In the world of modern air transport, it can sometimes happen that the long-awaited holiday or business luggage does not arrive at the destination. This phenomenon is all too familiar to many air travelers and raises many questions. Why is this even happening? How long does it take for the suitcases to be delivered? What costs do airlines incur and what rights do the affected passengers have? This article goes into more detail about this.

The loss of luggage during air travel can be attributed to various reasons. One of the most common reasons is human error, be it through incorrect loading or mixing up suitcases. In some cases, the cause can also be technical, such as defective baggage conveyor belts or system failures. Weather-related issues, such as thunderstorms or fog, may also cause delays in baggage handling. The high complexity of flight operations, in which suitcases have to be reloaded between different flights and airports, further increases the risk of losses.

Duration until subsequent delivery

The average time it takes to deliver lost baggage to passengers varies greatly. In many cases this happens within 24 hours. Airlines strive to find and deliver lost suitcases as quickly as possible. However, in complicated cases where suitcases are sent to wrong destinations, it may take several days to return them to the owners. However, sometimes it can happen that you never see the luggage again. Then there is talk of a loss for which the airline can be reclaimed under the Montreal Agreement.

Costs for the airlines

The loss of luggage is not only annoying for passengers, but also represents significant costs for airlines. They not only have to bear the costs of re-delivering the suitcases, but also pay possible compensation to the affected passengers. Airlines are very reluctant to provide information about this and treat it like a state secret. It is estimated that in Europe alone, airlines have to bear several million euros in additional costs every year due to delayed or lost suitcases.

Rights and entitlements of passengers

Passengers whose luggage is lost have rights and entitlements. The Montreal Conventions of 1999 regulate the liability of airlines in the event of loss of baggage. In Europe, passengers are entitled to compensation of up to 1.131 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger, which is currently around 1.400 euros. However, certain deadlines must be met in order to receive this compensation. This will be discussed in more detail later in the article.

Measures to minimize losses

Airlines have taken numerous measures over the years to minimize baggage loss rates. These include improving baggage tracking systems, training employees who handle baggage and using modern technologies such as RFID tags. These measures are intended to ensure that luggage is assigned to passengers more quickly and reliably. Some carriers are currently introducing apps that allow passengers to track their bags themselves. However, this technology is still in its infancy. In the medium term, it is expected that the barcode tags currently used will be replaced by RFID tags.

Suitcases disappear every year in Europe

The exact number of suitcases lost in Europe each year varies, but estimates suggest there are thousands of cases. However, most of these suitcases are found over time and returned to their owners. Special events such as incidents and staff shortages at airports can massively increase the rate. In the last two years, it has happened again and again that planes have taken off without any luggage due to a lack of available ramp staff who could have loaded the suitcases. The airlines guard the number of delayed or completely lost pieces of luggage like a state secret because it is obviously very unpleasant information.

Maximum liability of the airlines

The Montreal Conventions set the maximum liability of airlines for lost baggage. This liability limit is currently 1.131 SDR per passenger. However, keep in mind that airlines may not be required to provide full compensation if the passenger cannot prove the value of the lost baggage. The abbreviation SDR stands for special drawing rights. This is a unit of account that is converted into euros at the rate that was traded on the day of the loss. On October 17, 2013, 1 SDR had the equivalent of around 1,25 euros.

How passengers get compensation

Passengers whose luggage is lost must immediately file a loss report with the airline. The airline then has 21 days to locate the baggage and return it to the passenger. If this fails, the passenger may claim compensation under the Montreal Conventions. This should be done in writing and within two years of the incident.

Overall, lost luggage in aviation is a challenge for both airlines and passengers. However, improving technology and processes have helped minimize the loss rate and provide passengers with some certainty about their rights and entitlements. However, passengers should be aware of the applicable rules and deadlines in order to be adequately compensated in the event of loss of baggage.