Delayed bag? Report it at the airport, then claim reasonable costs up to US$4,700
Key facts, with sources and dates
- The US domestic baggage liability floor rose to US$4,700 per passenger on 22 January 2025 under 14 CFR 254.4 (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)1.
- The Montreal Convention limit for baggage rose to 1,519 SDR per passenger on 28 December 2024 (ICAO, checked 15 November 2026)2.
- A checked bag fee must be refunded when the bag is delivered more than 12 hours late after a domestic flight under 14 CFR 260.5 (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)4.
- On an international trip, a delayed bag claim must be made in writing within 21 days of getting the bag back under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention (Montreal Convention, checked 15 November 2026)5.
- American asks for a delayed bag report within 4 hours of arriving on a US flight (American Airlines, checked 15 November 2026)6.
- Delta treats a bag as likely lost after 21 days and takes property loss claims from day 6 (Delta Air Lines, checked 15 November 2026)7.
What should I do at the airport when my bag is missing?
- Go to the airline's baggage desk before you leave the airport. American gives 4 hours on US flights, Southwest 4 hours, JetBlue 4 hours, United and Alaska 24 hours6.
- Get the file reference (American calls it a 13-character file ID). Photograph your bag tag and boarding pass.
- Ask for delivery to your hotel or home and give a phone number. JetBlue's plan, for one, promises delivery at no cost.
- Ask what you can buy while you wait and how to claim it. Keep every receipt.
Build your delayed bag claim
Claim letter you can copy
Nothing you type leaves this page. The bag fee figure is an example; enter what you paid.
How much compensation do you get for delayed baggage?
Reasonable costs you can show, up to US$4,700 at home and 1,519 SDR abroad. These are ceilings. You get what you can show you spent or lost, up to the limit. The SDR is the IMF's basket currency, so the dollar figure moves each day.
| Trip | Limit | Rule | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| US domestic flights | US$4,700 per passenger, minimum | 14 CFR 254.4, since 22 January 2025 (was US$3,800)1 | Checked at source |
| International trips (Montreal Convention) | 1,519 SDR per passenger, about US$2,046 | Article 22(2), revised on 28 December 2024 (was 1,288 SDR)22 | Checked at source |
| Higher value declared at check-in | The declared sum | Article 22(2) special declaration, for a fee5 | Checked at source |
Limits read on the eCFR and in ICAO's release, 15 November 2026.
The bag fee comes back when the bag is 12 hours late on a US trip
US rules require a refund of the fee for a lost bag or a significantly delayed one, once you file a Mishandled Baggage Report4. The clock runs from the chance to leave the aircraft to delivery or pick-up.
| Trip | Fee refunded if the bag is later than |
|---|---|
| Domestic US | 12 hours |
| International, non-stop US segment of 12 hours or less | 15 hours |
| International, non-stop US segment over 12 hours | 30 hours |
14 CFR 260.2 and 260.5, eCFR as at 12 November 2026.4
Deadlines and expense policies, airline by airline
The six largest US airlines first, each read on the airline's own page or contract. United's site did not respond, so its row comes from a search extract of united.com. No airline publishes a daily allowance.
| Airline | Report a delayed bag | What it reimburses | Expense claim deadline | When it counts as lost | Bag fee refund | Links | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | Within 4 hours of arriving on a US flight (12 hours with Bags VIP delivery); before leaving the airport on an international flight | Reasonable and necessary items you need immediately while away from home. Original dated itemised receipts. | Within 30 days of the delay | Online claim once the bag has been missing 5 or more days | Under the US rule: 12 hours domestic, 15 or 30 hours international | Airline page6 | Checked at source |
| Delta | In person at the Delta Baggage Service Office before you leave; no time limit stated for a delay | Basic interim needs: essential clothing, toiletries, personal care. No daily amount; each claim reviewed. Itemised receipts. | Not stated on the page | Property loss claim from 6 days; likely lost after 21 days | 12 hours domestic, 15 hours (flights of 12 hours or less) or 30 hours international | Airline page7 | Checked at source |
| United | Within 24 hours of arrival in the US, Guam, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands; within 21 days internationally | Clothing and toiletries; amount depends on factors including how long you were without the bag. Dated receipts. | Not confirmed | Not confirmed on united.com | Under the US rule: 12 hours domestic, 15 or 30 hours international | Airline page8 | Reported elsewhere |
| Southwest | No later than 4 hours after arrival (domestic); 21 calendar days for delay (international) | A claim "for consideration of reimbursement of reasonable expenses", per its Customer Service Plan. | Not stated for expenses | Claim through the Baggage Claim Web Portal if not located after 5 days | 12 hours domestic, 15 hours international, if a report was filed | Airline page9 | Checked at source |
| Alaska and Hawaiian | Within 24 hours of arrival | Reasonable, documented damages from a substantial delay, up to US$4,700, if you made reasonable efforts to keep costs down. | Written notice within 45 days (domestic); 21 days from the bag's return (international) | Not stated | 12 hours domestic, 15 or 30 hours international, with a Mishandled Baggage Report | Airline page10 | Checked at source |
| JetBlue | Within 4 hours of arrival (domestic), then in writing within 21 days | Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses caused by the delay, under its reimbursement policy. Delivery at no cost. | In writing within 21 days (domestic) | Not stated | Automatic if not delivered within 12 hours (domestic) or 15 hours (international) | Airline page11 | Checked at source |
| Frontier Airlines | Domestic: report delay, loss or damage within 4 hours of the flight's arrival (pilferage within 24 hours); supporting documents within 30 days of receiving the claim packet. International under the Montreal Convention: damage in writing within 7 days of receiving the bag, delay or loss within 21 days. | Not researched | See reporting column | Not researched | Under the US rule for US flights | Airline page12 | Checked at source |
| Allegiant Air | Mishandled baggage report within 24 hours after the flight arrives; amended claims within 21 days of the event (Contract of Carriage, Article 80.1). | Not researched | See reporting column | Not researched | Under the US rule for US flights | Airline page13 | Checked at source |
| Breeze Airways | Breeze will not consider lost or damaged baggage claims unless all required documents reach it within 30 days of the flight (Contract of Carriage, Section 7). The initial reporting window was not confirmed. | Not researched | See reporting column | Not researched | Under the US rule for US flights | 14 | Checked at source |
| Air Canada | Report a missing bag to an agent on arrival. The Canadian Transportation Agency lists 7 days for damaged baggage and 21 days for delayed baggage claims (search extract of CTA page). | Not researched | See reporting column | Not researched | Under the US rule for US flights | Airline page15 | Reported elsewhere |
| Porter Airlines | From a search extract: delayed baggage expense claims within 21 days of the bag being reported delayed. | Not researched | See reporting column | Not researched | Under the US rule for US flights | Airline page16 | Reported elsewhere |
Airline pages and contracts read 15 November 2026. Other airlines' reporting windows from the claim data used on the claim page.
What does the Montreal Convention say about delayed baggage?
On international trips, the 21-day rule decides delayed bag claims. Under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention a delay complaint must be made in writing within 21 days from the date the bag was placed at your disposal. If it is late, no action lies against the airline, except for fraud5.
A separate 21 days works the other way: if the bag has not arrived 21 days after it should have, you can treat it as lost and claim for it5. Damage must be reported within 7 days of getting the bag.
The airline is liable for delay unless it proves it took all reasonable measures to avoid the damage5. Flights from the EU, UK or Canada use the same Convention for bags; the Canadian Transportation Agency lists 21 days for delayed baggage claims15.
How long does an airline have to find your bag?
No US rule sets a deadline to find a bag. The deadlines that matter are the bag fee refund at 12 hours domestic (15 or 30 hours international)4, the airline's own point for treating it as lost, and the 21 days after which the Montreal Convention lets you claim it as lost on an international trip5.
American asks for an online claim once a bag has been missing 5 or more days6. Delta takes property loss claims from day 6 and treats a bag as likely lost after 21 days7. Southwest points to its claim portal after 5 days9.
Delta delayed baggage compensation
Report: In person at the Delta Baggage Service Office before you leave; no time limit stated for a delay.
What it repays: Basic interim needs: essential clothing, toiletries, personal care. No daily amount; each claim reviewed. Itemised receipts.
Claim deadline: Not stated on the page. Lost bag: Property loss claim from 6 days; likely lost after 21 days. Bag fee: 12 hours domestic, 15 hours (flights of 12 hours or less) or 30 hours international7.
The airline's own baggage page. Hub page: Delta cancellations, refunds and waivers.
American Airlines delayed baggage compensation
Report: Within 4 hours of arriving on a US flight (12 hours with Bags VIP delivery); before leaving the airport on an international flight.
What it repays: Reasonable and necessary items you need immediately while away from home. Original dated itemised receipts.
Claim deadline: Within 30 days of the delay. Lost bag: Online claim once the bag has been missing 5 or more days. Bag fee: Under the US rule: 12 hours domestic, 15 or 30 hours international6.
The airline's own baggage page. Hub page: American Airlines cancellations, refunds and waivers.
What counts as reasonable while you wait
Delta names essential clothing, toiletries and personal care items, and reviews each claim on necessity, timing, location and the length of the delay7. American pays for "reasonable and necessary items you need immediately"6. DOT has fined airlines for daily caps, including US$30 a day at Hawaiian3.
Buy what you need for the days without the bag and keep it in proportion. If the bag is lost for good, American deducts what it already paid from the final settlement.
On 13 and 14 November, bags were the smaller problem
Travellers at Raleigh waited about three hours for checked bags17. Seattle-Tacoma officials said baggage problems were minimal and sent passengers to their airlines18. At Dallas/Fort Worth bag check was paused while carry-on passengers went through19. Beyond those reports the event data holds little on bags.
Card and insurance baggage delay cover
Many travel policies and premium cards pay a baggage delay benefit after a waiting period. Our cover data focuses on trip delay and does not yet list baggage delay benefits, so check your own wording. The claim guide covers the documents insurers ask for: the file reference, the airline's answer and your receipts.
Questions people ask
How much am I entitled to for delayed baggage?
Reasonable costs you can show, such as clothing and toiletries, up to US$4,700 on a US domestic trip or 1,519 SDR (about US$2,046) on an international one. There is no fixed daily sum.
How long is considered delayed baggage?
For bag fee refunds, 12 hours on a US domestic trip and 15 or 30 hours internationally. On international trips a bag still missing 21 days after it should have arrived can be treated as lost.
Will I get compensation for delayed baggage?
You can claim reasonable costs the delay caused, with receipts, and your bag fee back once the bag is 12 hours late on a US trip. No fixed payment exists.
What happens if my checked-in baggage is delayed?
Report it before leaving the airport, get a file reference, and the airline traces and delivers it. You claim essentials you buy meanwhile.
How long before delayed luggage is declared lost?
It varies: American asks for a claim after 5 days, Delta treats a bag as likely lost after 21 days, and the Montreal Convention lets you treat it as lost after 21 days.
Do I get my bag fee back?
Yes, if the bag is lost or arrives more than 12 hours late on a US domestic trip (15 or 30 hours internationally) and you filed a report.
Can I claim without receipts?
The airlines read all ask for itemised receipts. Card statements help for lost-bag claims, but expect the airline to ask for proof.
What does the Montreal Convention pay for delayed baggage?
Proven loss from the delay up to 1,519 SDR per passenger, unless the airline proves it took all reasonable measures. Complain in writing within 21 days of getting the bag back.
How much does Delta pay for delayed baggage?
Delta names essential clothing, toiletries and personal care items, reviews each claim, and publishes no daily amount. The legal ceiling is US$4,700 on a US domestic trip.
How much does American Airlines pay for delayed baggage?
Reasonable and necessary items you need immediately, with original dated itemised receipts, claimed within 30 days of the delay.
More on cancellations, delays and claims
Sources
19 sources
Every figure links to its source. "Checked at source" means the law, the regulator's page or the airline's own page was read on or before 15 November 2026. "Reported elsewhere" means it came through another outlet, a search extract of the official page, or a figure worked out from project data. Sources that also feed the main page link to the methodology page.
- eCFR, 14 CFR Part 254 (as at 12 November 2026) Checked at source
- ICAO news release, 18 October 2024 Checked at source · methodology ref 406
- US DOT, Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Baggage (search-index extract and the project's 15 November 2026 search analysis; transportation.gov refused direct reading) Reported elsewhere
- eCFR, 14 CFR 260.5 (as at 12 November 2026) Checked at source
- Montreal Convention 1999, Schedule 1B to the UK Carriage by Air Act 1961 Checked at source · methodology ref 93
- American Airlines, Delayed or damaged bags Checked at source
- Delta Air Lines, Delayed, lost or damaged baggage Checked at source
- United Airlines, Issues with your checked bags (search-index extract; united.com timed out to every request) Reported elsewhere
- Southwest Airlines, Delayed, Lost, or Damaged Baggage; Customer Service Plan effective 16 October 2026 Checked at source
- Alaska Airlines Contract of Carriage, revised 25 August 2026 (PDF) Checked at source
- JetBlue, Customer Service Plan Checked at source
- Frontier Airlines, baggage terms Checked at source
- Allegiant Air, baggage terms Checked at source
- Breeze Airways, baggage terms Checked at source
- Air Canada, baggage terms Reported elsewhere
- Porter Airlines, baggage terms Reported elsewhere
- ABC11 WTVD Checked at source · methodology ref 313
- KOMO News Checked at source · methodology ref 384
- FOX 4 Dallas Checked at source · methodology ref 380