

Make the lost luggage desk your 'first port of call' Airlines may ask for receipts or other proof for items in your bag.Īirlines may also exempt certain items from repayment, including cash, electronics and fragile items. For example, airlines have different time standards for when a bag is deemed "lost" most declare a bag lost after five to 14 days, according to the Transportation Department. Policies can vary from carrier to carrier. "The financial compensation is helpful, because that's not money you'd have spent ordinarily," Rathner said. Airlines aren't allowed to set a daily cap for these interim expenses (up to $50 a day, as an example). These are called "reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses" incurred while a bag is delayed. Payment to travelers may include out-of-pocket costs for additional clothing or other purchases they make out of necessity due to the delay.
