While the vast majority of airline passengers’ checked bags arrive at their destination on time and in the condition received, a passengers’ bag may occasionally become damaged, delayed, or lost in transit. 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. You can find tips on how to pack, check-in, and claim your luggage to minimize the chance of damage, delay, or loss in DOT’s Fly Rights publication here. 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). Airlines are not responsible for pre-existing damage to the bag or if the
damage was caused by improper packing. When the damage to the bag cannot be repaired, airlines will negotiate a compensation amount based on the value of the bag and its depreciation. Can the airlines exclude liability for certain items? Airlines often exclude liability for certain categories of items (for example: fragile items, electronics, cash, perishable items, other valuables, etc.). These exclusions are typically
listed in the airlines’ contracts of carriage. For DOMESTIC travel, airlines are not required to compensate passengers for items they have excluded in their contracts of carriage. For INTERNATIONAL travel (including the domestic segment of an international itinerary), airlines are responsible for these items if they have accepted them for transportation. This applies even if passengers
did not disclose, when they checked-in, that these items were packed in the bag. Passengers may wish to consider purchasing additional insurance for valuable items. What about damage to the wheels, handles, or straps of baggage?
Delayed BaggageWhat should a passenger do if his or her bag is missing after taking a flight
What are airlines’ responsibilities when your bag is delayed?
Lost BaggageWhen does an airline consider a bag lost?
What are the airlines’ responsibilities when your bag is lost?
Limits on Baggage LiabilityDomestic Baggage Liability
International Baggage Liability
Assistive DevicesAn assistive device is any piece of equipment that assists a passenger with a disability in coping with the effects of his or her disability. These devices are intended to assist passengers with a disability to hear, see, communicate, maneuver, or perform other functions of daily life. Assistive devices include (but are not limited to):
Note: If you are not sure if your device is an assistive device, contact your airline’s disability or special assistance desk.
DOT Relaunches Air Consumer WebsiteLast updated: Thursday, May 27, 2021 What happens if my checked bag doesn't arrive?When a checked bag does not arrive at its destination, airlines are responsible for locating the bag. Airlines have tracking systems in place to try to identify the bag's location.
How long do airlines keep unclaimed baggage?If after this time the owners have still not claimed their baggage, it will be shipped off to a central warehouse operated by the airline. After 60 days in storage, the unclaimed baggage and all its contents will either be donated to a charity or sold to the public.
What happens if I leave my bag at the airport?TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property.
Do airlines pay you if they lose your bag?Airlines must compensate passengers for lost bags
Per U.S. regulations, airlines must compensate passengers for lost, delayed or damaged luggage, up to a limit. If your bag is declared lost: The airline must compensate you for the bag's contents, subject to depreciation, up to a preset maximum.
|