Under the Montreal Convention, a passenger may enforce rights relating to lost checked baggage when the carrier admits the loss or when the bag has not arrived within 21 days after it should have arrived. Build an item-by-item inventory with evidence and realistic values. The current Convention limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger, not per bag and not an automatic fixed payment.
When delay becomes loss
For the first days, the practical job is tracing the bag and documenting necessary expenses. Article 17 of the Montreal Convention allows the passenger to enforce rights relating to lost checked baggage when the carrier admits the loss or when it has not arrived within 21 days after it should have arrived.
Do not close the tracing file just because you are preparing a loss claim. Save the latest tracking status, messages and every reference number. If the bag later arrives, the facts and amount claimed will need to reflect that change.
Reconstruct the contents without guessing
Start with the trip, not with a target total. Work through what you packed by category: the suitcase, clothing, footwear, toiletries, electronics and trip-specific equipment. For each item, record the brand or description, approximate purchase date, original cost, current evidence and the amount claimed.
Useful proof can include receipts, order histories, bank statements, warranty emails and photographs taken before the trip. A photograph can establish possession and condition even when it does not prove the original price. Mark estimates honestly and explain how you reached them.
- Separate the suitcase itself from its contents.
- Use one line per item or sensible group of low-value items.
- Account for age and ordinary use rather than claiming every item as brand new.
- Do not include valuables that were never in the checked bag.
The 1,519 SDR limit is a ceiling, not a tariff
ICAO revised the Montreal Convention baggage liability limit to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger with effect from 28 December 2024. SDR is an international reserve unit, so its value in euros, pounds or dollars moves with exchange rates.
The limit applies per passenger, not per suitcase. It is the usual ceiling for destruction, loss, damage or delay of baggage under Article 22, not a guaranteed payment. The claimant still needs to prove the loss and its value. A special declaration of interest made at check-in may change the applicable ceiling in some cases.
What the final lost-bag pack should contain
Lead with a one-page summary and put the detailed inventory behind it. The total in the letter must match the total in the schedule. If a receipt covers several items, label the relevant line so the reviewer does not need to search.
- PIR and current tracing status
- baggage tag and journey confirmation
- 21-day timeline or the airline's written admission of loss
- itemised suitcase and contents inventory
- receipts, order records, photographs and other value evidence
- a clear requested total with currency
Primary sources
We use primary and official material for the deadlines and liability framework in this guide. Airline conditions and the facts of an individual journey still need to be checked.
Turn the checklist into a reviewable claim.
Check the timeline, organise the receipts and build the letter before opening the airline's official filing route.
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