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If you added Baggage Protection to your flights and booked through Alternative Airlines, you can reach out to our Customer Service team.
We'll advise you on what to do next and how to recover your lost baggage.
Lost Baggage Guide
Find out what to do if your baggage is lost
Where from?
Where to?
Dates
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Passengers & Class
1 Adult, Economy/Coach
What to Do If Your Baggage is Lost
Lost your baggage? Don't panic! Follow these steps below to make your journey smoother:
- Report your missing bag immediately. Go to the airline's lost baggage counter and provide your flight number, baggage tag number and a description of your lost luggage. You can then file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) to document the issue.
- Keep track of your PIR number. Write down your PIR number and keep it safe so that you can reference it to track your bag's status and make any future inquiries.
- Contact the airline. Call the airline's customer service number for any updates on your lost luggage. Depending on the airline you're flying with, it might have its own online portal where you can track your baggage.
- Create an inventory. Make a detailed list of all of the items in your lost luggage, including their estimated value. Before you travel, take photos of your baggage and its contents to help with your insurance claim.
- File a claim with the airline or your travel insurance. Read the airline's policy on lost baggage compensation and provide the necessary documents, such as your PIR, flight itinerary and inventory of the lost items. You might also want to review your travel insurance policy on lost baggage and file a claim through your insurance provider.
What next? If your baggage is delayed or lost, the airline should reimburse you for essential items like toiletries and a change of clothes. Don't forget to keep the receipts for anything you had to buy due to your luggage being lost. It's also important to stay in contact with the airline for regular updates on your baggage's status and to make sure your claim is processed as quickly as possible.
Lost Baggage Insurance
At Alternative Airlines, we offer our very own Baggage Protection cover that entitles you to up to $2,000 lost baggage compensation if your baggage can't be tracked within 96 hours.
You can add Baggage Protection to your flight during the booking process, just before you confirm your booking. Baggage Protection covers any checked luggage on any flight booked through Alternative Airlines, as long as your ticket includes baggage or any additional bags you have purchased.
If your baggage is lost or mishandled and you have the Baggage Protection add-on with your booking through Alternative Airlines, you can file a claim here.
We're able to provide this protection service through our partnership with BlueRibbon Bags. Please read the terms and conditions for a full breakdown of what is covered.
How to Avoid Losing Your Baggage
If you're about to travel but you're worried about losing your baggage, follow these tips below to minimise the risk:
- Use multiple baggage labels. You should add durable labels to both the inside and outside of your baggage. Each tag should have up-to-date contact information.
- Remove old baggage tags. This is to avoid confusing the baggage handling systems that might result in misrouted baggage.
- Book direct flights wherever possible. Booking direct flights will reduce the number of transfers that your baggage undergoes, lowering the chances of it getting lost.
- Check-in early. Get to the airport at least 2-3 hours before your flight so that you have enough time to get your luggage tagged and checked in properly.
- Use tracking devices. You could add a GPS tracker (such as an Apple AirTag) inside your luggage that will help you monitor your bag's location in real-time.
- Pack valuables in your carry-on. We recommend keeping your essential and valuable items, like medication, electronics and travel documents, in your carry-on bag.
- Secure your baggage with locks. If you use TSA-approved locks, you can deter unauthorised access from potential thieves.
Taking these precautions will significantly lower the likelihood of your baggage being lost, so you can enjoy a smoother journey to your destination!
Common Causes for Lost Baggage
Even if you follow all of our tips mentioned above to avoid losing your luggage, sometimes your baggage being lost can be due to factors that are out of your control. Some of the most common causes of lost luggage are:
- Transfer mishandling - If you have a tight connection between your flights, your luggage might not make it to the other aircraft in time. The likelihood of mishandling goes up the more your baggage is transferred which is something to be aware of if you're on a multi-city trip.
- Human error - Your bag might be tagged for the wrong destination at check-in (more likely to happen with connecting flights). And even if your bag is correctly tagged, the luggage handlers might accidentally load the bag onto the wrong plane.
- Technical issues - The baggage handling system might have technical issues, such as the conveyor belt malfunctioning or glitches in the software, ultimately disrupting the sorting and delivery of your baggage.
- Overcapacity and weight restrictions - Sometimes, a plane might lack enough space for all of its passengers' luggage, or it might have reached the maximum takeoff weight, resulting in some luggage being offloaded. This doesn't necessarily mean your baggage will be lost - it will instead be delayed and sent on a later flight.
- Security delays - Your bag might be held up during security screening procedures at the airport. If you're travelling from an airport that has heightened security protocols, your checked baggage might require additional screening which can cause your bags to arrive on a later flight.
- Passenger delays - If you arrive late for your flight, there might not be enough time for your baggage to be loaded onto the plane. In this case, your baggage will be removed to ensure security protocols are followed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How common is lost luggage?
Not that common at all. According to the US Department of Transportation, in Q1 2022, around 684,000 bags were mishandled - that's equal to 7 bags per 1,000 passengers, so the vast majority of checked baggage still reaches its destination without any issues.
You'll be pleased to know that the rate of mishandled baggage on a global scale has been on a downward trend. In 2020, only 3.5 bags were lost per 1,000 passengers, which is an 86% decrease in total mishandled baggage since 2007!
What to do if your luggage is lost?
If your luggage is lost, you should report it as lost immediately to the airline's baggage service desk and complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). You'll need to provide detailed information about your lost baggage, including its size, colour and any distinguishing features.
You can use the PIR number to help keep track of your baggage's status. Make sure to keep hold of any receipts for essential items you've had to buy due to the delay as the airline should be able to reimburse you.
For more on what to do if you lose your luggage, read our guide above.
Why does luggage get lost?
The most common cause for lost baggage is mishandling during flight transfers, especially on tight connections or when multiple stops are involved. Another cause is human error - incorrect tagging or loading mistakes can lead to baggage going to the wrong destination.
Technical issues, such as glitches in the baggage handling system, can disrupt the routing of bags. Additionally, overcapacity on flights can cause bags to be taken off of the plane when there isn't enough room and sent on a later flight.
How long does it take to get lost luggage back?
This will vary, however, most airlines try to reunite you with your lost luggage within 24-48 hours. If your bag is located quickly, it can be delivered to your destination. However, if your bag is missing for longer than 48 hours, it might take several days to recover, depending on the airline's tracking systems and the bag's route.
If your baggage is delayed getting back to you, you'll be able to claim lost baggage compensation (usually through the airline or your travel insurance).
How to make sure your luggage doesn't get lost?
To reduce the risk of your bags getting lost, you can:
- Use baggage tags (inside and outside) with up-to-date contact information.
- Book direct flights to avoid connections where your bag might be mishandled.
- Add a tracking device (such as an Apple AirTag) for real-time monitoring.
- Arrive early at the airport to allow enough time for your baggage to be processed at check-in.
What to do if something is missing from your luggage?
If you find that something is missing from your luggage, report it immediately to the airline's baggage service desk. You'll need to provide a detailed description of the missing item(s) and fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
Alternatively, if you've already left the airport and notice that something is missing later on, you will need to reach out to the airline's customer service or baggage claims department immediately.
If the item was valuable or insured, check your travel insurance or airline's compensation policy to see if it is covered.
How to recover lost luggage?
You can recover lost baggage by:
- Reporting it immediately to your airline's lost baggage desk, along with a detailed description of the lost baggage.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get a reference number to track the status of your lost baggage.
- Stay in regular contact with the airline to monitor the progress of your claim and baggage recovery.