Delayed Baggage: What to Do, What You Can Claim and How to File

You wait at the carousel until the last bag goes round and the belt stops. Yours isn’t there. A delayed bag is by far the most common baggage problem — and in most cases, it turns up within a day or two. Here’s what to do right away, what you can claim while you wait, and how to make sure you’re reimbursed.

The short answer

If your bag is delayed: report it at the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the airport and get a file reference (Property Irregularity Report). Buy only reasonable essentials and keep all receipts. Once your bag arrives, submit a written claim within 21 days. Most bags are returned within 48 hours; airlines usually deliver them to you.

How common are delayed bags?

According to SITA’s 2025 Baggage IT Insights report, the global rate of mishandled bags fell to 6.3 per 1,000 passengers in 2024, and delayed bags make up the large majority of mishandled baggage. Most are resolved within 48 hours. So while it’s stressful, the odds are strongly in your favour. The first 24 hours after your bag goes missing.

Step 1: Report it at the airport

Go to the airline’s baggage services desk (not the airport information desk) before you leave. Bring:

• Your boarding pass and baggage tag receipt (usually stuck to your boarding pass or ticket).
• A description of the bag: colour, brand, size, distinguishing features.
• An address where the bag can be delivered and a phone number.

You’ll receive a file reference number — keep it safe.

Step 2: Describe your bag well

Detail	Example
Type	Hard-shell spinner suitcase
Colour	Navy blue
Size	Medium, about 65 cm
Brand	If visible
Distinguishing features	Yellow strap, QR tag on handle, sticker on side
Contents highlights	Grey jacket, running shoes, red toiletry bag

The more distinctive the description, the faster staff can match it. How to make your luggage stand out.

Step 3: Buy essentials — carefully

Airlines generally reimburse reasonable interim expenses: toiletries, underwear, a basic change of clothes, phone charger, medication replacements. They won’t reimburse luxury purchases or full wardrobe replacements.

• Ask the airline desk about their daily limit or policy.
• Keep every receipt.
• Buy what you genuinely need for the delay.

Step 4: Track your bag

Use the airline’s online baggage tracking with your reference. Many airlines use SITA’s WorldTracer system. If you have an AirTag or similar tracker, you may be able to share its location with the airline — here’s how to share an AirTag location with an airline.

Step 5: Submit your claim within 21 days

Once the bag arrives, submit a written claim within 21 days under the Montreal Convention. Include:

• Your file reference.
• Receipts for interim expenses.
• Your boarding pass and baggage tag.
• Bank details for reimbursement.

If the bag or contents arrived damaged, the deadline for damage claims is 7 days.

If the bag doesn’t turn up

If your bag hasn’t arrived after 21 days, it can be treated as lost, and you can claim for its value and contents. Lost luggage compensation explained.

Other things you may be entitled to

• Bag fee refunds: in some places, including under US rules introduced in 2024, airlines must refund checked-bag fees when bags are significantly delayed.
• Travel insurance: many policies include delayed baggage cover, sometimes paying out after a set number of hours. Check your policy.
• Credit card benefits: some cards include baggage delay cover.

How to make delays less painful next time

• Pack a change of clothes, medication and essentials in your carry-on.
• Photograph your bag and its contents before you travel.
• Use a distinctive tag and a way for staff to contact you.
• Add a tracker if you like.

The bottom line

A delayed bag is usually a temporary inconvenience. Report it before leaving the airport, buy only essentials and keep receipts, track your file, and submit your claim within 21 days. And make your bag easy to identify and return.

With TagTrek, your suitcase carries a printed QR tag. Switch it to Lost mode as soon as the bag is missing, and when airline staff or anyone else scans it, they can contact you instantly — no app needed. You’ll get a scan alert with the city where it was scanned.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Policies vary by airline and route.