Lost Luggage on International Flights: The $2,000 Claim Most Miss

Lost luggage international flight compensation under the Montreal Convention is capped at 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger, which converts to roughly USD 1,800 at current exchange rates. Most passengers receive USD 200 to USD 600 because the airline's first offer is anchored to its cheapest settlement formula, not the legal cap. The Convention applies to international carriage between any of the 130-plus state parties (US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Mexico, and most other commercial aviation markets). The 2024 DOT refund rule does not affect baggage liability. Domestic US flights are governed by 14 CFR Part 254 with a separate USD 3,800 per-passenger limit.

The Montreal Convention cap is roughly USD 1,800 per passenger, not per bag. The $2,000 figure in the headline reflects pre-2025 exchange rates plus typical full-claim settlements with proper documentation.

Article 31 of the Montreal Convention requires written complaint within 21 days from the date the baggage was placed at the disposal of the passenger (delayed bag) or from the date the carrier should have delivered the bag (lost bag). Missing the 21-day window does not automatically void the claim, but it shifts the burden of proof and gives the airline a procedural defence. File the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the baggage office before leaving the airport, then send a formal written notice within 21 days citing the convention. See baggage claim deadline don't miss it and delayed baggage 24 hour and 72 hour rules.

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  PIR (Property Irregularity Report): filed at the baggage office before leaving the airport. Contains a unique reference number you will use on every subsequent communication.

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  Itemised list of bag contents: written from memory immediately while still in airport or hotel. Include estimated value per item.

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  Receipts for purchased contents: clothes, electronics, gifts, prescription items. Photos of receipts on phone are evidence.

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  Photos of the bag: pre-trip photos showing the bag and any visible contents are gold for proving ownership and condition.

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  Replacement purchase receipts during delay: airline must reimburse reasonable interim replacement costs (clothing, toiletries) for delayed bags.

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  Itinerary and boarding passes: show the international carriage that triggers Montreal Convention.

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  Bag tag stub: the airline's own claim ticket linking the bag to your booking.

Airlines often offer USD 200 to USD 600 as a first response, framed as a 'goodwill gesture' or 'estimated value of contents'. The internal settlement formula typically caps at USD 25 to USD 50 per pound of checked weight, then applies a depreciation discount. This formula has no legal basis under the Montreal Convention, which sets a per-passenger cap, not a per-pound formula. Reject the formula offer in writing and resubmit your itemised claim with receipts citing Article 22(2). Most airlines escalate to a higher settlement when pushed. See airline baggage value declaration: is it worth it and damaged luggage compensation step by step.

The first offer is almost never the legal cap. Reject in writing, cite Article 22(2), resubmit with itemised receipts. Airlines settle higher when the documentation supports the higher number.

Most airlines declare a bag officially lost after 21 to 35 days of non-recovery. Until then, it is classified as 'delayed' with different rules and remedies. During the delay window, the airline owes reasonable interim expenses (clothing, toiletries, specific items needed for the trip purpose). Once the bag is declared lost, the Montreal Convention compensation cap applies as a final settlement. The transition window matters: file your interim expenses while the bag is delayed, then file the lost-bag claim once officially declared lost. See delayed baggage vs lost baggage: different rules different money and lost and damaged baggage 2026 guide.

Airlines exclude high-value items (electronics, jewelry, cash, irreplaceable documents) from baggage liability under their contracts of carriage. The Montreal Convention cap still applies in theory but the airline can argue contributory negligence for not declaring high-value contents. Pre-flight value declaration (typically USD 5 to USD 10 per USD 100 declared) increases the cap. For a USD 5,000 laptop, declaring value is the right move. For trip-typical contents under USD 1,800, the standard cap covers you and declaration is not worth the fee. See airline baggage value declaration: is it worth it and Montreal Convention baggage limit 2026.

Most travel insurance and premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum) include baggage delay and lost baggage coverage on top of airline liability. Typical card coverage: USD 500 to USD 1,000 per delayed bag, USD 1,000 to USD 3,000 per lost bag, secondary to airline liability. Stack the recovery: airline pays Montreal Convention compensation up to USD 1,800, then card coverage fills any remaining gap up to its own cap. See baggage claim vs travel insurance: double recovery and does your credit card cover flight delays: what the fine print says.

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   File the PIR at the baggage office before leaving the airport. Save the reference number.

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   Within 24 hours, write the itemised list of bag contents from memory. Include estimated values.

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   Within 7 days, gather receipts and photos of receipts where available. Photo your phone for older receipts.

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   Within 21 days, send a formal written notice citing Montreal Convention Article 22(2). Demand cap-level settlement.

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   If the airline offers a lowball settlement formula (USD 25 to USD 50 per pound), reject in writing and resubmit with receipts.

6. 6

   If the airline declares the bag lost, file the formal lost-bag claim and demand cap-level settlement (1,288 SDR, roughly USD 1,800).

7. 7

   Stack with travel insurance and credit card coverage. File those claims in parallel.

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   If the airline refuses, file a DOT complaint at transportation.gov/airconsumer or the relevant national enforcement body.

TravelStacks files baggage claims for a flat fee. For the broader picture, see the airline lost baggage compensation pillar. Start a claim.