What is typical compensation if the airlines loses your bag?

Question

I flew business class from Amsterdam to Austin and my bag has now been lost for 5 days. What is the typical compensation for this? Is there a set amount? Does it matter that I had about $4500 worth of photography equipment and clothes in the bag? It was an American Airlines flight, operated by British Airways.

Answer 1

Check the airline website, but I believe the most is $500 or less. Sorry for you lost but, personally, anyone who has that amount of photography equipment in checked baggage is only asking for it to be stolen.

Answer 2

First - they pay nothing unless the bags are lost for more than 3 days (so you are OK there!). THey are a bit flexible based on your loss. If you keep the receipts (usually for new clothes) they may pay more than the lost bag cost (they did this with me - all my clothing reciepts they paid for). Another time they paid for my ski rentals when they lost my skiis for several days on a ski vacation. In conclusion - there is no way they will pay you $4500 for camera stuff - but if you have clothing receipts or some subset for the $4500 (maybe $1000 of it) they may do that. Also - the bags may turn up.

FYI - when I lost my bags and they could not find them for 5 days - I went to the destination airport and asked to see all the lost bags. They let me into a big room - I walked around - and saw my bag on the shelf. Not sure why they did not know it was there (the baggage tag was still on it!). I got it that day - yours is probably sitting there too.

Answer 3

This is from American's website.

Q: What are American Airlines Liability Limitations for lost baggage?
A: Items not covered in our limit of liability include, but are not limited to: camera equipment, jewelry, computers, cash (whether checked or carry-on), antiques, artwork, books and documents, china, videos, optical equipment or any other similar items. Passengers should carry these items with them.

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Here's also a link from American's website further detailing their baggage liability. http://www.aa.com/content/customerService/customerCommitment/customerServicePlan.jhtml#Baggage%20Liability

Sorry, but it appears to me that your camera equipment will not be covered.

I think the airlines are going to have to adjust their liability contracts given the stringent security standards for carry on luggage, but it doesn't appear to have changed much since I was a travel agent over 20 years ago. Check to see if your equipment/clothing is covered under your homeowners insurance policy under losing while traveling, some do and some don't--ours does, but we added it. If you have that coverage, that MIGHT be a much easier route to get a truer replacement cost than dealing with the airlines. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

one of those great number of solutions... dude you're very youthful. do not say that "i'm a student so i do not get time for some thing". you've each and every of the time. eat even with the reality that you want to. basically pass outside in evening and play some outside video games. in certain football, Badminton, Cricket and so on and so on. Play as a lot as you are able to. Play football on a daily basis for an hour or 2 and also you'll see the adjustments.

Answer 5

Normally they will pay you US$500 for your luggage. But if you can provide receipts of the contents inside, they may reimburse you with the cost stated. You just need to furnish proof that you had them in your suitcase and the items really existed.

Answer 6

oh, what a nightmare it is.

I think most of them its 500.00 per bag...BUT.. you have to prove you lost it somehow and go through a crazy amount of paperwork. You will be lucky if you ever get anything back. The airlines are somewhat crooked these days.