{"id":352723,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/travel-rules-and-rights\/lost-baggage-compensation-and-the-law.html"},"modified":"2024-02-28T14:34:31","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T19:34:31","slug":"lost-baggage-compensation-and-the-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/travel-rules-and-rights\/lost-baggage-compensation-and-the-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Lost Baggage Compensation and the Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lost Baggage Compensation and the Law<\/h1>\n
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\n By Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

There are laws in place to protect your baggage when you fly. With airlines earning revenue from baggage fees, they should adequately compensate you for delayed or lost bags.<\/p>\r\n

You can’t always cram everything into a carry-on, so sometimes checking bags is unavoidable<\/a>. Even if you’ve never dealt with lost or delayed baggage, it’s not uncommon to feel relieved when you see your luggage on the baggage claim carousel.<\/p>\r\n

Read on to learn more about legal protections<\/a> for your belongings when you fly. You’ll also find guidance on what to do in the event of lost or delayed luggage.<\/p>\r\n

What Laws Protect My Baggage?<\/h2>\r\n

The U.S. Department of Transportation<\/a> (DOT) regulates airline carriers. It issues rules governing its business practices, ranging from advertising to policies governing lost baggage<\/a>. Below are a few critical rules protecting your baggage while you fly.<\/p>\r\n

Disclosure of Baggage Policies<\/h3>\r\n

Air carriers must disclose their baggage policies<\/a>, including those relating to fees and lost baggage compensation. They also must publish their contracts of carriage<\/a> on their websites in an easily accessible form.<\/p>\r\n

These contracts cover an airline’s legal obligations for lost or damaged baggage. The Department of Transportation has fined airline carriers for disclosing inaccurate information about lost baggage compensation. This includes instances where they fail to update liability limits<\/a> set by the DOT.<\/p>\r\n

Liability Limits for Lost Baggage<\/h3>\r\n

Airline carriers can legally limit their liability<\/a> for lost or damaged baggage, but those limits are set by the Department of Transportation for domestic flights and by the Montreal Convention<\/a> (an international treaty) for international flights. The liability limits<\/a> are:<\/p>\r\n