My luggage is lost, delayed or damaged — who pays?

Direct answer

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, ANPC — drepturile pasagerilor (021 9551) supervises airlines in Romania; Centrul European al Consumatorilor România (eccromania.ro) helps against an airline based elsewhere in the EU; your travel insurer, and ASF — Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară (SAL-Fin) (0800 825 627) if it refuses, covers the rest.

Call firstANPC — drepturile pasagerilor

Report toCentrul European al Consumatorilor România

If that failsASF — Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară (SAL-Fin)

🗣️ 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: ANPC — drepturile pasagerilor, Centrul European al Consumatorilor RomâniaThe 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; ASF — Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară (SAL-Fin) decides if they refuse.

📇 All contacts

ANPC — drepturile pasagerilorNational enforcement body for passenger rights (EU 261)When the airline refuses or is silent for 6–8 weeks📞 021 9551 🔗 anpc.ro/drepturile-pasagerilor

Centrul European al Consumatorilor RomâniaFree help with sellers in other EU countriesSeller in another EU country, Norway or Iceland🔗 www.eccromania.ro

ASF — Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară (SAL-Fin)ADR with insurersAfter the insurer's refusal📞 0800 825 627 🔗 www.salfin.ro

CSALB — Centrul de Soluționare Alternativă a Litigiilor în domeniul BancarFree conciliation with banks and lendersAfter complaining to the bank without a solution📞 021 9414 🔗 www.csalb.ro

❓ 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

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

“lost luggage compensation Romania”
“delayed baggage airline claim deadline”
“damaged suitcase airline claim”
“montreal convention baggage limit”
“airline refuses luggage claim”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

Your tools for Romania

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · RomaniaElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Romania, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.

🧳 My luggage is lost, delayed or damaged — who pays?