The airlines have been bragging about their improved handling of checked luggage recently, based on Department of Transportation data showing that only 3 out of every 1,000 passengers reported a bag lost, delayed, damaged or pilfered in 2012. Although that's the lowest level of mishandled baggage since the government started collecting reports in 1987, this statistic doesn't tell the full story.
First, it doesn't include bags that go astray during international flights, or flights operated by Spirit Airlines and smaller regional carriers, which are not required to report this information. It also doesn't reflect the fact that fewer passengers are checking luggage to avoid baggage fees — so the airlines' improved performance is mostly due to about half as many bags being checked since the fees were instituted.
And it doesn't capture the headaches travelers often face when their bag is one of the roughly two million pieces of luggage that disappear, arrive late, become damaged or experience theft every year. Among the tales of woe friends have shared with me recently — a bag's contents shredded en route, fishing gear that arrived late, a 12-hour window to wait for a delayed bag's delivery — the common theme was an unhelpful response by the airline.
"You have to know your rights and basically fight for them because the airline is not going to offer them to you," said Charlie Leocha, director of the Consumer Travel Alliance, a passenger advocacy group.
Government regulations leave a lot of wiggle room for airlines to stonewall customers who report baggage problems. Here is what you can expect to face if you have to deal with a luggage problem, along with some tips on how to keep track of your bags.
Filing a Claim
Collecting compensation is complicated by the fact that policies vary depending on whether your baggage trouble happened on an international or a domestic flight, and the rules give airlines a lot of leeway to decide how much they'll reimburse you.
Bill Mosley, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said airlines must compensate passengers for "provable loss" resulting from delayed, lost or damaged baggage up to $3,300 per passenger for domestic flights and up to $1,742 for international flights (a number negotiated by treaty that varies with exchange rates). "This would include claims for incidental expenses like buying clothing and toiletries when a consumer's baggage is delayed," Mr. Mosley wrote in an e-mail.
Since these amounts are upper limits on what passengers can claim, airlines typically require travelers to submit receipts documenting the value of lost items, or the cost of "reasonable" interim expenses like toiletries or underwear while a bag is delayed. Airlines often say they must first authorize these expenses (check your carrier's Web site for policy details), which gives them the discretion to decide if they'll pay only for a toothbrush and a T-shirt, or for a new suit for a meeting you can't miss.
Another hurdle is the time limit on filing a claim. For international flights, Mr. Mosley said passengers must file a claim for damaged luggage within seven days of the flight, and within 21 days after you receive a bag that has been delayed. For domestic flights, the time limit varies by airline, but can be narrow: United asks customers to submit a written report of a delayed bag within four hours of the flight's arrival, and most airlines give passengers just 24 hours to report damage to a bag. If you miss this deadline, chances are your claim will be denied. One positive change is that airlines now have to reimburse the checked bag fees they charge if your luggage is lost — thought not if it's delayed. Delta's Web site says the carrier "may" offer a customer a travel credit for $25 to $50 off a future flight if a bag is delayed more than 12 hours. However, carriers are prohibited from limiting their liability to less than the amounts mentioned above, so you do not have to accept a travel voucher instead of a check for your expenses, especially if the voucher is for a lower amount.
Pressing Your Case
After you contact the airline about a baggage problem, you may encounter resistance along the path to getting paid for your claim. Two friends told me that after many phone calls and e-mails reporting a luggage mishap, they gave up on trying to collect any compensation, a reaction that isn't uncommon, passenger advocates say.
"If you feel like you've been given the runaround or you weren't given compensation and you had to spend money out of your pocket because the airline didn't deliver your bag, send a complaint to the D.O.T.," Mr. Leocha, of the Consumer Travel Alliance, said.
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