01
Do not accept a refund by accident
If you still need the airline to carry you, ask for re-routing. A refund and re-routing are alternatives. Preserve screenshots and written offers before buying replacement transport.
02
Locate the baggage instruction
Ask the operating airline or handler whether accepted bags are being unloaded, transferred or held. Keep the bag-tag receipt. If the bag is not returned and no confirmed forwarding record is available, create a PIR through the airline's process.
03
Separate cancellation rights from baggage liability
Refund, re-routing, care and possible fixed compensation arise from the flight disruption. Reasonable essentials, loss or damage to the bag are assessed under the baggage framework. Submit distinct schedules and do not duplicate receipts.
04
Keep a single chronology with two claim folders
- Flight folder: itinerary, cancellation notice, re-routing, cause and care receipts.
- Baggage folder: bag tag, PIR, tracking updates, delivery and essential-purchase receipts.
- Record which airline operated the flight and which handler created the PIR.
- Escalate each claim through the correct airline or ADR path.
05
Add tracker evidence to the baggage folder only
A personal tracker may show that the bag remained at the departure airport or followed a different route. Give the link and timestamp to the baggage team with the PIR; it does not decide refund, re-routing or flight compensation.