Delayed baggage in Europe follows a fairly standard process across airlines, largely because the same international rules apply and most large hubs use similar handling agents.
Two numbers matter: file the report before leaving the airport, and submit written claims within twenty one days of the bag being delivered to you.
The framework behind the process
Baggage liability on international flights sits under the Montreal Convention, which sets a maximum per passenger covering delay, damage and loss. That maximum is a ceiling, not a payout, you claim actual reasonable costs.
Airlines usually reimburse essential purchases while you wait. Some publish a daily limit, others assess afterwards. Keeping purchases modest and documented is what makes the claim smooth.
Step by step
Step 1: File the property irregularity report at the airport
The baggage desk in the arrivals hall issues it, and you need the reference for everything afterwards. Confirm your address in Europe for the coming days, delivery is normally to an address rather than a pickup.
Step 2: Track through the airline's tracing system
World Tracer references are the common standard, and most European carriers give you an online status page. Check daily and update the address if you move city, which is a very common reason bags go astray a second time.
Step 3: Buy essentials and document them
Toiletries, basic clothing, and anything genuinely needed for a business commitment. Keep receipts with dates. If you are on a longer trip, buy in stages rather than everything at once, it looks proportionate and usually is.
Step 4: Submit the written claim
Send it to the operating airline, not the seller of the ticket, with the report reference, boarding pass, receipts and bank details. Do this within twenty one days of receiving the bag. If the bag never appears, it converts to a loss claim after the tracing period.
