Search for missing luggage. What to do if your luggage is lost or damaged. Receiving baggage at the airport

The passenger does not always receive his luggage upon arrival at his destination. Unfortunately, this practice is quite common. But fortunately for passengers, the non-return of lost luggage is small. According to statistics, it is no more than 3-4%. What to do if your luggage is lost? Where should I contact? What documents must be provided to search for him?

What to do if your luggage is lost

As a rule, missing bags are discovered near the conveyor after they are issued. Initially, you need to make sure that they really are not on the tape. Perhaps they were the last to be unloaded from the plane. You can check the transporters that pick up luggage from other planes. Sometimes passengers' bags are mixed by careless airline employees. You also need to check the oversized cargo belt. If there is no doubt and the luggage is still lost, you need to immediately take appropriate measures.

It happens that in the baggage claim area, a passenger may mistakenly pick up someone else’s suitcase. This is the so-called baggage change. While the tourist who has lost his bags will be filling out the appropriate documents to find them, the one who took someone else’s luggage will already leave the airport building. In this case, you need to act a little differently. Initially, you must insist that the current situation be reported over the speakerphone. Perhaps the person who took other people's bags will hear and return them.

Note. Baggage badges are not checked at international terminals. Their level of baggage replacement is quite high.

There are also cases when a passenger is in transit at the airport, his luggage has not been issued, and boarding for the next flight has been announced. He needs to immediately seek help from airline or airport employees. As a rule, they make concessions and delay the flight while the passenger fills out the relevant documents.

Where to go

If you lose your bags, don’t put off searching for them until later. You need to immediately contact the special counters of Lost and Found Aeroflot or other companies. In Russian they may be called “Luggage Search”. You can also check your luggage in the international search system WorldTracer.

In addition, if a passenger has lost luggage, he can seek help from the following authorities:

• representative office of the air carrier whose crew performed the flight;
• representative office of the national air carrier of the country of destination;
• airport administration.

When contacting the Lost and Found Bureau, the tourist must have the following documents:

• national or foreign passport;
• ID and other documents confirming identity;
• air ticket;
• baggage tag tear-off coupon.

Airport or air carrier representative staff must provide assistance in searching for baggage, regardless of the time of day.

Required documents

To request baggage search from Aeroflot, as with other airlines, you must fill out a claim.

Completed form for search and delivery of baggage

It states the following:

• Full name of the passenger;
• the number of the flight he was on;
• series and number of passport or other identity document;
• dimensions, weight and other characteristics of lost luggage;
• contact details and address to which the airline can deliver lost bags.

The claim must be accompanied by a statement describing the items and the amount of damage. Both the application and the claim can be filed within six months for a domestic flight and within 1.5 years if the flight was international.

Appearance and assessment of luggage

In an application to search for lost bags, you must describe their appearance: color, shape, any distinctive characteristics. In addition, you need to indicate the contents of your luggage. That is, make an inventory of things. An airline and airport employee will ask you to identify the shape of your luggage using a special table.

Note. In some cases, the film used to wrap bags changes their shape. As a result, luggage can easily be confused with another. You need to tell the search service employee that the bag is wrapped in film.

The baggage assessment procedure is considered the most difficult. There is one nuance here. In Art. The Air Code of the Russian Federation states that if baggage is accepted for transportation with a declared value, in the event of its loss, the airline returns the declared amount to the passenger. As a rule, tourists neglect to evaluate their luggage, since this service is paid. Therefore, the air carrier returns to the passenger in case of loss of bags no more than 600 rubles per kilogram of cargo.

In practice, every airline pays damages. But here it is worth considering that some of them impose certain restrictions on the payment of compensation for lost luggage.

Baggage search algorithm

Responsibility for loss of baggage by Aeroflot or another company lies solely with the air carrier. Measures to search for him must be started immediately after receiving the relevant application.

The airline sends requests to the airports of departure and arrival of baggage. She also sends a request to the airport where the passenger's bags may have been sent by mistake. If the cargo is detected, the carrier sends a request for its delivery to its destination.

Found luggage is delivered to the address indicated by its owner in the application. Delivery of such cargo does not require additional payment. All expenses are borne by the airline. Upon receipt of the cargo, you must provide identification documents of the passenger for verification, as well as a coupon and a document that must be signed. They indicate the end of the search for luggage.

Baggage search time

As soon as the passenger has submitted an application to search for lost luggage, airline employees begin the search. It lasts 21 days. On the 22nd day, the luggage is officially considered lost. In this case, the passenger has the right to demand compensation from the air carrier. The decision to issue it is made in accordance with the rules of the Air Code of the Russian Federation.

How to track luggage

As a rule, the search for lost cargo is carried out within the time limits established by law. But sometimes it happens that events are delayed. Therefore, it would be a good idea to ask for the contact information of the employees who accepted the search application. The search desks have phone numbers that passengers can call to find out what stage the investigation is at.

In addition, you can track the search for your luggage in the international WorldTracer system. It contains the numbers of requests for lost bags at each airport. It is worth considering that not all airlines are connected to this system.

Enter data in the search fields of the WorldTracer service

How to get compensation

You can claim compensation for material damage in case of loss of luggage only after 21 days from the moment it was found. Compensation is paid based on the passenger's written claim. It can be completed before the expiration of 6 months (if problems arose while flying on domestic flights) and before the expiration of 18 months (if the baggage was lost on international flights).

The following documents must be attached to the application for compensation:

• air ticket;
• tear-off coupon;
• receipts that confirm the cost of luggage;
• insurance documents, if the items were insured.

The airline must consider the received claim within 30 days. After this, pay compensation or refuse to pay it. All refusals must be in writing.

Payment amount

On domestic flights, a compensation rate has been established (600 rubles per kilogram). It is worth considering that if the weight of the luggage is not established, then compensation calculations are performed based on the average - 35 kg per passenger. If the cost of baggage was announced at check-in, payments are made in the specified amounts.

Note. It is worth considering that if the items were insured, the amount of compensation may be higher.

The amount of payment for loss of baggage on international flights is established by certain international relations. For 1 kg of luggage they pay compensation in the amount of 19 euros or 20 dollars. USA.

In addition to compensation, a passenger can claim:

• compensation for losses if he had to miss a connecting flight or train (the air carrier must reimburse the payment for canceled tickets);
• compensation for damage if material compensation for lost luggage had to be obtained in court proceedings (you can receive an additional payment in the amount of 50% of the amount due to the passenger);
• payment for moral damage (if health problems are documented, the amount of compensation will be significant; if not, the passenger will receive a small amount).

It is worth considering that you cannot claim additional compensation if, when returning your luggage, a statement was signed stating that the passenger has no claims against the airline.

How to avoid losing your luggage

A few tips can help air passengers avoid losing their bags. First, they need to be made unique. To do this, you can stick bright tape on their surface or tie ribbons to the handles. Secondly, when checking your luggage, you need to make sure that there are no old stickers on it. Thirdly, it would be a good idea to attach a tag with contact information to the bag. For example, with a phone number. Next, you need to make sure that the tag on the bag is held securely during check-in.

If a passenger makes a transit flight, the luggage is transported to another aircraft without his participation. Do not neglect the opportunity to clarify information about the location of your bags. To avoid any force majeure situations, it is better to put valuables in your hand luggage. You can take it with you on board.

Watch a video about what to do if you lose your luggage at the airport

1. You arrived at the airport at the last minute.Employees no longer have time to load luggage onto the plane, and it may be sent on the next flight.

2. The airline suddenly changed the flight.The essence is the same - the employees did not have enough time to check luggage for the new flight.

3. Are you flying with transfers?, and even different airlines, or there is no direct transfer at the airport between flights of the same airline. In such cases, you need to collect your luggage between flights and check it in again. To avoid this, buy one ticket per route - then your luggage will be transferred automatically.

4. There are too many tags on the suitcase.This is the most common reason for lost luggage, by the way. It's cool that you fly so much. But if you leave all the luggage stickers on your suitcase, then one day it may be sent along the old route. Many staff at the baggage check-in desk reprimand passengers whose suitcases are decorated with old stickers.

5. The front desk employee made a mistake: poorly applied or not applied the tag at all. Airport and airline workers may make a mistake and incorrectly indicate your name or destination. It is impossible to insure against this. of all lost suitcases in 2017 were due to missing tags.

What to do if your luggage is lost

Step 1: Go to the Lost & Found counter at the airport

Typically the stand is located next to the delivery belt. If there is no counter, then you need to look for an airline representative.

Step 2. Fill out an application requesting to return your luggage

If you are abroad, you will have to write in English. You will be given a form or asked to fill out a free form application. You will receive a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) act. Don't lose it - you may need it for compensation.

Don’t worry if you don’t speak English: the form can be filled out by an airport employee.

How to fill out a baggage search application

At the Lost & Found counter you will be given a completed form. Enter your details and describe your suitcase in as much detail as possible. What to write:

• Full name of the passenger;
• contact details - telephone, email, address (the one where you need to bring your luggage);
• flight number and your route;
• data from the luggage tag;
• color, size, shape of the suitcase;
• in the additional line - noticeable distinctive features of the suitcase;
• the description of the items is not just “3 T-shirts and 4 skirts”, but several unique items that will help distinguish it from the rest.

The application must be completed in two copies. At the end, you will be given an application identification number, which you can use to track the fate of your suitcase on the airline’s website or through a global search WorldTracer.

Step 3. Wait for a response

Typically, the receiving party (airport) takes two to five days to search for a suitcase. After this, the airline takes over. She sends a request to the baggage destination, and the search is carried out at all airports. Wait for the call. If they find a suitcase similar to yours, they will let you know.

To speed up the airline's actions, you can use several communication channels at once. Write about your problem by email, call the lost baggage hotline, tag the airline in a post on Facebook and contact us personally. The likelihood that the staff will not wait, but will immediately begin searching for your cargo, will increase.

Step 4. Take your things

Only , all others return to their owners. You will have to wait 21 days - during this time the luggage is considered delayed, but not lost. When the suitcase is found, they will call you. It is the airline's responsibility to deliver the luggage to the owner. So wait for the employee, show him your passport and take your things.

If you do receive your suitcase, but it is damaged, you have the right to compensation for repairing the bag or purchasing a new one. Send the airline a request, receipts and your bank card number - the carrier is obliged to reimburse the costs.

How to get money for small expenses if you are left without things abroad

What if you arrived on vacation, but your suitcase is not there yet? Good news: you won't be left without a toothbrush and a clean T-shirt. You have the right to compensate for the costs of essentials.

The airline is responsible for lost luggage. She also sets the rules - what to compensate and in what amount. Therefore, check this question with an airline representative (for example, on the websites of Air France, Turkish Airlines, FlyDubai, etc.)

Depending on the rules of a particular airline, you may require:

• a set of toiletries;
• reimbursement of costs for underwear, swimsuit (if you arrived on vacation at the seaside);
• funds for medicines;
• warm clothes, raincoats;
• payment for transfer from the airport (to the hotel, another station).

Most often, airlines reimburse costs in exchange for checks ranging from 70-100 € within 21 days after baggage delivery. At the airport you can also be given a set of toiletries, linen, and a clean T-shirt. The longer you wait for luggage, the wider the list of necessary things and the higher the compensation.

How to find missing suitcases

When an ownerless suitcase is found on the baggage belt, it is taken to the airport warehouse. There, luggage detectives get down to business. If there is a tag on the suitcase, then detectives find the owner's contact information and inform him about the find. If there is no tag, then detectives create an electronic statement about the find and post it on the website of the international search service World Tracer . If after 10 days the owner does not show up, the suitcase is opened and the statement is supplemented with a description of the items.

The suitcase has been waiting for its owner in the warehouse for three months. If the owner does not appear after this, the luggage is sold at auction.

Sometimes the suitcase is found after you have been paid compensation. In this case, there is no need to return it to the airline - consider it compensation for moral damages.

How to apply for compensation if your luggage was not found

1. Make a claim about payment of compensation and submit it to the air carrier in writing.

You are required to draw up a document in free form. You will need two copies in English. Some companies have an online form on their website for filling out a claim. For example, in Air France and UIA.

If you have receipts for items left in your suitcase (new or purchased specifically for the trip), attach them to your claim. Always indicate the maximum amount of compensation in the document - companies usually pay less.

You can submit a document in case of loss of luggage on domestic flights within 6 months after the end of the delivery period (Art. 126 Air Code of the Russian Federation ). For international flights - within 18 months after arrival (Art. 127 Air Code of the Russian Federation ).

2. Attach documents: luggage receipt, airline tickets, baggage search report (PIR), receipts for items from the suitcase, bank details, copy of the passport.

3. Submit your complaint to the airline office in person, by registered mail or send a scanned copy by email. If you go to the office, pick up your copy with the signature of the AK representative.

The claim must be reviewed within 30 days. If the airline refuses to accept it, go to court. This can be done at your place of residence in a court of general jurisdiction. Draw up a statement of claim, attach all the documents you have: PIR act, travel tickets, a copy of the claim, receipts for the things in the suitcase. You can demand full compensation for lost luggage under the convention, moral damages and legal costs.

How much compensation can you expect?

The amount of compensation depends on the country in which the airline is registered.

All countries are guided by the rules of one of two conventions - the Warsaw (1929) or Montreal (1999) conventions, which regulate issues of lost luggage. The second convention provides for higher payments. In 2017, Russia joined the Montreal Convention.

It is very difficult to get more than the established amount for luggage. Even if there are receipts for more expensive items in the suitcase. Expensive luggage must be checked in separately, then a special tag is affixed to it.

1. Always peel off old tags so that airport staff do not look for up-to-date information.

2. If you are flying with connections, remind the check-in desk about this. Check to what point your luggage is checked in. Sometimes you have to pick up your suitcase and check it back in the middle of the route. Do not forget about it.

3. Check in for your flight on time and check in your luggage.

4. Attach a tag with your contacts to your suitcase. Indicate your name, phone number, hotel address, email.

5. Decorate your suitcase with a bright element - it will become an identification mark if you suddenly have to fill out documents to search your luggage.

6. If you are carrying expensive items, use insurance or register your suitcase as valuable cargo. For this you will have to pay extra at airline rates, but your luggage will be monitored more diligently.

Just in case, take everything you need in your hand luggage: phone charger, money, documents, medicines. This will help if your luggage is delayed or lost. And try to keep receipts for items purchased for the trip (suitcase, expensive shoes and clothes, equipment) - with their help you can prove the value of the lost cargo and receive maximum compensation.

Checklist: what to do if your luggage is lost

1. Go to the Lost&Found counter and fill out an application there. Receive a PIR report. Expect someone to call you within 21 days.

2. Left without a suitcase in a foreign city - demand compensation for priority expenses. Keep receipts for purchases and provide them to the airline office. You can be reimbursed from 70 to 100 euros.

3. Apply for compensation for lost luggage if your items are not found within three weeks. Fill out the form at the airline office, attach receipts and PIR. Please indicate the maximum possible amount of compensation.

4. Go to court if the airline refuses to accept the application. You can demand compensation for the cost of luggage, legal costs and moral damages.

5. When damaged luggage is returned to you, you have the right to reimburse the costs of repairs or the purchase of a new suitcase. The airline received checks and a free form application.

You waited until your luggage was finally unloaded at your destination airport, but you still didn’t find your luggage on the conveyor belt - sad, but don’t be upset. You need to look through all the transport belts located at the airport and make sure that your items, due to a loader error or a computer glitch during loading, did not end up in the baggage of another flight or on the oversized baggage belt.

You can wait a little longer - sometimes it happens that tired passengers mistakenly take someone else’s suitcase and, after a few minutes, run to return it back with an apology. If this does not happen, then it is necessary, without leaving the airport (arrival area), to immediately contact the special search service, which is located on the territory of the airport and operates around the clock, without days off or breaks.

If you lost luggage at the airport then you can contact the information desk, ask a representative of the transporting airline, or independently find a service office or counter with the inscription “Lost and Found” or “Lost and Found” or “Lost baggage”. This is the service that will search for your lost luggage. You need to submit an application addressed to the management of the air carrier company (in business language this means filing a claim) and fill out a baggage search report, present your passport and baggage receipt (Baggage Tag). In the document you must indicate the flight number, the airline ticket reservation code, and attach your boarding pass.

The baggage receipt indicating the checked baggage upon check-in for the plane must be kept and protected. This is the only proof that you have luggage when you board the plane. The application must describe the lost luggage in the most detailed way (a list of contents inside is added after five days if the luggage was not found)

Advice for the future - for especially valuable luggage, install a microchip or GPS navigator before departure. Sometimes it happens, although rarely, that your luggage is simply forgotten to be loaded at the airport of departure or transit.

Lost and Found Bureau in Antalya

Lost luggage tracing bureau in Nizhny Novgorod

Baggage tracing office at the airport in Hawaii (Lost and Found)

Particular attention should be paid to special features: shape, overall dimensions, weight, color, the presence of stickers, colored belts, handles, the number of wheels, snakes, trademarks, name tags, and the like. You can attach a photo of your luggage before departure. This is necessary to identify the owner of the luggage in the event that the luggage tag with your number comes off or is lost during loading, transit transshipment from flight to flight, or simply during transportation of luggage.

In the act, you must indicate your contacts for reporting information; the exact address to which the found luggage will be delivered; and phone number if you have any questions. You need to write down for yourself: – telephone number of the airline representative; agent of the Lost Baggage Tracing Service who accepted the application and take a copy of the Lost Baggage Report.

Now you can forget that you lost your luggage at the airport and can go about your business while waiting for the results of the luggage search. Searching for luggage during the first five days is carried out by special services at the arrival airport. Almost all international airlines are united and connected to the Word Tracer system. This is an international baggage tracking system. The data from the act is entered into the system and the search begins. You can monitor the progress of the search via the Internet using your unique registration number, and also eliminate errors when describing your luggage or your data. For this you will need the number recorded when drawing up the act.

As soon as the baggage is found, the search service employees clarify how quickly the baggage can be delivered, and inform the passenger who submitted the request that the baggage was found, on what flight, when and where it will be delivered. This usually takes several days and everything goes well.

The airline delivers the found luggage to the address specified in the application. Many airlines provide essential items or small monetary compensation when luggage is lost. You will need to keep receipts of the money spent for reporting when you receive your luggage. As moral compensation for the inconvenience, they may be provided with a discount coupon for frequent flyers when purchasing their next airline ticket.

If after five days there is no result, then the luggage will be searched for by representatives of the airline that lost the luggage, and the passenger has the right to contact the culprit for a certain amount to purchase clothes.

To claim your baggage, you will need to present your passport, baggage receipt (tear-off coupon of the baggage tag with a UPC bar code) and a report drawn up at the airport on the day of arrival.

If the luggage is not found quickly, the passenger has the right to submit a written complaint to the claims department within three weeks. Lost and found luggage, paid according to the tariff, is returned at no additional charge. If within twenty-one days the baggage is not found and returned to the passenger, then the baggage is assigned the status of stolen or irretrievably lost.

Material damage is compensated at the rate of 20 dollars per kilogram of weight of lost luggage. If you are not satisfied with the compensation, you can file a lawsuit to review the amount received.

For reference: 90% of passengers who lose luggage at the airport find it within the first two days.

There are many cases where passengers lost luggage during a flight. If such a situation arises, first of all, contact the special registration desk marked Lost&Found and write a statement. After this, the search will begin.

According to statistics, 13 units are lost per 1000 passengers. But 85% of lost items are found and returned within the first 46 hours.

Where do you receive your luggage?

Not all passengers know where to go after the plane lands and where to pick up their things.

IMPORTANT: to avoid getting lost, follow the other passengers.

1. We go through passport control.
2. We go to the baggage claim line. The number of the tape and the number of the arriving flight are written on the board (it is indicated on the boarding pass). If you do not find the suitcase, first make sure you are at the right belt.
3. Suitcases and bags that were not picked up from the belt are unloaded by airport staff at the final destination. Look there carefully again, in case you missed your things.

IMPORTANT: airports and airlines have their own rules. Often, for example, strollers, large or fragile goods are issued elsewhere. Check with the arrival airport staff for such details.

What to do if you lost your luggage

If you still haven't found your suitcase, take the following steps:

1. Look at the counter marked Lost&Found. It should be located in the field of view in the hall where the issuing tape is located. Look around carefully. If you don't find it, ask an airport employee. If such a counter is not available, please contact your airline.
2. Write a written request to find your lost luggage. Sometimes you need to write a letter in free form, sometimes special forms are issued. If you are abroad, the form must be completed in English.
3. Wait. The airport will call you. Often lost cargo is found and delivered to the owner within 46 hours.

IMPORTANT: the airline that checked it in and loaded it onto the plane is responsible for the baggage.

How to write an application

The application is completed on a prepared form, where you need to provide personal information and describe the suitcase. The process is not complicated. Pictures and images are provided to help. Therefore, you can fill out the form even in a foreign language. So please provide the following information:

• last name, first name and patronymic of the registered owner;
• contact information (residence address, telephone, e-mail);
• route and flight number on which you arrived;
• data from the baggage tag, which is attached to the boarding pass;
• description (options of drawings are offered, choose the one most similar to yours). Color, size, shape, special features are marked with a tick in the proposed list. Describe the appearance of the suitcase in detail in the additional information line;
• description of the contents of the suitcase. Sometimes you need to describe 2–3 things that were in your luggage to identify it. Indicate unusual objects with special characteristics. It is important to leave the address where you will live during the search so that things can be delivered to you when they are found.

The application is drawn up in two copies. You will be given a special identification number by which you can track the status of the search via the Internet on the airline’s website or through the World Tracer global search service. In addition, get a phone number from Lost&Found to call them if necessary to clarify information.

Why does luggage get lost?

Suitcases are often lost due to mistakes made by airport staff. But sometimes the passengers themselves are to blame.

1. The passenger is looking in the wrong place. If you mistakenly stood at the wrong belt, or did not know that the item was issued in the large-sized department, it becomes unclaimed after being idle at the point of issue.
2. The suitcases are mixed up. Another passenger took your bag by mistake.
3. Lost tag. A special adhesive tag is attached to each suitcase. If it is not secured securely and is lost, during unloading the luggage will be sorted as lost.
4. Short flight connection times. If you are flying with transfers and the connection time is 1 hour or less, airport workers may not have time to transfer the cargo to another plane.
5. It was a mistake by the movers who accidentally threw the suitcase in the wrong place, and so instead of France it ended up in Turkey.
6. If the luggage has tags from previous trips, a scanning error may occur and the luggage will be sent in a different direction.

How to find lost luggage

Large airports operate an international search system. The data from the application is entered into a single database, and a search for a match with data on unclaimed baggage begins. If a match is found, Lost&Found employees find out where the suitcase is. They then notify the passenger and report the estimated time of arrival at the airport in the desired country. Such items are sent on the next flight and delivered in 1 to 3 days. Upon arrival at your destination, airport staff will contact you to discuss the method of delivery using two options: either you come to the airport yourself and pick it up, or they deliver it to you at the specified address at the expense of the airline.

You should not rely on the search service employees; they may not call you. Therefore, check the search status through the official World Tracer website. To do this, on the page that opens, enter the search act number and full name.

Or call the airport search service and clarify the necessary information. In addition, you can monitor searches through the website of the airline that lost the suitcase (relevant for Russian airlines).

IMPORTANT: according to the rules of some airlines, you are required to write an additional letter with a request to deliver your items to the specified address. Otherwise, they will wait for you at the airport until you pick them up.

According to international standards, 21 days are allotted to search for luggage. If it is not found during this period, it is considered irretrievably lost. In this case, you should think about getting compensation.

Compensation for lost luggage

An application for compensation is submitted to the airline that lost the luggage. The deadline for filing a claim is 2 years from the date of registration of the loss. The amount of compensation depends on which convention the air carrier’s country is a member of: Warsaw or Montreal.

• According to the rules of the Warsaw Agreement, compensation for luggage is provided in the amount of $17 per kilogram. If the suitcase is not weighed, the weight is automatically estimated at 35 kg.
• according to the rules of the Montreal Convention, compensation is a maximum of 1000 conventional units per piece of baggage, which is equal to 1200 - 1300 euros (the rate is calculated individually within each airline).

Russia operates under the Warsaw Convention.

IMPORTANT: if you estimate the value of the lost property to be higher than the proposed amount of compensation, you will have to go to court with evidence.

If you agree with the proposed amount of compensation, you will need to provide the following documents to receive it:

1. Statement.
2. Passport.
3. Boarding pass.
4. Luggage tag.
5. Baggage search report number.
6. Details for transferring refunded funds.

In addition, if you lose your suitcase, you are entitled to compensation for money spent on purchasing essential items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, brush, comb, etc.). Receipts will be required for this.

If you had to buy an expensive item, for example, a business suit for an important meeting, the issue of compensation is resolved individually. If you prove that you need the purchase and it was made involuntarily, the airline will offer two compensation options: you keep the item for yourself and receive a 50% refund, or you return the item to the company and receive a 100% refund.

IMPORTANT: in addition to loss of luggage, airlines provide compensation for damage to things, partial theft, breakage of a suitcase, inconvenience caused (payment for a forcedly rented hotel room, payment for travel to the airport to pick up your luggage, etc.). You need to save your receipts and then present them to the airline. If she refuses to refund the funds, the issue is resolved through the court.

Where do lost luggage go?

According to statistics, up to 10 thousand unclaimed items are found at Russian airports every year. Most often, these are prohibited items that are confiscated from passengers upon boarding the plane. You can come back for them later. This number also includes unclaimed baggage. People often forget bags and things and then don’t return them.

First, such items end up in a special unclaimed baggage room. At each airport there are two of them: for things forgotten during domestic flights, and for things found at international terminals. Here things are stored for 30 days.

If after this time the owner has not shown up, they are transferred to a special storage room for up to 6 months. Then they are disposed of, or sold in thrift stores, if the item is new and with a label. This approach is due to the fact that storing unclaimed items is too expensive.

Some suitcases from international airports end up in the American store in Scottsboro in Alabama. This is the only store in the world that buys unclaimed luggage for resale.

To minimize the risk of this problem affecting you, follow simple precautions.

1. Keep the receipt for your suitcase and other items you bought for your trip.
2. After each trip, remove stickers and tags from your suitcase, even the smallest ones. They confuse automated scanning during sorting.
3. Be sure to attach a name tag with contact information to your suitcase (preferably in a foreign language for an international flight). This way they will find him faster if he suddenly gets lost. Indicate your full name, telephone number, permanent residence address, hotel, length of stay in a foreign country and date of return to your homeland.
4. When checking in, pay close attention to whether the operator has attached the correct tag to your bag.
5. If you are flying with transfers, check with the operator where your baggage is checked in. Sometimes you have to pick up your suitcase at the connection and then check it in again.
6. Make your bag stand out. Choose a suitcase with a pattern or a bright color, attach an identification mark in the form of a ribbon, bow, etc. to the handle.
7. If you are carrying expensive items, additionally purchase a service such as luggage insurance.

Even with caution, unexpected situations arise suddenly. If you lost your luggage during a flight, don’t panic, contact the Lost&Found search service and fill out a report. Remember, 90% of things are found in the first two or three days and returned to the owner.