Handle missing baggage

Remember that the airline agent at your final destination is not the agent who misplaced your baggage. A little civility will likely get your bag to you with greater haste.

Determine that your baggage is actually missing. Verify that all bags have arrived for a given flight, or speak to the agent at the airline's baggage office. Use claim checks and unique features on your bag to identify.

Once you have determined that you are missing a bag or bags, take your claim checks to your airline's baggage service office. It is important that you go to the airline who flew you into your final destination. For example, if you were originally flying on American but were re-booked on US Airways because of a cancellation, it would be US Airways, or whatever airline flew you on the last leg of your trip, who would take your claim.

You will need to provide a detailed description of your baggage, as well as contact and delivery information. The airline will give you a contact number and can typically give you an idea of which flight your bag will arrive on.

Give your airline at least an hour or two for your claim to trace in its computer system, and then if you haven't heard anything, give the airline a call.

In most cases, you will receive your missing baggage on the same day, but it will obviously depend on where your missing bag is and the number of available flights that can return your bag to you. If you flew an international itinerary, for example, it may take longer.

Simply await the delivery of your bag. If you are not going to be at home, please advise the airline if it is acceptable to leave the baggage somewhere on the premises, or even leave a signed note. Make sure that your delivery information is accurate. For hotels, most delivery drivers will leave the bags with the front desk. Be sure that you give the name of whoever reserved the room; otherwise, a hotel front desk agent will not sign for the delivery. Ensure that if you have given a cell phone as your contact number that you leave it on so that the delivery driver can contact you if necessary.

After a set time, 3 days for many airlines, if your baggage has not yet turned up, your missing bag file is usually forwarded to a centralized baggage tracing center for more extensive tracing. At this point, you will likely be asked for detailed contents of the bag. If your bag is not found, then the airlines will compensate you for it, within established guidelines. For more details, see your airline's contract of carriage.

Note:
Always keep your claim checks, unless your airline asks to remain in possession of them. If this occurs, make sure you have a copy of your claim check number for your own records.

Always put a name tag on your baggage, and be sure that it includes a working phone number.

Consider putting unique identifying accessories on your bags, such as ribbons, stickers, yarn or baggage straps.

Many airlines will give you complimentary toiletry kits when your baggage is delayed.

One of the best ways to prevent missing baggage is to verify your name as well as the final destination on your claims check at check-in. If you don't know the city codes, check with an agent.

Most airlines are not obligated to pay for clothes or other supplies that you are missing because of your delayed baggage until after the first 24-hours. This time frame may vary by airlines, so you should read the airline's contract of carriage to be sure.

For items such as golf clubs, many airlines will authorize you renting clubs at the airline's expense; however, the reimbursement policy may or may not cover the rental of accessory items, such as shoes or tees. Check with your airline before buying anything to replace what you are missing.

If the worst-case scenario takes places, and your bag is not recovered, keep in mind that there are certain contents that none of the airlines will pay you for, and that for items over a certain dollar amount, you will be asked for a receipt. Non-claimable items include cash, securities, antiques, jewelry, electronic equipment and more. For a detailed list, see your airline.

Airlines only accept responsibility for items that you check. Items that are left behind or lost by passengers are not covered by any airline so be sure to exercise care when gathering your belongings. Airlines will try to help you find a lost item, but will not pay to replace them.

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