What to Do If Your Baggage Is Lost at the Airport

What should you do if your baggage is lost and your suitcase never appears on the carousel? The most important thing is not to rush out of the airport. In most cases, baggage is not permanently lost – it may simply have been delayed during a transfer, sorting, or loading. Taking the right steps immediately after arrival can make the search much easier.

What to Do If Your Baggage Is Lost: 7 Steps

1Check Other Baggage Claim Areas

Before reporting your baggage as missing, check nearby carousels and the Oversized Baggage area. Your suitcase may have been sent to another carousel by mistake or placed separately because of its size.

2Do Not Leave the Airport Without Filing a Report

If your baggage is still missing, find the Baggage Service / Lost & Found desk of your airline or its ground handling agent. It is best to do this while you are still in the baggage claim area. IATA also recommends reporting missing checked baggage before leaving the airport.

3File a PIR

At the service desk, ask to complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) – the document used to officially record a baggage issue. You will usually need your boarding pass, baggage tag, and contact details.

Make sure to keep the case reference number. You will need it to track the status of your baggage and communicate with the airline.

4Describe Your Suitcase as Accurately as Possible

Simply saying “a large black suitcase” may not be enough. Provide the brand, approximate size, material, colour, stickers, straps, or any other distinctive details.

A useful travel tip for the future is to take a photo of your suitcase before checking it in. A single photo can make identification much easier.

If there is an AirTag or another Bluetooth tracker inside your suitcase, show the airline representative its latest known location. However, do not attempt to access restricted airport areas on your own.

5Ask How Your Baggage Will Be Returned

Find out how you can track your case and whether the airline will deliver the suitcase to your address once it is found. Check that your phone number, email address, hotel, or other place of stay has been recorded correctly.

This is especially important if you are continuing your journey and will be staying in another city the following day.

6Keep Receipts for Essential Purchases

If you need to buy toiletries, basic clothing, or other essential items while waiting for your baggage, keep all receipts. You may need them when requesting reimbursement from the airline.

Avoid buying expensive items unnecessarily, as the airline may assess whether the expenses were reasonable and essential.

7Submit a Written Claim

A PIR records the baggage problem, but it does not always replace a formal claim to the airline. Once your suitcase has been returned, check the carrier’s rules and, if necessary, submit a written request for reimbursement.

Important: if your baggage was delayed, a written claim must generally be submitted no later than 21 days from the date the baggage was returned to you. This deadline is provided for under the Montreal Convention and is also applied within European air carrier liability rules.

Do not delay your claim, and keep your PIR, baggage tag, boarding pass, and receipts for essential purchases – they may be needed as supporting documents.

What You Should Keep

• your boarding pass;
• baggage tag;
• a copy or reference number of the PIR;
• correspondence with the airline;
• a photo of your suitcase;
• receipts for essential purchases.

How to Reduce the Risk Before Your Next Flight

Before departure, take a photo of your suitcase and baggage tag, place your contact details inside the suitcase, and keep important documents, medication, and electronics in your hand luggage.

It is also worth checking your fare’s baggage rules in advance – you can find more practical tips in our article “How to avoid paying extra for luggage”.

Conclusion

If you are unsure what to do when your baggage is lost, remember the most important rule: do not leave the airport until the issue has been officially reported. File a PIR, keep all relevant documents and receipts, and then track your case through the airline. In most cases, delayed baggage is eventually located and returned to its owner.

And if you want to feel more confident even in the event of baggage delays or other unexpected travel situations, fill out our short form – the Persey Travel team will help you choose the right flights, accommodation, and travel insurance, and prepare your trip with fewer unnecessary risks.