Who do I complain to about damaged luggage?


Who do I complain to about damaged luggage?

Steps to Consider if Airline Damaged Your Luggage
You can also consider filing a complaint against the airline with the Department of Transportation. Send the airline a formal complaint letter. Consider filing a lawsuit against the airline in small claims court.


What happens if you complain to an airline?

A Transportation Industry Analyst will forward your complaint to the airline and the airline is required to respond to you and DOT. Once the airline's response is received, a DOT analyst will review your complaint and the airline's response to determine if a violation occurred.


What is the maximum compensation for damaged luggage?

The reimbursement is based on the value of the bag and its depreciation, the DOT says, subject to liability limits. For flights within the United States, the maximum liability for a lost, delayed or damaged bag is $3,500. The limit on international flights, per the Montreal Convention, is about $1,600, the agency says.


Who is responsible for damaged luggage?

Airlines are not responsible for any pre-existing damage to packed items if you improperly packed them. Airlines are not required to cover normal baggage wear and tear, however, airlines will be required to cover the damage they caused to wheels, handles, straps, and other outer components of checked baggage.


Which international airlines lose the most luggage?

The 10 Airlines Most Likely To Lose or Damage Your Luggage
  • Ryanair.
  • Emirates.
  • Alitalia.
  • Etihad.
  • Iberia.
  • Royal Air Maroc.
  • Vueling.
  • British Airways.


Is it worth repairing luggage?

This depends very much on the price of your bag. The more expensive your luggage is, the more likely it is to be worth repairing it. While less expensive bags may be cheaper to just replace. The cost does also depend on the repair, some things are more expensive to replace or fix than others.


What to do with a broken suitcase?

Instead, contact your local recycler to see if they have a bulk pickup program that will offer to recycle your suitcase on your behalf. If that fails, TerraCycle, a consumer-waste recycle program, has its own luggage and travel bag recycling program.


What happens if my suitcase gets damaged?

Airlines are responsible for repairing or reimbursing a passenger for damaged baggage and/or its contents when the damage occurs while the bag is under the airline's control during transportation (subject to maximum limits on liabilities).


What are airlines liable for?

Airline liability
  • International laws for air travel.
  • Death or injury to passengers.
  • Lost or damaged luggage.
  • Delayed passengers and luggage.
  • Missing or damaged luggage.
  • Claiming compensation.


Do airlines have to give you compensation?

There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers. If your flight is experiencing a long delay, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.


Are airlines responsible for damaged items in luggage?

What are airlines' responsibilities when they damage your baggage? Airlines are responsible for repairing or reimbursing a passenger for damaged baggage and/or its contents when the damage occurs while the bag is under the airline's control during transportation (subject to maximum limits on liabilities).


How do I file a claim for airline compensation?

Filing a complaint with an airline or a ticket agent.
There may be a form on the airline's website for this purpose. Often, you may also email or write to the airline or ticket agent's consumer office at its headquarters.


Do airlines pay compensation?

According to the DOT, airlines are not required to provide money or other compensation when flights get delayed, regardless of how late they are. However, when a “significant delay” takes place, passengers may receive refunds for seat selection fees or checked baggage fees.


What happens if TSA destroys your luggage?

If you have experienced a loss or damage to your property and you feel that this loss or damage occurred as a direct result of negligence by a TSA employee, you may file a claim with TSA. If you feel the loss or damage was due to the negligence of your air carrier, please file a claim directly with the air carrier.


Do airlines give compensation?

In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are “bumped” from a flight that is oversold.


When can I ask for flight compensation?

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late. Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.