If your checked bag does not arrive in India, report it to the airline immediately and obtain a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Keep your baggage tag, boarding pass and report reference, then submit a written claim for any expenses or loss. Do not assume that opening a tracing report automatically completes your compensation claim.
The deadlines depend on what happened: a bag that arrives late, a damaged suitcase and baggage that never arrives are different claims. Domestic and international compensation limits also differ.
Quick answer: Report missing baggage before leaving arrivals whenever possible. For international travel covered by the Montreal Convention, complain in writing about damage within 7 days of receiving the bag, and about delay within 21 days after the bag is placed at your disposal. A separate rule allows a lost-baggage claim when the airline admits loss or the bag remains missing after 21 days from when it should have arrived.
Do not wait 21 days to report a missing suitcase.
On This Page
- What to do at the airport
- Lost and delayed baggage claim deadlines
- How much compensation can you receive?
- Claiming expenses while your bag is delayed
- Airline policies and conflicting figures
- Proof and documents for your claim
- What to do if the airline refuses payment
- Recovery chances and airline comparisons
- Frequently asked questions
What Should You Do When Your Bag Does Not Arrive?
Go to the airline’s baggage services desk in the arrival hall. Explain that your checked suitcase is missing and ask staff to open a tracing report.
- Obtain a PIR: keep a photograph or copy showing the report number.
- Check the details: confirm your flight, baggage tag number, bag description and contact information.
- Provide a usable delivery address: include your hotel or current accommodation and tell the airline if you will move elsewhere.
- Ask how to track progress: obtain the official tracking link and baggage team contact details.
- Ask about essential purchases: request written guidance on reimbursement and the claim submission process.
- Send a written follow-up: record what happened and retain the airline’s acknowledgment.
What if you have already left the airport?
Contact the airline immediately through its official baggage support channel. Provide your baggage tag, flight details and an explanation of when you discovered the problem. Ask how to register the report remotely.
Leaving without a PIR can make the evidence harder to establish, but it does not automatically mean every legal right has disappeared. Do not abandon the claim simply because you missed the airport desk.
Is a PIR the same as a compensation claim?
Do not assume so. A PIR primarily records the baggage problem and starts tracing. Submit a separate written request identifying the reimbursement or compensation you seek, with supporting documents. Save confirmation that the airline received it.
Lost Baggage Claim Time Limits: Which Deadline Applies?
The following international deadlines apply to carriage covered by the Montreal Convention. India’s domestic framework also applies adapted Third Schedule rules; submit domestic complaints promptly and check the conditions attached to your journey.
| Problem | Relevant timing | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Bag missing on arrival | Report immediately | Open a PIR and start written follow-up. |
| Damaged checked baggage | Written complaint within 7 days of receipt | Report as soon as damage is discovered; photograph it. |
| Delayed baggage | Written complaint within 21 days after the bag is placed at your disposal | Submit your expense claim promptly with receipts. |
| Bag remains missing | Airline admits loss, or 21 days expire after the bag should have arrived | Request settlement as lost baggage and submit an inventory. |
| Legal action under the Convention | Generally within 2 years of arrival, expected arrival or the stopping of carriage | Obtain advice early; this does not replace the shorter written-complaint deadlines. |
The distinction between the complaint deadlines is also explained by the Canadian Transportation Agency’s baggage claims guidance.
Why are there two different 21-day rules?
One concerns a suitcase that is still missing. The other concerns the deadline to complain about a delay after the bag becomes available. They do not start on the same date.
For example, if your suitcase arrives several days after your flight, do not calculate the delay-complaint deadline simply from your original landing date. Submit the claim immediately after receiving the bag, retaining evidence of when it became available.
The underlying rules appear in Articles 17, 31 and 35 of the Montreal Convention text reproduced in Canada’s Carriage by Air Act.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for Lost Baggage?
A liability limit is a ceiling, not an automatic payout. The amount depends on the applicable rules, evidence of loss and any valid defences or exceptions. A claim for an old suitcase and used clothing is not automatically valued at the cost of buying everything brand new.
| Journey | Ordinary baggage liability ceiling | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic carriage covered by India’s adapted Third Schedule rules | ₹25,000 per passenger | Subject to the governing rules and exceptions; not ₹25,000 automatically for each suitcase. |
| International carriage covered by the Montreal Convention | 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger | Effective December 28, 2024; the rupee equivalent changes with exchange rates. |
The domestic figure comes from Notification S.O. 3129(E), dated August 22, 2019, which sets the baggage limit for destruction, loss, damage or delay. It also provides for a special declaration of interest made when handing over checked baggage, with any required supplementary payment. See the government notification.
For international journeys, ICAO confirms the revised 1,519 SDR limit. The ceiling applies per passenger across covered baggage claims; it is not a fresh allowance for every bag or each type of inconvenience.
Higher recovery can be possible through a valid special declaration or a legally applicable exception. Simply writing a high value on a claim form after the bag disappears does not create a higher declared-value entitlement.
What are the DGCA rules for delayed baggage?
There is no single flat “DGCA delayed baggage payment” that every passenger receives for every delay. Baggage claims depend on the Carriage by Air Act, applicable notifications or international rules, and lawful airline conditions.
Do not confuse compensation for a delayed flight with reimbursement for delayed luggage. They involve different losses and claim requirements.
Do Airlines Pay for Clothes and Toiletries During a Baggage Delay?
You can seek reimbursement for reasonable, necessary expenses caused by the delay. Basic toiletries, underwear and essential clothing are more readily explained than luxury shopping or replacing your entire wardrobe.
There is no universal promise that every airline in India must immediately give you ₹2,000, ₹3,000 or ₹5,000. Ask the carrier whether it offers an advance, an essentials kit or reimbursement after receipts are submitted.
- Keep itemized receipts and payment records.
- Record why each purchase was necessary.
- Keep spending proportionate to the length and circumstances of the delay.
- Ask for the airline’s reimbursement instructions in writing.
- Submit the written complaint on time even if some supporting documents must follow.
If you have returned home, explain why you still needed the purchases despite having access to belongings there. Your circumstances matter.
For journeys within its jurisdiction, the U.S. Department of Transportation explains that reasonable, verifiable incidental expenses are reimbursable subject to applicable liability limits, and airlines cannot substitute an arbitrary daily cap for their obligations.
Why Do Airline Websites Show Different Compensation Figures?
Airline conditions, older passenger charters and general FAQs can contain different figures. Check the date and the type of carriage before relying on a number.
- Air India: its published conditions state a ₹25,000 limit for delayed or lost checked baggage on non-international carriage, subject to applicable qualifications.
- IndiGo: its published domestic conditions state ₹350 per kilogram, subject to a maximum of ₹25,000 per passenger.
These are descriptions of the airlines’ published terms, not a statement that every contractual restriction overrides the law. If an airline calculates a low settlement by weight, ask it to explain the legal basis and how it applies the domestic notification to your claim.
Sources: Air India Conditions of Carriage and IndiGo Conditions of Carriage.
When does Air India consider a bag lost?
Air India’s baggage support page describes a 21-day tracing period from the PIR date. That operational wording should not be confused with the Montreal Convention’s rule, which counts from when the bag ought to have arrived.
Use the airline’s process, but identify the applicable legal timeline in your written claim. See Air India’s lost and damaged baggage guidance.
What Proof Do You Need for a Lost Luggage Claim?
Organize the evidence into a single folder so you can resend it without reconstructing the whole case.
- Journey: ticket, booking reference, itinerary and boarding pass.
- Checked bag: baggage tag receipt and available check-in records.
- Report: PIR, tracking reference and dated correspondence.
- Suitcase: photographs, brand, identifying details and purchase evidence.
- Contents: an itemized list with approximate purchase dates and values.
- Expenses: receipts for replacement essentials and explanations of necessity.
- Delivery: proof of when the bag was returned or made available.
Can you claim without receipts for every item?
Submit the claim and explain the missing receipts. Offer order histories, card statements, photographs, warranty records or other ownership evidence. Label estimates honestly and distinguish original purchase prices from current values.
Ask the airline what alternative evidence it accepts. Never invent receipts or inflate the contents list.
What should your written claim say?
Subject: Baggage compensation claim — PIR [reference], flight [number], [date]
My checked bag, tag number [number], did not arrive on my journey from [origin] to [destination]. I reported the problem on [date].
The bag [remains missing / became available on date / arrived damaged]. I request [reimbursement of necessary expenses / compensation for the lost bag and contents / compensation for damage].
I attach my travel records, baggage report and itemized supporting evidence. Please acknowledge this written claim and explain the calculation and legal basis of any proposed settlement.
For a longer version, use our lost baggage complaint letter template.
What If the Airline Ignores or Rejects Your Claim?
- Request a written decision: ask which documents are missing and why any items were rejected.
- Escalate within the airline: contact its grievance or nodal officer, followed by the appellate authority where applicable.
- Use AirSewa: submit the report, claim correspondence and disputed response through the government’s aviation grievance portal.
- Contact the National Consumer Helpline: call 1915 or use its official complaint portal.
- Consider formal proceedings: obtain advice about the appropriate forum, evidence and limitation period if the dispute remains unresolved.
Airline escalation contacts and government grievance routes are described in this Ministry of Civil Aviation parliamentary response.
Do not assume that emails, negotiations or a portal complaint stop a legal time limit from running. Read any “full and final settlement” wording before accepting an offer.
What Are the Chances of Getting Your Missing Luggage Back?
A suitcase missing from the carousel is not necessarily permanently lost. Ask the airline whether it has a confirmed location, a forwarding flight or only an open tracing record. Those details are more useful for your case than a general recovery percentage.
Keep your contact details current and share identifying photographs. A tracker location can provide another clue, but it does not replace the airline report or guarantee immediate recovery. See our AirTag baggage tracking guide.
If the suitcase is found, ask whether it will be delivered and whether customs formalities require your involvement. Our guide explains how delayed luggage delivery works.
Which airlines are the worst for losing luggage?
There is no verified, comparable India-wide ranking presented here. Raw complaint totals can be misleading because airlines carry different numbers of passengers and operate different route networks.
A useful comparison needs the same reporting period, consistent definitions and a rate per passenger or checked bag. Social media complaints alone cannot establish which airline loses luggage most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim compensation before 21 days have passed?
You should report the problem and seek necessary delay expenses immediately. You do not need to wait 21 days to start those steps. A final lost-bag claim can also arise sooner if the airline admits the loss.
What if my bag comes back with items missing?
Photograph the bag, locks and contents and report the missing items immediately in writing. Treat the short damage or pilferage complaint deadline as urgent rather than waiting for the delay-claim period. Retain packaging and other evidence.
What if my suitcase arrives broken?
Photograph the damage before repair or disposal and notify the airline promptly. A bag arriving late and damaged can require both issues to be documented. See our damaged baggage compensation guide.
Does an international connection change the rules for an Indian domestic flight?
It can. A domestic sector forming part of an agreed international journey may fall within the international carriage framework. Keep the complete itinerary and through-check baggage records; do not classify the claim solely by the last flight’s route.
Who should I contact after a connection involving two airlines?
Start with the baggage service desk at your final arrival airport and obtain a report. Ask which carrier will handle tracing and the written claim. Keep documents for every flight rather than accepting an unsupported instruction to contact someone else.
Can travel insurance also pay?
Possibly, depending on the policy’s waiting period, covered items, limits and reporting deadlines. Notify your insurer promptly and disclose airline payments. Do not seek reimbursement twice for the same expense. Read our travel insurance guide.
Should valuables go in checked luggage?
Keep passports, essential medicine, jewellery and valuable electronics with you where carriage rules permit. However, do not assume that an airline can lawfully exclude every valuable item from an international baggage claim: applicable treaty obligations still matter.
What is the most important thing to remember?
Report immediately, submit the compensation request in writing, and preserve proof of both. Keep tracing your suitcase while protecting your claim deadlines.
Related guide: Lost or Damaged Baggage on India Flights: Compensation and Claims.
