Why can your luggage be delayed or damaged?

Every year, on various flights, millions of passengers around the world face stressful situations linked to delayed, lost or damaged baggage. Whether you’re a frequent or occasional traveler, these incidents can happen, but there are solutions to deal with them effectively. There are several reasons for delayed or lost baggage:

Short connections:

If your connecting flight has too short a transit time, your baggage may not have time to be transferred to the next flight, especially on international flights. This can lead to delays or loss of your baggage.

Weight problems in the hold:

At baggage check-in, in the event of an overbooked flight, some baggage may be sent on another flight for safety reasons, in particular to distribute hold weights. This can also cause delays in the arrival of your baggage.

Human error:

Human error is also responsible for many delayed baggage items. An incorrectly scanned tag or the wrong assignment of a baggage item to a flight can lead to delays or even the loss of your baggage.

Weather conditions or strikes:

Bad weather conditions or airport strikes can disrupt baggage delivery.

What should I do if my baggage is delayed, lost or damaged?

Report the incident immediately on arrival!

The first thing to do if your baggage is delayed, lost or damaged is to report it immediately on arrival. Go to your airline’s claims counter or the airport baggage department. You’ll need to fill in a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), an essential document for reporting the problem and tracking your baggage.

By reporting the delay or loss, you also initiate the claims procedure with the airline, which is essential if you are to claim compensation or a refund if necessary.

As an expert in baggage handling, Dirby offers tailored solutions to help you quickly recover your delayed, lost or damaged baggage. Through partnerships with several airlines, Dirby uses advanced tools such as SITA WorldTracer to facilitate lost baggage reconciliation.

If you’re a passenger, Dirby makes your life easier by delivering your luggage to your home, hotel or any other location of your choice. No need to return to the airport to collect your belongings. Please note: some airlines have their own delivery service. In these cases, Dirby is not in a position to intervene on the delivery times of certain baggage items.

Claim compensation if necessary.

Under the Montreal Convention, you are entitled to compensation if your baggage is delayed, lost or damaged. (A bag is considered lost after 21 days.) Depending on the type of damage and the length of the delay, you may be reimbursed up to €1,500, or more in some cases. If your baggage has been lost, you can claim compensation to cover the loss of your personal belongings and the cost of purchasing essential items such as clothing or toiletries.

Be sure to keep all your receipts so you can submit them to the airline and maximize your compensation.

Immediate replacement for damaged baggage.

Some airlines, such as Turkish Airlines, Corsair and Air Europa, offer an immediate replacement service for damaged baggage. This allows you to continue your journey without too much disruption. 

Prevent incidents with a few tips.

To reduce the risk of delayed or lost baggage, here are a few useful tips:

• If the outer tag is torn off, it’s essential to also have a tag inside your luggage with your full details (name, phone number, email address).
• Take a photo of your luggage before the flight to make it easier to identify in the event of a problem.
• Use tracking tools such as AirTags or GPS trackers so you can follow your luggage at all times.
• Choose flights with sufficient time between connections to ensure the safe transfer of your luggage.
• When you leave on your trip, keep all the information you need at hand to quickly report any baggage problems to the airport.

What to do if your baggage is damaged?

If your baggage is damaged during the flight, here are the steps to follow:

1. Report the damage immediately to the airline’s claims counter. The report must be made as soon as possible.
2. Fill in a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) and contact your airline (you have 7 days to do so) to start the claims procedure. (You can go directly to their website).
3. Keep all supporting documents (photos, tickets, repair receipts) to facilitate the claim and obtain compensation or redress.

PLEASE NOTE : 

If the airline you travel with uses a service provider to manage baggage tracking and claims, you must create your PIR directly at the airport (meet at baggage services), and if your claim is accepted, go to the airline’s website to request compensation. (A PIR number consists of 5 letters and 5 numbers).

Conclusion.

Losing or having your luggage delayed is an unpleasant situation, but it can be managed effectively by following the right steps and calling on experts like Dirby. Whether you’re on a domestic or international flight, Dirby can help you find your luggage quickly and have it delivered directly to the address of your choice. If your baggage is damaged, some airlines offer immediate replacement so your journey is not disrupted. Thanks to a rapid declaration and an efficient claim, you’ll be able to recover your belongings without wasting too much time. You can rely on us to guide you through all these steps and manage your baggage incidents to the best of our ability.