What should I do if my luggage is lost?

Report it before leaving the airport. This is the single most important step, because most airline processes require a property irregularity report filed at the arrival airport, and claiming afterwards is considerably harder.

The baggage desk is normally in the reclaim hall. You will receive a reference number, which is what tracks the bag and what every subsequent conversation will hinge on. Keep it, along with your boarding pass and baggage tag receipt.

Most delayed bags are located within a few days. Airlines commonly distinguish between delayed and lost, and a bag is generally not treated as lost until a defined period has passed, often around three weeks. That distinction determines what you can claim.

While the bag is delayed, airlines are typically obliged to cover reasonable essential purchases, though what counts as reasonable varies and is rarely generous. Keep every receipt. Ask at the desk what the airline's specific allowance is rather than assuming, since practice differs widely.

Compensation for genuinely lost baggage on international journeys is commonly governed by an international convention that caps liability at a defined amount per passenger, and the cap is often lower than people expect. Travel insurance and some payment cards may cover the gap, and claiming is usually contingent on having filed the airline report.

Two habits reduce the damage considerably. Carry medication, essential documents, valuables, and a change of clothes in hand luggage. And photograph your bag and its contents before travelling, which makes describing and substantiating a claim much easier.

On itineraries with separate tickets, responsibility becomes ambiguous, which is a further argument for a single booking.