01
Know when you can move from delay to loss
A bag does not need to be described as permanently lost on day 21 for you to act. Article 17 of the Montreal Convention lets a passenger enforce contractual rights if checked baggage has not arrived after 21 days from the date it ought to have arrived, or earlier if the carrier admits the loss.
Ask the airline which lost-baggage form it uses. Keep the original tracing file open unless the airline tells you otherwise.
02
Make an item-by-item inventory
List the suitcase and its contents separately. For each entry, record the brand, model, approximate purchase date, original cost and a fair current value allowing for age and use.
- Purchase receipts, online orders or bank statements.
- Photos showing the suitcase or items before the trip.
- Product pages that identify the model and replacement price.
- Warranty registrations, serial numbers or gift evidence.
03
Understand the compensation ceiling
For international journeys covered by the Montreal Convention, the revised baggage liability limit is 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger from 28 December 2024. It covers destruction, loss, damage or delay of baggage and is not multiplied by the number of checked bags.
The cash value of an SDR changes. Airlines still assess what you can prove, subject to the applicable convention, local law and their conditions of carriage.
04
Submit once, preserve everything
Attach the PIR, bag-tag receipt, boarding pass, inventory, evidence of value and any unreimbursed delay receipts. Explain the calculation clearly and retain the confirmation screen or email.
The Montreal Convention generally sets a two-year limit for court action, calculated under the applicable procedural rules. Do not treat that as a reason to wait: airline claim procedures and insurance policies can require much earlier notice.