Under the Montreal Convention, you can claim compensation if your checked laggage fails to arrive on time or is damaged. Although, air carriers differ in their approach to offering compensation, you may be required to prove the extent of the loss, e.g. with receipts or invoices.
The Montreal Convention simply limits the air carrier’s liability to 1,131 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger (the value of the SDR is calculated on a daily basis by the International Monetary Fund, 1 SDR is approximately 1.24 EUR as of April 19th, 2016) but does not provide for guidelines as per how to calculate the amount of compensation to be awarded in each individual case.
Delayed/Lost Laggage
- Complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the relevant laggage claims desk, typically located in the laggage reclaim area. Provide details of your bag and keep a copy for yourself;
- Keep your boarding card and the laggage tags;
- Enquire about the air carrier’s daily allowance policy, if applicable;
- Request the contact details of the laggage department and ask if there is any online tracer system available to check the status of your bag;
- Keep receipts for all necessary expenses resulting from the delay of your bag;
- Lodge written complaint to air carrier.
Presenting complaint
For Delayed luggage you have 21 days from the date on which your bag was eventually delivered to submit a written claim for compensation. Remember to keep a copy of your letter for your records and to enclose copies of the relevant documentation, e.g. copy of the laggage tags, PIR, booking confirmation and receipts.
Checked laggage is considered ‘lost’ if it has not arrived at the end of 21 days from the date it was supposed to have arrived. You can then write to the airline to claim compensation. You have to prove the extent of the loss, up to 1,131 SDR. In order to avoid unnecessary delays, we recommend you to enclose with your letter copies of your booking confirmation, boarding card, laggage tags, PIR a list of contains and supportive receipts for the items lost. Please note that under the Montreal Convention, claims must be brought within two years.
Damaged laggage
Under the Montreal Convention you only have 7 days from the date of the receipt of the damaged luggage to submit a written claim for compensation. Remember to keep a copy of your letter for your records and to enclose copies of the relevant documentation, e.g. copy of the baggage tags, PIR, booking confirmation and receipts.
Under the Montreal Convention you can claim up to 1,131 SDR if your checked laggage is damaged or destroyed, although this amount is not awarded automatically and you may be required to prove the extent of the loss, e.g. receipts for damaged items.
