Passengers who end up losing their luggage or receiving delayed or damaged goods understand that it can all get stressful. But the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set guidelines in case of loss, damage, or delayed luggage. 

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation guidelines, one can claim up to Rs. 20,000 as compensation for the mentioned scenarios.

Read below this guide to learn how you can claim compensation for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage.

How Can You Claim for Damaged, Delayed, Or Lost Baggage?

Follow the steps given below to learn how you can get compensated for damaged, lost, or delayed baggage.

• Visit the airline’s counter with their boarding pass and fill out the Property Irregularity Report (PIR).

(Note: The PIR is an important document that will contain details about the luggage as well as a reference code to track the luggage.)

• After filling out the PIR form, the airlines will start a search and tracing process.

• If the passenger’s luggage is delayed, then the compensation will be based on the number of hours it’s been delayed. 

Watch Now: How You Can Get Rs 20,000 In Return On Broken Luggage?

Lost Baggage

If the passenger claims that their luggage is lost,

• The passenger can also claim compensation for luggage loss to cover the essential items they need while they wait for their luggage.

• After filling out the PIR, the airlines will start the search for the missing luggage. 

• The luggage will only be claimed as lost by the airlines after 21 days of filling out the PIR.

• After 21 days, the passenger can claim up to Rs. 20,000 as compensation.

Damaged Baggage

If the passenger claims that their luggage has been damaged,

• They can claim their compensation, given that the luggage isn’t damaged due to overpacking or intentional actions by the passenger. 

• The airline can also compensate by giving the passenger replacement luggage.

Delayed Baggage

The passengers are also liable for compensation in the event of delayed baggage. If all the necessary criteria are satisfied, the minimum compensation would be Rs 1,000 per kg for delays.

However, passengers will not be allowed to claim compensation for valuable items, unchecked luggage, issues with the bag components, overpacking, fragile items, and more. Passengers are also recommended to take a photo of the inside and outside of their luggage so that the claim for compensation will be easier.

Conclusion

It is important to stay updated on such topics, as it will come in handy if such a situation arises. Since most passengers are not even aware of their rights as consumers, it becomes important to educate your family and friends about this. It will ensure they don’t panic in such circumstances and will know what exactly to do.

Right when you buy your ticket, the airline takes full responsibility for your transportation as well as your luggage. There is absolutely no reason to panic, as there are systems in place for such situations. Enjoy your journey stress-free and comfortably.

Visit the DGCA website or contact +911800113422 for any queries.