Arriving without your bag is stressful, but acting quickly makes a big difference to what you can claim. Here’s what to do if your luggage is lost or delayed abroad.
At the airport: report it straight away
- Go to the airline’s baggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall. Don’t leave without reporting it.
- Get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). This is the key document for both airline and insurance claims.
- Give a delivery address and phone number, and ask for a reference number so you can track the bag.
- Ask what the airline will cover for essentials while you wait.
Buying essentials while you wait
If your bag is delayed, buy reasonable essentials such as toiletries and a change of clothes, and keep every receipt. Some airlines reimburse these, and many travel insurance policies include delayed baggage cover once the delay passes a set number of hours. See the limits and conditions in your policy. Don’t overspend, because insurers expect costs to be reasonable.
Claiming from the airline
The airline is normally responsible for baggage in its care. Under international rules, you generally have to make a written complaint within a short time: typically within about 7 days if your bag is damaged and 21 days from when you receive it if it was delayed. Check the airline’s terms and act quickly.
Claiming on your travel insurance
Insurance can help with delayed baggage essentials, permanently lost items and damaged belongings, subject to the limits. Contact your insurer as soon as possible and follow the claims process. See how to make a travel insurance claim. Insurers may expect you to claim from the airline first and may deduct what the airline pays.
What evidence to keep
- PIR and any airline correspondence
- Boarding pass and baggage tag
- Receipts for essentials you bought
- A list of what was in the bag with approximate values and receipts if you have them
Tips to reduce the risk next time
- Keep medication, valuables and essentials in your hand luggage. Insurers often limit or exclude valuables in checked baggage.
- Photograph your bag and its contents before you go.
- Check the baggage limits and single-item limits in your policy. See what travel insurance covers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PIR?
A Property Irregularity Report is the form the airline gives you when baggage is lost, delayed or damaged. You need it for airline and insurance claims.
How long before lost luggage is declared permanently lost?
Airlines have their own rules, often after a few weeks. Keep in touch with the airline and make claims within the deadlines.
Can I claim for new clothes if my bag is delayed?
Often yes for reasonable essentials, if your policy includes delayed baggage cover and the delay is long enough. Keep receipts.
Should I claim from the airline or my insurer first?
Report to the airline first and make a written claim, then contact your insurer. They may take the airline’s payout into account.
Related travel insurance guides
- How to Make a Travel Insurance Claim: Step-by-Step
- Why Was My Travel Insurance Claim Rejected? Common Reasons
- How to Appeal a Rejected Travel Insurance Claim
- What Does Travel Insurance Cover? A Plain-English UK Guide
- How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost in the UK in 2026?
This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Always read the policy documents before you buy.
