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My baggage is missing. What should I do at the airport?
A missing bag should be reported before you leave the baggage area. The desk may be busy and the form may look routine, but this is the record that connects your bag tag, itinerary, and delivery address.
What to do first
- Stay in the baggage claim area until you file a report.
- Find your bag tag receipt from check-in.
- Give a delivery address that will work for the next 24 to 48 hours.
- Photograph receipts for emergency purchases.
Step-by-step instructions
- Step 1
Check nearby belts and oversized baggage areas. Bags sometimes arrive on a different belt or are removed by staff.
- Step 2
Go to the airline or ground handling baggage desk for the last operating airline on your journey.
- Step 3
File a missing baggage report and get the reference number. A verbal promise is not enough.
- Step 4
Describe the bag plainly: color, size, brand, hard or soft shell, tags, ribbons, or damage.
- Step 5
Ask how tracking updates will arrive and whether delivery can be changed if your hotel or address changes.
- Step 6
Buy only essential items and keep receipts. Rules differ, but reasonable records are useful.
Important things to check
- Bag tag number
- Report reference number
- Delivery address and phone number
- Essential medication or valuables
- Time limits for claims
Common mistakes
- Leaving the airport before making a report
- Reporting the issue to the wrong airline
- Giving a hotel address without room or booking name
- Throwing away bag tag stickers
What to do next
After filing the report, monitor the tracking page and keep your phone reachable. If the bag arrives damaged or very late, keep photos and receipts together.
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