What to do now
- Report the missing bag and agree delivery details with the airline.
- Buy necessities appropriate to your circumstances and keep receipts.
- Record when the bag is returned and submit the written expense claim promptly.
What can change your rights
The 21-day complaint period runs from the bag being made available, not from flight departure. Report the missing bag immediately rather than waiting for that period. Essentials needed on holiday can differ from losses on returning home. Do not assume a universal daily allowance or reimbursement of every purchase.
Evidence to keep
- Booking confirmation and boarding passes; keep these in your own records.
- Baggage tags, an irregularity report and dated photographs.
- Itemised receipts, airline messages and proof that your written claim was sent.
Common questions
Can I buy any replacement clothes?
Keep purchases necessary and proportionate to the missing bag. Unrelated or luxury purchases can be disputed.
Does delivery cancel my expense claim?
Not automatically. Keep proof of reasonable losses incurred during the delay and claim within the relevant deadline.
Written baggage claim template
Replace the fields with the actual facts and send through the airline's official claims channel. Do not wait for a diagnostic before meeting a deadline.
Subject: Baggage claim — flight [number], [date] On flight [number], from [origin] to [destination], my checked bag with tag [reference] was [damaged / delayed / lost]. I reported this on [date], reference [PIR or claim number]. The bag was returned on [date, if applicable]. I request [repair / replacement / assessment of documented losses or expenses]. I attach photographs, evidence of the items' value and relevant itemised receipts totalling [amount and currency]. Please acknowledge this written claim and explain the next steps in writing. [Name and contact details for the airline's reply]
Official sources
- UK Civil Aviation Authority — lost, delayed or damaged baggage
- Montreal Convention — Articles 17, 19, 22, 31 and 35
- ICAO — revised Montreal Convention liability limits, effective 28 December 2024
This answer explains general rules. Your route, travel date and facts determine which rules apply. AeroDue's checker only confirms a supported conclusion when the facts and verified legal coverage are sufficient. AeroDue does not receive or file your airline claim and does not guarantee payment.
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Use AeroDue to organise possible rights and check your case without creating an account or providing an email for the diagnostic. You can claim directly with the airline. If a suitable external provider is available, the checker presents that option separately from its assessment.
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