Bags go missing for boring reasons: a tight connection, a mis read tag, a container left behind when the hold was full. The good news is that the large majority turn up within a few days. The bad news is that the process only starts when you file a report, and it has to be filed before you leave the airport.
So the first rule is simple. Do not go home and file tomorrow.
Delayed, lost, or something else
Airlines treat a bag as delayed at first. After a period that is usually around twenty one days, it is formally declared lost, and the claim moves from expenses to compensation for the bag and its contents.
That distinction matters because the two stages have different paperwork and different deadlines. Both start from the same report you file at the airport.
Step by step
Step 1: File a report at the baggage desk before leaving
Find the baggage service desk in the arrivals hall, usually near the carousels. You will receive a property irregularity report with a reference code, often five letters and five digits. Check that your address, phone and email are correct on it, and photograph the document.
Step 2: Give a description that a stranger can match
Brand, colour, hard or soft shell, wheels, stickers, ribbons, anything unusual. Add the tag number from your boarding pass stub. If you have a photo of the bag, show it. Vague descriptions are the main reason bags sit unmatched in a warehouse.
Step 3: Track it, and keep the file open
Most airlines have an online tracing page tied to your reference. Check it daily and add any new address if you are moving hotels. Silence does not mean progress, so a short polite message every couple of days keeps the file visible.
Step 4: Buy essentials and keep every receipt
You are normally allowed to buy reasonable replacements: toiletries, underwear, a change of clothes, and work items if needed. Keep it proportionate, keep receipts, and submit them with the reference. Extravagant shopping tends to be refused.
Step 5: Move to a formal claim if it is not found
If the bag is still missing after the airline's tracing period, submit a written claim with an inventory and, where possible, proof of value. Deadlines for written claims are short in some jurisdictions, so send something in writing early even if the list is incomplete.
Prevention for next time
- Photograph your bag and its contents before you fly.
- Put a tag with your phone number inside the bag as well as outside.
- Keep medication, documents, keys and chargers in the cabin.
- A cheap tracker in the bag turns an argument into a location.