My luggage is lost, delayed or damaged — who pays?
The airline, under the Montreal Convention, up to about €1,600 per passenger — but only if you report before leaving the airport (the PIR form at the baggage desk) and claim in writing within 7 days for damage, 21 days for delay. Keep receipts for essentials you buy while waiting. If the airline refuses or ignores you, DGAC — Direction générale de l'aviation civile (ecologie.gouv.fr) supervises airlines in France; Centre Européen des Consommateurs France (europe-consommateurs.eu) helps against an airline based elsewhere in the EU; your travel insurer, and Médiation de l'Assurance (mediation-assurance.org) if it refuses, covers the rest.
🗣️ What to say
"Flight [number] on [date], PIR [number]. My bag [tag number] is [missing / delayed since / damaged: what]. Under the Montreal Convention I claim [the value of the contents and the bag / the cost of essentials / the repair], [amount], receipts attached, within the 7/21-day deadline."
🪜 Step by step
- Before you leave the airportBaggage desk, PIR report, keep the reference and the bag-tag stub.
- Buy essentials, keep receiptsReasonable: toiletries, underwear, a change of clothes. The airline reimburses.
- Written claim within 7 / 21 daysDamage 7 days, delay 21 days from delivery. Lost = not returned after 21 days: claim the contents with a list and any proof.
- Refusal: DGAC — Direction générale de l'aviation civile, Centre Européen des Consommateurs FranceThe aviation authority or the ECC for a foreign airline; the ADR body if the airline is a member.
- InsurerTravel or contents insurance tops up above the airline's limit; Médiation de l'Assurance decides if they refuse.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
What is the maximum?
About 1,288 SDR — roughly €1,600 — per passenger for all baggage, unless you declared a higher value at check-in. Above that, insurance.
They gave me a voucher
You can insist on money for a Montreal claim; vouchers are optional.
Damaged wheels and handles
Airlines like to exclude them; the Convention does not. Claim anyway and escalate.
📎 Sources
- DGAC — Direction générale de l'aviation civile →
- Centre Européen des Consommateurs France →
- Médiation de l'Assurance →
- Médiateur de la consommation →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “lost luggage compensation France”
- “delayed baggage airline claim deadline”
- “damaged suitcase airline claim”
- “montreal convention baggage limit”
- “airline refuses luggage claim”
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