Flight baggage - Agency for Passenger Rights

What rights do passengers have in the event of baggage delays?

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 receipt of the re-delivered baggage! The subsequent delivery of the suitcase must be 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

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.

Carry valuable or urgently needed items in your hand luggage. The airline is only liable up to the maximum amount of 1,288 "special drawing rights" per passenger, which currently corresponds to approx. 1,600 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 charge - or if additional baggage insurance is taken out.

What rights do passengers have in the event of lost 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) .

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 the maximum amount of 1,288 "special drawing rights" per passenger, which currently corresponds to approx. 1,600 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: Austrian Airlines, Easy Jet Europe and Peoples Air

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