Baggage
Delayed, damaged or lost luggage
Baggage is not covered by EU261 at all. A different treaty applies — the Montreal Convention — and it works on receipts rather than fixed amounts.
File the report before you leave the airport
Ask the baggage desk for a Property Irregularity Report and keep the reference. Without it, airlines routinely refuse later claims. If you have already left, contact the airline in writing within 7 days for damage and 21 days for a delayed bag.
What you can claim
The Montreal Convention caps liability at roughly €1,500 per passenger, covering the value of lost items and reasonable replacement purchases while your bag is missing — clothes, toiletries, a charger. Buy sensibly and keep every receipt; airlines reject luxury replacements.
Deadlines that matter
- Damaged bag: written claim within 7 days of receiving it.
- Delayed bag: within 21 days of the day it was finally delivered.
- Lost bag: a bag missing for 21 days is treated as lost, and you claim its full value.
- Court action: within two years of arrival.
Baggage and flight compensation are separate
If your flight was also delayed three hours or more, claim both. The EU261 payment for the delay and the baggage claim under the Montreal Convention do not offset each other.
Quick answer
Baggage is not covered by EU261 at all. A different treaty applies — the Montreal Convention — and it works on receipts rather than fixed amounts.
- Jurisdiction
- International journeys
- Primary rule
- Montreal Convention 1999
- Payment basis
- Special Drawing Rights
- Assessment
- Depends on route, disruption and cause
Common questions
- Do I need travel insurance to claim?
- No. The airline is liable under the treaty. Insurance can top up beyond the cap, but the first claim goes to the airline.
- How much detail do they want about what was in the bag?
- An itemised list with approximate values and any receipts you still have. Photos of the packed bag help.
- My bag arrived three days late on holiday. What can I buy?
- Reasonable essentials — clothing, toiletries, a swimsuit. Keep receipts and submit them with the claim.
Primary sources
Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.