Who is responsible for lost luggage?


Who is responsible for lost luggage? 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.


How do I get compensated for lost baggage?

File a claim with the airline for compensation. Include receipts and documents for the contents of your luggage as well as for any expenses resulting from the loss of your bags, such as replacement items.


Can I sue airline for lost luggage?

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.


Why is all the luggage getting lost?

Why Do Airlines Lose Luggage? As with anything, accidents do happen. The leading cause of lost luggage is the mishandling of the bags between flights or from the sorting office to your airplane. Depending on the airport you fly out of, the actual sorting of luggage is done by a robot or workers.


How much compensation do you get for lost 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.


Can I track my lost luggage?

Visit your airline's website and go to the “Tracked Baggage” page. Sign into your account on your airline's website, and go to the “Baggage” section of the website. Then, click on “Track Checked Baggage.”


Do airlines pay you if they lose your bag?

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.


How long is lost luggage kept?

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.


Where does lost luggage end up?

Unclaimed baggage left at the airport is ultimately auctioned or sold at a lost luggage store like the mega-center in Scottsboro, Alabama. Only there's one catch, sometimes it isn't abandoned or unclaimed luggage that ends up there – it may be your lost luggage.


What happens if someone steals your luggage at the airport?

Travelers who suspect they were a victim of stolen luggage should immediately notify their airline of the situation. A stolen luggage report can also be filed with the airport police, in the event your property is recovered on baggage handlers or other employees.


Who pays for stolen luggage?

Airlines are legally required to compensate you for lost items and any baggage fees you paid.


What happens if someone took my luggage?

For stolen items, you'll need to report the theft to the police as soon as reasonably possible after it occurs, and get written evidence that you've reported it to the police such as a written police report. You'll also need a police report for lost items, unless the loss was by a third party (such as an airline).