What are my rights if my luggage is delayed?

What are my rights if my luggage is delayed? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you are entitled to compensation for reasonable incidental expenses you incur because of your delayed baggage, up to the maximum liability limits, set by statute.

What is considered a baggage delay?

Delayed baggage means your checked luggage has not arrived at your destination on time. It is generally considered to be lost after 21 days for most international airlines and 5-14 days for U.S. carriers.

How likely is it to lose your luggage on a connecting flight?

Luckily, airline luggage is almost never lost, in most cases, it's just delayed. In fact, more than 85% of all airline baggage is just delayed due to late check-in, short times between connecting flights, or unexpected weather conditions. Only 3% of luggage is actually lost or stolen.

How long does it take to get bags and leave airport?

As a rule of thumb, you could probably expect your bags to arrive within 20 to 30 minutes of the plane arriving at the gate but arrival time for checked bags can sometimes be hard to predict.

Can I sue airline for delayed baggage?

Consider filing a lawsuit against the airline in small claims court. Small claims courts handle a wide variety of property-related lawsuits which include lawsuits for lost luggage by an airline. Small claims court is also an affordable and user-friendly way for you to sue an airline for lost or delayed luggage.

How long do airports keep unclaimed baggage?

Typically, airlines will pass the items over to the lost and found department at the arrival airport. The item will be kept for a 90-day holding period, after which it will be donated to charity or a place for sale – in some cases, the item will be destroyed if unclaimed after the holding period.

How much compensation can I get for delayed luggage?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you are entitled to compensation for reasonable incidental expenses you incur because of your delayed baggage, up to the maximum liability limits, set by statute. For U.S. domestic flights, this is $3,800 per passenger.

Why is my delayed luggage taking so long?

Airport baggage procedures can be complex at large hubs, so waiting 30 to 45 minutes for bags can be normal. Luggage can come in waves from a single flight as well, so just because your suitcase didn't arrive initially doesn't necessarily mean it's lost. Patience goes a long way in times like these.

Which airlines are worst for losing luggage?

How long should you wait for luggage?

How Long Does It Usually Take To Get Checked Luggage After Landing? While it varies per airline and airport, in general, passengers can expect to pick up their checked luggage anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes after arrival. Of course, this will depend on a variety of things.

Do Airlines compensate for delayed baggage?

Under DOT regulations (for domestic travel) and international treaties (for international travel), airlines are required to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed, or lost.

Can someone else pickup my luggage at the airport?

Passengers may return to the airport to pick up their item or may approve someone else, in writing, to do so. Items can be shipped back to the owner at the owner's expense.

How do I know if my luggage will be transferred?

Airlines will transfer your checked bags if a codeshare or interline agreement exists between them. You can find out what agreements your airline has by visiting their website.

Which airline has the most delayed luggage?

Which airlines are the worst for lost, delayed or damaged luggage? American, the largest airline in the world, ranked at the top for mishandling luggage, closely followed by economy carrier JetBlue. Here's the list.