itinerary