The apf recommends those affected to keep the expenses for replacement purchases as low as possible (duty to minimize damage) and to keep the original invoices for expenses incurred.
What rights do passengers have in the event of delayed baggage?
If an item of baggage does not arrive at the destination airport, it is important to report this directly at the Lost & Found counter and fill out the PIR form (Property Irregularity Report) .
Passengers are entitled to (partial) reimbursement for necessary replacement purchases depending on the purpose of the trip.
- Clothing costs are usually reimbursed at 50%,
- 100% hygiene products or single-use items.
There are hardly any necessary expenses on the flight home.
Replacement purchases must be reported to the airline within 21 days of receiving the delayed baggage! The delayed baggage must be delivered free of charge.
If the baggage is no longer found, it is considered lost after 21 days.
The legal basis is the Montreal Convention.
Be sure to keep invoices for expenses
Carry valuable or urgently needed items in your carry-on baggage
The airline is only liable up to a maximum amount of 1,519 "special drawing rights" per passenger, which currently corresponds to approximately 1,800 euros. When transporting expensive items, the maximum liability limit can be waived if the items are declared to the airline before the trip—usually for an additional fee—or if additional baggage insurance is taken out.
What rights do passengers have in the event of lost luggage?
If an item of baggage does not arrive at the destination airport, it is important to report this directly at the Lost & Found counter and fill out the PIR form (Property Irregularity Report) .
If the baggage has not been found after 21 days, it is considered lost.
The current value of the lost suitcase and its contents must "only" be substantiated by the passenger. The depreciation of the value of a piece of luggage amounts to approx. 10-30% per year of use.
The legal basis is the Montreal Convention.
Procedure for lost baggage
- Retention of invoices for replacement purchases in compliance with the duty to mitigate losses
- Written notification to the airline
- Precise list of the cost of the baggage and the items lost in it : when the items were purchased and at what price. Send copies of existing invoices.
The airline is only liable up to a maximum amount of 1,519 "special drawing rights" per passenger, which currently corresponds to approximately 1,800 euros, if more expensive items have not been declared in advance.
What compensation is available for damaged baggage?
If an item of baggage arrives damaged at the destination airport, it is important to report this directly at the Lost & Found counter and fill out the PIR form (Property Irregularity Report) .
The airline must be notified within 7 days of receipt of the damaged baggage at the latest.
The legal basis is the Montreal Convention.
Tips for damaged luggage
A cost estimate for the repair only needs to be obtained if the airline actively requests this. Airlines often name specific contractual partners for the settlement of claims.
If there is major damage and the cost of repair is higher than the current value of the suitcase, then only the replacement of the current value and not the price of a new purchase can be claimed.
For which baggage cases is the apf responsible?
apf is responsible for baggage problems in air travel for companies with a branch in Austria .
These include, among others: Austrian Airlines, Easy Jet Europe, Eurowings, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Turkish Airlines and WizzAir
The legal basis is §§ 1 para. 1 and 4 para. 1 no. 4 AStG in conjunction with §§ 1 and 2 no. 2 lit c Federal Act on the Agency for Passenger Rights
Luggage problems?
- Airline based in Austria?
- Lost your luggage?
- Damaged luggage?