What to do if your luggage is lost or damaged

Why lost luggage

The reasons may be very different from the error-sorter scanner to human factors (did not have time to plunge into the plane plunged into the wrong). The most common problems occur when connecting flights.

According to statistics WorldTracerBaggage Report 2016, The international baggage tracing system for 2016 was lost 23.1 million suitcases and bags. Figure looks scary. But if you look closely, it turns out that only 6.5 out of every suitcase 1000 not reached in time for their owners.

What if there is no luggage on the belt

Do not panic! You did not find it a suitcase or some overall things like baby carriage or sports equipment? If the latter, then everything is fine. Custom luggage always is issued in a separate window, so that it do not accidentally damaged during transport.

If you missed it the suitcase, go to the counter of the lost luggage Lost & Found, sometimes it can be called a Passenger Service. Typically, the service is output from the baggage area. If a rack is not, ask any member of the airport, where to go.

Do not leave the terminal until you will understand with lost luggage!

Employees Lost & Found desk will ask you to present coupon at first, luggage and try to look together with you your bags. If the search came to nothing lead, you will be offered to fill in a special form of Property Irregularity Report (PIR) in two copies: one you give, and leave yourself a second.

The form will need to specify the information about themselves, the flight data and to describe the case in detail. Airport employees ENTERED this information to the international baggage WorldTracer accounting system. And you will receive a registration number, which can independently verifyWhether your suitcase find.

Registration number is a combination of three-digit airport code, the two-digit and five-digit airline code of your luggage. For example, LEDLH15123 means that Lufthansa lost bags at the airport in St. Petersburg.

After getting a registration number, you can leave the terminal. You will just have to wait, when there will your stuff. By the way, a tear-off label on the luggage remains in your hands. Be sure to save it. This will allow in the future to get the suitcase.

At the Lost & Found desk can offer you money to buy basic necessities. It is not the duty of the airline, and its goodwill.

Each carrier sets its own rules, and the amount for such a situation. Update information can be both at the bar Lost & Found, and the airline.

If suddenly the payment is not provided, save all receipts from purchases of basic necessities. Then the airline you will be able to apply for compensation for this amount.

When the return luggage

If your bags do not have time to change seats with you in the dock while their next dokinut aircraft performing the same flight, free delivered to your hotel.

Free delivery of baggage - the obligation of the airline.

WorldTracer system tracks baggage in 100 days. After that, he is considered lost.

According to local legislationOrder Ministry of Transport of Russia from 28.06.2007 number 82, Art. 154, The baggage is considered detained for 21 days. After that, it gets the status of the lost. After 22 minutes a day to write a complaint to the airline's address to receive compensation. The claim is written in a free form, it can apply in person at the airline office, or via the website. Do not forget to F. AND. O., contact information, make copies of documents: baggage and boarding passes, the act of baggage loss, WorldTracer registration number.

What if damaged suitcase

Suitcase still I flew with you, but it is clearly damaged during transport: there are deep chipped, broken off the wheel or handle. In this case, you again to help employees Lost & Found service. They must register the fact of damage luggage and make the act (damage report) in two copies, one of which will remain at the airport, and the second will be given to you in his arms.

Then locate in the airport building representatives of their airline. If you find yourself can not refer to the airport staff: they prompt.

At the representative of the airline you will need to fill in the claim form. In addition to standard F. AND. O., addresses and phone numbers, and flight, there must be a detailed description of baggage damages and the amount for which you are applying.

Confirm this amount will check for the purchase of a suitcase. It is possible to send a copy of the airline later.

The representative of the airline will make a copy of your claim, boarding documents and baggage damage certificate that you previously issued employee of the airport. Now I have to be patient and wait for the decision.

In the future, the airline may ask you for a payment slip repair a suitcase or an act of the impossibility of repair. The act is written in a free form, it can give any workshop.

How many will pay for lost or damaged baggage

Law anyway, lost your suitcase or simply damaged. The maximum amounts are the same.

Payments to international flights

More than 120 countries (the Russian Federation - one of them) have joined the Montreal Convention for the Unification of air traffic regulationsConvention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by AirWhich determines the amount of compensation.

The amount of compensation is considered to be artificial means of payment - Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Their course is based on a basket of five currencies: dollar, euro, yen, the Chinese yuan and the pound - and changing every day. The cost of 1 SDR can be found at International Monetary Fund or use online calculator.

In case of loss, delay or damage to baggage the airline is obliged to pay up to 1 000 SDRs.

The maximum you can get about 83 000 rubles. It should be understood that the airline will try to reduce this amount as much as possible. Clause in the Convention "to 1 000 SDRs" gives her that right.

Payouts with internal flights

If the suitcase is lost or damaged during the flight within the Russian Federation, the amount of compensation is determined by the Air CodeAir Code of the Russian Federation, Art. 119. Amounts have much more modest and depend on the weight of the lost suitcase. You will receive 600 rubles per kilogram of luggage and up to 11 000 rubles for damage to or loss of baggage.

Baggage with declared value

These provisions do not apply to the baggage with a declared value. Declare the value as possible on international flights and domestic. For it will have to pay (the fee each carrier determines its own). But if your bag is lost or spoiled, you will receive the amount that during registration.

No airline will not return the money put into the luggage expensive equipment, jewelery or securities. According to the rules of transportation of these things must go in hand luggage.

Tips for the future: what should be done prior to departure

1. Suitcases, hung with old tags, appear extremely romantic. But if you want to see things on tape, scanners and help peel off the old barcodes.
2. Buy luggage tagIf your suitcase is not built-in, do not be lazy and fill it. This will significantly reduce the time to search your luggage.
3. If flying on business event, put in your hand luggage a decent jacket and trousers (how to do this so that things do not get crushed, Layfhaker I wrote). Even if the case is late, you will have spare clothes and you do not have to blush in front of partners for their pajama look.
4. Take a picture of the things that you put in a suitcase. This will speed up the preparation of an inventory of missing property.
5. Make a suitcase with signs not to be taken with a tape by mistake. Here you will help bright belt or special case.
6. Arrive at the airport early. It will save your strength and nerves in the registration and baggage handlers give extra time if it turns out that your luggage has been sent to the wrong aircraft.
7. At the check-in of baggage tag stick on the back of the ticket, if the employee of the airport did not do it to you.

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Have you ever lose my baggage? How much money could get? Or do you prefer to travel light and bypasses the hand luggage? Tell us about it in the comments!