What to do if your luggage goes missing during air travel: Essential steps to take before leaving the airport

From misplaced suitcases to baggage that never makes it onto a connecting flight, lost luggage can cause considerable inconvenience for travellers. The first few steps you take after discovering your bag is missing are important, from informing the airline to obtaining a written report and keeping your baggage claim details handy. Bernard Corraya, General Manager (India), Wego, shared a step-by-step guide to what travellers should do when their luggage goes missing and how they can follow up with the airline.

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Visit the airline’s baggage service desk immediately and complete a Property Irregularity Report, commonly called a PIR.

According to Bernard, keep the PIR, baggage tag, boarding pass, ticket, and booking confirmation. These documents are normally required to trace the bag and make a claim.

Give the airline the correct address, Indian mobile number, email address, and travel itinerary so the luggage can be delivered if recovered.

Give the airline the correct address, Indian mobile number, email address, and travel itinerary so the luggage can be delivered if recovered.

Use the airline’s baggage-tracing portal and retain screenshots or written records of all updates and conversations.

Take clear pictures of your suitcase before handing it over. “The photos provide a useful reference when completing a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), describing the bag to the airline, or reporting damage,” highlighted Bernard.

If the luggage is delayed away from home, retain itemised receipts for necessary toiletries, clothing, and other basic items. Reimbursement depends on the airline’s rules and applicable passenger protections.

Some travel-insurance policies and credit cards cover baggage delays, replacement essentials, or permanent loss.

Under the Montreal Convention framework, passengers may enforce rights relating to lost baggage if the airline admits the loss or if the bag has not arrived within 21 days of when it should have arrived.

Under the Montreal Convention, complaints concerning delayed baggage must generally be made in writing within 21 days from the date the baggage is made available. Damage complaints generally have a seven-day deadline.

Liability on international journeys covered by the Montreal Convention is capped unless the passenger made a special declaration of value and paid any required additional fee. “The revised international liability limit is 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, effective 28 December 2024. Compensation is based on the proven loss and is not automatically paid at the maximum amount,” explained Bernard.

Add identification inside and outside the suitcase, photograph the bag and its contents, remove old baggage labels, keep valuables and medicines in hand luggage, and consider placing a permitted tracking device inside the bag.

…Read MoreAnukriti Srivastava thrives at the intersection of words and voice, where journalism meets storytelling. A digital editor and journalist with over 5 years of experience, she has written across lifestyle, women issues, relationships, entertainment, fashion, and travel. She did her Masters in Broadcast Journalism and has published more than 500+ lifestyle content pieces across platforms. As a former Sub-Editor at HerZindagi, she produced engaging digital content, interviews, and event coverage for a wide audience. She has also contributed as a Webstory Producer with Travel + Leisure, transforming travel experiences into immersive stories for readers who love exploring the world. Beyond writing, Anukriti’s storytelling extends to the microphone. As a voice-over artist, her warm and expressive voice has brought scripts to life across audio platforms, turning simple words into immersive experiences. Her work reflects a deep interest in people, culture, and everyday stories that resonate with readers and listeners alike. She enjoys crafting content that informs, inspires, and sparks curiosity. Away from screens and studios, you’ll find her reading self-help books, listening to music, getting lost in romantic novels, and playing the guitar for a creative reset. For Anukriti, storytelling isn’t just a profession—it’s a way of seeing and sharing the world. Read Less