What are my rights for a lost baggage?

A bag is generally declared 'lost' after 5–14 days of being delayed (the threshold varies by airline). At that point, you are entitled to a settlement for the depreciated value of your belongings.

What must the airline do for a lost baggage?

For domestic baggage, airlines may limit liability to $4,700 per passenger under 14 CFR 254.4. This is not an automatic payout; documented loss, depreciation and applicable conditions matter.

What should I know about lost baggage compensation?

For Montreal-covered international baggage, the liability limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger. The dollar equivalent changes; coverage and documented loss must be checked.

Lost Baggage Claims & Airline Liability

A bag declared lost after days of delay entitles you to a settlement — but only if you submit a complete, documented claim. Here is how to do it right.

Generate Lost Baggage Complaint

Your Rights Under US Rules

What US Department of Transportation rules and airline commitments say for this situation. Use it to frame your request and escalate if needed.

A bag is generally declared 'lost' after 5–14 days of being delayed (the threshold varies by airline). At that point, you are entitled to a settlement for the depreciated value of your belongings.
For domestic baggage, airlines may limit liability to $4,700 per passenger under 14 CFR 254.4. This is not an automatic payout; documented loss, depreciation and applicable conditions matter.
For Montreal-covered international baggage, the liability limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger. The dollar equivalent changes; coverage and documented loss must be checked.

Sources: DOT: Refunds · DOT: Fly Rights · DOT: Airline Customer Service Dashboard · 14 CFR Part 260

Last reviewed October 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice; rules and airline commitments change.

What to say to the airline

Keep the request factual, specific, and supported by the records you saved.

If your bag has been delayed beyond the airline's 'lost' threshold, formally request in writing that the status be escalated from 'delayed' to 'lost.'

Submit a detailed contents inventory with every item listed, along with purchase dates and estimated current depreciated value.

If the settlement offer is below the actual value of your belongings, counter with your documented inventory and ask for a written explanation of their depreciation methodology.

Avoid: Do not accept the first settlement offer without submitting a full contents inventory — initial offers are typically low.

Avoid: Do not discard the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) number from the airport — it is required to file the formal lost baggage claim.

Ready to build a documented claim?

Don't start from scratch. Build a clear complaint around your timeline, evidence, requested remedy, and applicable rules.

Start Your Message