If you go on vacation this year and check in your bag, your bag will most likely go with you to your destination. But if it doesn’t, or if things get delayed along the way, it’s a good idea to know your rights.
The Department of Transportation has specific requirements for how airlines must respond if a bag is damaged. gets delayed or goes missing, and part of that process usually involves passengers filing a claim with their airline.
The short version means that if your bag is permanently lost, you are entitled to at least some compensation for the items inside, as well as a refund of any baggage fees you may have paid.
Read on for the fine print.
What you are entitled to if your luggage is damaged
Airlines are not responsible for normal wear and tear on your bags, but if your luggage is destroyed or the items inside are damaged, you may be entitled to some compensation.
Airlines may limit their liability for damages to $3,800 for domestic flights or approximately $1,700 for international routes. Carriers may exclude certain items from liability on domestic routes, including fragile or perishable items, electronics, cash and other valuables, as long as these exceptions are stated in the airline’s contract of carriage.
The DOT recommends purchasing additional insurance if you travel with such items.
What you are entitled to if your luggage is delayed
Airlines are responsible for finding your luggage if it is delayed, although the DOT recommends filing a claim with the carrier as soon as possible if your luggage is not unloaded from your flight.
The DOT requires airlines to compensate passengers whose luggage is delayed for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental costs” incurred as a result of delayed luggage, including items such as the need to purchase new underwear or toiletries.
DOT guidelines do not allow airlines to set an arbitrary limit on daily baggage delay compensation.
Some airlines also offer frequent flyer miles for delayed baggage or even slow unloading.
What you are entitled to if your luggage is lost
The DOT notes that airlines may have different policies for when a bag is officially considered lost, but most airlines make this decision within five to 14 days of a flight’s arrival.
If your bag is declared lost, an airline will be responsible for reimbursing you for the depreciated value of the bag’s contents, up to a maximum of $3,800 for domestic flights or approximately $1,700 for international routes.
An airline may require proof of purchase or other supporting documentation for the value of items in lost baggage. The carriers generally do not have to pay for the replacement of these items, but must compensate for the current used value of what was in your bags.
The DOT also requires airlines to refund any baggage fees associated with luggage that did not reach your destination.
What you are entitled to if your mobility aid is lost or damaged
If an airline damages or destroys a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, it must pay for repair or replacement up to the original value of the device.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwicher@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What you owe if an airline delays or loses your luggage
