Lost Luggage Tips

Airlines are constantly making any effort to avoid luggage lost, but it still happens. Ever imagined that you couldn't find your luggage on the reclaim belt? If unluckily, you become one of those poor passengers, there is something important you should know to compensate your loss.

Reporting Your Loss
If you are unable to locate your checked luggage upon arrival, please notify your airline's personnel prior to leaving the airport on the day of loss.

A report will be filed and a reference number will be given to you for follow-up actions.

The following procedure varies from airline to airline:
Deccan will reimburse your loss if your luggage is not located within 7 days.
Jet Airways will send you a questionnaire for more detailed information in case of your luggage has not been traced within 7 days.

In the unlikely happened events they don't locate your luggage within 15 days, a claim will be in process, and the tracing process still continues.

Liability Limitation
Following 'Carriage By Air Act 1972', compensation for lost luggage of domestic routes is limited to a sum of Rs.450/ per kg of check in luggage, and a sum of Rs.4,000 of cabin luggage or articles.

However, the liability limit is higher if a special declaration of value is made and supplementary insurance is paid in advance at check-in counter.

Air India's passengers' claims will be settled as per applicable convention for international sectors: as per Warsaw Convention, the compensation is calculated to a maximum of USD20/ per kg; and as per Montreal Convention, the compensation is limited to SDR1000/ per passenger.

Jet Airways' liability for luggage lost of international routes also follows Warsaw convention.

Some airlines like Kingfisher are not liable for delay or loss or damage occasioned by delay in the carriage by air of guests or luggage.