What to do if luggage is lost during the flight?
Here it is a long-awaited trip, the flight is behind, it is left to go through customs and get luggage. You go to the delivery tape and you wait. It takes 5 minutes, 10 minutes, then 15. It seems that all the passengers have already received their belongings and left.
The black ribbon was empty, and the treasured suitcase never appeared. The feeling of panic increases with every second. What to do and where to run? Is the baggage lost and the trip ruined? Stop! We have prepared detailed instructions for returning baggage to its owner.
The most important thing is that you need to calm down, in no case give in to panic.
Once again check the number of the tape and flight, often after a difficult flight, passengers mistakenly wait for their luggage in the wrong place. If you do not accidentally notice your luggage, and all other things have already been disassembled, the airport staff will unload it at the final point. Just in case, check if he was there.
Many people are unaware of the fact that fragile and oversized items, as well as strollers and musical instruments, are often issued separately from the main luggage. Check with the airport staff, perhaps the treasured luggage is simply in another place.
If things are not found, do not despair! The Moscow airport gives quite encouraging statistics: 13 suitcases are lost per 1000 passengers, and 85% of them are found and returned to the owner in the first 46 hours after the disappearance.
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What if your luggage is lost?
Do not put off the search until later! By law, you have only 7 days to report a missing person, then "write missing" and bitter memories of lost things.
The first step is to find the Lost & Foundation. Usually, it is located near the baggage claim area and is indicated by a plate.
Next, we make two identical statements about disappearance – one goes to the airline, the other we keep. Most often, ready-made forms are provided, where it remains to enter your data, but sometimes the application is written in free form. If we are outside Russia, we will have to write the application in the official language of the country where we are located.
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What should be stated in the statement:
• FIO
• Contact information (phone number or email address, place of residence)
• The flight number you were flying.
• How many bags/suitcases are missing
• describe the appearance (color, brand, dimensions, special signs), indicate if the luggage was packed in a special film or cover.
Describe the contents of your baggage – a couple of characteristic things that will help identify your luggage.
In addition, you will need your passport details and a copy of the luggage tag. Remember, the originals of all documents (tags, tickets, etc.) must remain with you. If the case goes to trial, you'll need it.
When all the papers are filled out, you will receive a special number, according to which you can follow the search for things through the Internet on the airline’s website or using the World Tracer search service.
Do not forget to take the phone number of the search service, if there are any problems with the sites, you can contact the airport directly.
Everything that depended on us, we did. Now we just have to wait. Baggage is usually found in the first 46 hours, but according to international standards, 21 days are allowed to search.
When your suitcase is found, the staff will notify you. The estimated time and date of arrival at the desired airport will also be reported. Usually such things are sent on the next flight, and the arrival period varies from 1 to 3 days. When the luggage is delivered to the airport, the staff will call you again to discuss a convenient way of delivery: you come for your luggage, or it is delivered by the airline.
With the second method is not so simple, some companies require an additional application with a request for delivery, it is written when drawing up a statement of loss and it is better to clarify this point with employees. If you do not have confidence in the work of employees, then independently follow the search on the World Tracer resource or periodically call the airport.
After 21 days of searching for baggage, items are officially considered lost. Now we can talk about compensation.
How to get compensation from the airline?
The first thing we do is write a complaint, this time directly for compensation. We send it to the airline that lost our luggage. There will be more time, but it is still not worth delaying. 2 years from the date of registration of the loss of luggage.
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How much money can I get for lost luggage?
Find out where the airline is registered. Different countries regulate different instruments.
1 document - the Warsaw Convention, created in 1929.
According to the rules of this agreement, the compensation is 17 dollars for each kilogram of luggage, the amount is frankly small. If your suitcase is somehow not weighed, then its weight is automatically set at 35 kg.
2 document - the Montreal Convention, established in 1999, a more modern version, with pleasant prices. According to the rules of this agreement, the maximum you will receive is 1000 SDR (approximately 1200 – 1400 euros depending on the airline).
More than 100 countries work under the Montreal Convention, but until recently Russia worked under the Warsaw Convention. Just the other day there was a transition to a new version, which can not but rejoice. Unfortunately, Belarus and a number of other states are now sticking to the old order.
As for Russia, the total compensation for lost luggage increased from about 600 rubles per 1 kg to 90 thousand rubles! Also, passengers were allowed to sue the airline at the place of residence of the passenger, and not at the place of registration of the airline.
If the airline refuses to pay you compensation, the case goes to court, fortunately, this practice is considered quite rare. The airline usually meets the passenger.
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Rules to reduce the risk of loss of luggage:
• Remove all stickers and tags from your luggage to avoid confusion.
Wrap your luggage in a special film or cover – this will reduce the desire to open it and steal something;
add a distinctive feature to your suitcase - tie a ribbon, bow, or choose an unusual design of the case, so that no one could confuse your suitcase with his;
• You can attach an additional tag with your contact information to your luggage;
• if several transfers are planned, specify the exact registration of your belongings;
If you are afraid of your luggage, take out insurance.
Text by Alesya Kurzaeva
Photo: isla-margarita, 73.rodina, pinterest