With images of stacked lost bags covering the floor of British airports recently thanks to staff shortages, more and more flyers are getting to their destinations to find that their checked luggage hasn’t joined them on their plane. Knowing what to do next can be a little stressful and confusing, so here’s our guide for what you must do if you’re waiting for luggage that isn’t arriving at the baggage carousel.

What should I do if my luggage is missing at the airport? 

What you must do if your suitcase or bag hasn’t arrived 

Go straight to your airline’s help desk. If you can’t see it, or if you’re not sure whether your airline has a desk at your arrival airport, then ask a member of staff to point you to the lost luggage desk. Here, you’ll be asked to fill out a PIR (Property Irregularity Report), which will ask questions about your flight, your bag, and its contents. It’ll also ask where you’re staying, so your bag can be returned to you at your destination. The staff will walk you through what happens next.

The key is not to panic! Most bags are found and returned to you within a couple of days and are usually delivered to where you’re staying.

(Tip: if the airline offers to let you wait at the airport or come back for your luggage, politely decline. Get them to deliver your luggage to where you’re staying to reduce stress on your part!)

Luggage is tracked throughout its airport journey and is usually located pretty easily by airlines. Chances are it just didn’t make it to the plane on time. While you’re waiting for your bag to arrive, some airlines provide you with compensation for basic items such as change of clothes and toiletries. Check with your airline to see what you’re entitled to.

What if my luggage is lost? What compensation am I entitled to?

What to do if your airline has officially declared your belongings as ‘lost’

Airlines don’t class luggage as ‘lost’ until it’s been missing for 21 days. Until then, it’s classed as ‘delayed’. As mentioned previously, in most cases, airlines are great at getting your luggage back to you in good time. However, sometimes the luggage really is lost. If the airline has officially classed your checked luggage as ‘lost’, you can proceed to get compensated for your missing belongings. Unfortunately, the standard compensation you receive here in the UK really isn’t that great. You’re entitled for an amount up to £1,000 thanks to the Montreal Convention, but the amount received is almost never this high. The airline will contact you about what was in the bag and may ask you to prove ownership over your belongings.

It’s important to say that airlines are unlikely to compensate for:

• ‘New for old’ for anything lost/damaged
• Anything valuable, fragile, or perishable
• If your luggage was faulty (e.g. broken zips, ripped).

In the UK, you can read more about what you’re entitled to on the Citizens Advice website, but essentially, your airline will walk you through your procedure, and don’t be afraid to escalate if you feel you aren’t being treated fairly. If individual items are missing from your luggage rather than the whole case, then you have up to 7 days after the flight to claim these items are missing. But again, remember that airlines rarely pay much for lost luggage. For more peace of mind, we recommend you get a good travel insurance package that provides compensation for lost luggage. You’re likely to get a lot more than just what the airline is willing to pay.

If you’re currently sat at the airport and your bag just isn’t arriving, then remember that you are protected, and the most likely scenario is that your luggage will be returned to where you’re staying within a few days. Head to the help desk and let your airline talk you through the next steps. It happens a lot, and they will be trained to deal with this quickly.

Our best tips for when your luggage is missing

• Ask your airline to bring the bag to you! Don’t take their offer to come back or wait!
• Get a travel insurance plan that provides better compensation for lost or damaged luggage.
• Have a list of your luggage’s contents handy
• Never pack valuables such as laptops, phones, important medication, and travel documents in your checked luggage, always carry it into the cabin with you.
• Make sure your suitcase or bag is securely fastened, is easily identifiable, and zips, clips, etc. aren’t damaged.