Airline Lost, Delayed & Damaged Baggage Compensation Calculator
Calculate your maximum statutory airline baggage reimbursement under the US DOT ($4,700 limit) and the Montreal Convention (1,519 SDR / ~$2,000 international limit).
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3. How the rule works
Who this is for
Travellers whose checked bag was delayed, damaged or lost on a US domestic or international flight and who want to know the liability limits and claim deadlines.
Keep the receipts; airlines reimburse reasonable, documented costs, not estimates.
What to have ready
- The airport file reference (PIR).
- Your bag tag and boarding pass.
- Receipts for essential purchases.
- Photos of any damage and an estimate of the contents' value.
The rule
For US domestic flights, 14 C.F.R. § 254.4 sets the minimum liability an airline may limit itself to for lost, damaged or delayed baggage, adjusted for inflation every two years. For international trips, Article 22(2) of the Montreal Convention limits liability to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger (the limit in effect since December 2024), unless the passenger declared a higher value. The airline is liable for reasonable, documented losses up to those limits.
Article 31 of the Montreal Convention requires a written complaint within 7 days of receiving a damaged bag, and within 21 days of receiving a delayed bag. Under Article 17(3), a bag that has not arrived 21 days after it should have can be treated as lost. Separately, US rules now require airlines to refund checked bag fees for significantly delayed bags.
Read the official text:
Worked example: a bag delayed five days
A passenger on an international flight from Chicago to Rome receives her bag five days late. She bought clothes and toiletries with receipts totalling $430.
Applicable rule = Montreal Convention (international) Liability limit = 1,519 SDR (about $2,000, varies with exchange rates) Claim for necessities = $430 with receipts Deadline = written claim within 21 days of receiving the bag Also ask = refund of the checked bag fee
Common mistakes
- Leaving the airport without a file reference (Property Irregularity Report).
- Missing the 7-day deadline for damage claims, which some passengers confuse with the 21-day delay deadline.
- Claiming replacement cost for old items. Airlines usually pay depreciated value.
- Packing valuables, electronics or medicine in checked bags; airlines often exclude them.
Limits of this tool
- Liability limits vary by itinerary and are adjusted over time; check the current figures.
- The SDR is converted at the exchange rate on the relevant date.
- Travel insurance or credit card benefits may cover what the airline does not.
Sources were last checked in October 2026. Statutes are amended often; if the official text differs from this page, the official text controls.
4. Clear Next Steps & Statutory Action Plan
- Report the problem at the airport and get a file reference.
- Keep receipts for reasonable purchases and photos of any damage.
- Submit a written claim before the deadline and keep proof that you sent it.
5. Frequently Asked Statutory Questions (14 C.F.R. § 254.4 (US DOT Domestic $4,700 Cap); Montreal Convention Art. 17 & Art. 22(2) (1,519 SDR Cap))
Can an airline limit delayed-bag expenses to a fixed daily amount?
The US Department of Transportation has said airlines must reimburse reasonable, verifiable expenses caused by delayed bags rather than relying only on a fixed daily amount. Keep receipts and buy only what you need.
When is a bag legally lost?
Under the Montreal Convention, a passenger can treat a bag as lost if it has not arrived 21 days after it should have.
What is the international liability limit?
1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger under the Montreal Convention, unless a higher value was declared and paid for at check-in.
Can I claim for items I had to rent, such as ski gear?
Reasonable costs caused by the delay, including renting essentials you would otherwise have had, are generally claimable up to the liability limit if you keep receipts.
What if the airline says damage was normal wear?
Airlines commonly exclude minor scuffs and wear. Photos taken at the airport and a repair estimate help show that the damage was more than ordinary handling marks.
Does the airline have to refund my bag fee?
US rules require airlines to refund checked bag fees when a bag is significantly delayed, as defined in the regulation for domestic and international flights.