What should I do immediately when my luggage doesn't arrive?

Go directly to the Lost & Found desk and fill out the PIR form. This is the single most important document for any lost baggage compensation claim. Without it, you have practically no proof.

How much compensation can I get for lost luggage?

Since December 2024, the maximum is roughly 1,900 EUR (1,519 SDR) per person under the Montreal Convention. Valuables like laptops and jewelry are typically excluded from coverage.

What are the deadlines for filing a luggage claim?

7 days for damaged bags, 21 days for delayed luggage refund claims. After 21 days without your suitcase, it counts as officially lost. You can file a lawsuit up to two years after your flight.

Is Flightright or AirHelp worth it for lost luggage claims?

For straightforward cases, probably not. They take 28 to 35 percent commission. Germany's free Aviation Arbitration Board handles most cases just as well, without any fees.

How can I prevent luggage loss?

Photograph your suitcase and contents before traveling, put a GPS tracker inside, and attach distinctive luggage tags. This helps you locate your bag faster if something goes wrong, and helps you avoid the common airport baggage mistakes that keep catching travelers off guard.

Lost Luggage? 5 Steps to Get Compensation 2026

Airlines mishandled 33.4 million bags globally in 2024. According to SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025, that's 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers. If your luggage just went missing, here's what you need to know: since December 2024, you're entitled to up to 1,900 EUR in lost baggage compensation. But only if you do the right things, right now. Last updated: May 2026

Take a breath. The next steps matter a lot, and they're simpler than you think.

Quick answer: Go straight to Lost & Found and fill out the PIR form. Keep all receipts. For damaged bags you have 7 days, for delayed bags 21 days to file in writing. You're entitled to up to 1,900 EUR compensation under the Montreal Convention.

1. File a PIR Form at the Airport Immediately

Go straight to the Lost & Found desk. Don't go home first. Don't "deal with it tomorrow."

You need to fill out a PIR (Property Irregularity Report). This is your proof that the airline lost your bag. Without it, your claim is basically dead, as one Kofferly reader found out the hard way in New York. You'll get a reference number to track your luggage through the WorldTracer system.

2. Buy Essentials and Keep Every Receipt

Your bag didn't arrive at your destination? You're standing there with nothing to wear? Go buy what you need. Underwear, toiletries, the basics. The airline has to reimburse you. You're entitled to a refund of all necessary emergency purchases.

One thing that trips people up: this only applies when your bag is lost on the outbound flight. Lost on the way home? No emergency purchase claims. You're going home anyway. Save every single receipt, including the one for the 3-euro toothbrush.

3. Lost Luggage: Know Your Deadlines and Claim Compensation

This is where most people lose their money.

The deadlines are short and they are strictly enforced. According to the German Consumer Association:

Damaged luggage: You have 7 days from the day you got your bag back
Delayed luggage: File a claim within 21 days of receiving your bag
Lost luggage: After 21 days with no bag, it's officially considered lost

Miss the 7-day window for damage claims and you lose your right to compensation entirely. No exceptions. Travel law expert Prof. Dr. Fuehrich warns explicitly about this. File via email with read confirmation or registered mail. A phone call doesn't count. For a real-world look at what missing these deadlines actually costs, see our Barcelona lost luggage story (Coming Soon).

If your bag is officially lost after 21 days with no news: send a written request for a formal loss confirmation from the airline. You'll need this for any further damaged luggage airport claim or legal action.

Under the Montreal Convention, updated by ICAO on December 28, 2024, the maximum compensation for baggage loss is 1,519 SDR, roughly 1,900 EUR per person.

4. Airline Won't Pay? Free Arbitration Exists

Tried everything after your luggage went missing and the airline still won't pay?

Many travelers jump straight to claim portals like Flightright or AirHelp. Those charge 28 to 35 percent commission, even when the case is clear-cut.

Save yourself the money: Germany's Aviation Arbitration Board at the Federal Office of Justice is completely free and has solid success rates. The only requirement: you need to have contacted the airline directly first and waited at least two months.

5. Prevent It: Photo Your Bag and Use a Tracker

So it doesn't happen to you like it does to so many travelers (lost luggage and no idea what to do): photograph your suitcase and its contents before every trip. Best to do it right while you're packing. Sounds like a hassle, takes 30 seconds, and it's your strongest evidence when things go wrong. The ADAC recommends exactly this.

Want extra peace of mind? A Apple AirTag 4er Pack or budget-friendly ATUVOS Air Tag Schlüsselfinder 4er Pack, Smart Tracker kompatibel mit Apple Wo ist? App (nur iOS) inside your luggage shows you exactly where your bag is in real time (see our GPS tracker in luggage test (Coming Soon)). AirTags and similar trackers are now permitted by almost all major airlines (Coming Soon), including in checked bags. Add Teskyer Kofferanhänger, 3 Stück - langlebig, weich, auffällig, Schutz der Privatsphäre, PU-Leder with your contact details so the suitcase can find its way back to you without the airline's help.

If things do go wrong anyway: you now know exactly what to do.