Flight rights: what to do when your bags don’t arrive with you

It is a sinking feeling when you realise your bag is not going to appear no matter how long you wait at the carousel. Across the airline industry there is a standardised way to deal with lost baggage, it is called the Montreal Convention.

It begins with completing the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before you leave the airport, if possible. Also give a telephone number and address. The vast majority of baggage does turn up within a few days. Usually it has been misrouted or maybe a label came off. Make sure to put your name and telephone number inside and outside your bags.

I once received a call at 6.30am in Dublin Airport from a baggage handler. The label had come off my bag and he called to find out which flight I was on.

If your bag does not turn up after 24 hours, you are entitled to claim reasonable expenses. Some airlines will provide you with an overnight pack. Air France used to include a condom along with a T-shirt and toothpaste.

Your baggage will not be considered lost until 21 days have passed. The airlines limit what compensation they pay to about €1,200 maximum. That is why you need travel insurance. However, read the small print carefully, most items will not be replaced for their full value. Never pack anything in your baggage that you would truly hate to lose.

Not too far in the future all baggage will have integrated tracking devices/chips and will be easilyfound.

A friend’s baggage was lost on the way to the Caribbean. Six months later she received a call from someone in Aer Lingus who happened to be passing through the same airport and noticed the familiar tag. Curiosity urged him to take her number from the tag. Her bag was returned and the only thing damaged was the underwiring of her bras which had rusted.

jscales@irishtimes.com