If you've had a successful flight and made it to the other side to await your bag's arrival, the last thing you expect is your baggage to be damaged. But unfortunately, it happens! This is why we have created a useful guide to tell you exactly what to do when you discover your baggage is damaged.
As soon as you have noticed your baggage is damaged, it would help if you documented it. This can be done with clear photos and videos of the damage from multiple angles so that the damage is clearly visible when being assessed. Once you've collected your bag, navigate towards a baggage desk within the baggage claim area and report the damage to a member of staff.
Following arrival at the airport, a claim will also need to be made directly to the airline within 7 days to be valid. When first making the airline aware at the airport, they will form a Property Irregularity Report, which you will then need to keep a copy of for future reference. When contacting the airline at home, it's important to mention the PIR within your claim. The airline will then likely ask for evidence in the form of receipts and statements to prove that the bag itself and contents in your damaged baggage were the value that you say they were.
If you have taken out a travel insurance policy before your trip, this may be the perfect time to use it. Airlines can be tricky and don't always cover the cost of your damaged baggage, however, insurance policies can pull through. There will likely be a certain period between when the damage happened and when the insurance claim can be made so the sooner it is filed, the better the chances of recovering the funds.
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Just like damaged baggage, lost baggage isn't ideal. With Alternative Airlines, you can add 'Lost Baggage Protection' during the checkout process to give yourself peace of mind if the worst were to happen. For more information on what exactly is covered, click the button below.
We’re super proud of our Trustpilot rating, but don’t just take it from us. See why millions of others love booking their flights through Alternative Airlines
The process for a baggage damage claim can vary depending on different factors. The airline that was involved, the amount of damage caused, seasonality and peak travel periods, and the type of documentation that's collected. In general, it takes multiple weeks for a baggage damage claim to be resolved.
Dealing with lost baggage is a very similar process to when baggage is damaged. The first thing to do is report the lost baggage to the desk in the baggage claim area, this will get the process of retrieving your bag started. Make sure you obtain a Property Regularity Report and provide up-to-date contact details so they can contact you when your luggage is found. Be sure to keep following up with the airline to get updates on the whereabouts of your lost luggage.
Yes, you can claim for damaged baggage as this was the responsibility of the airline. The amount you can claim back will depend on the airline and the length of time it takes to resolve the issue can vary.
The amount the airline will reimburse you for your lost or damaged luggage will depend on the specific airline involved. Generally speaking, the airline will reimburse between 10 and 30% of the purchase price each year.
