Montreal Convention Lost or Damaged Baggage…

Who can use this letter

Your checked baggage was lost, damaged, or significantly delayed on a flight covered by the Montreal Convention
You reported the problem at the airport and hold a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) reference
You are claiming within 7 days of receipt for visible damage, or 21 days of receipt for a delayed bag

Before you send it

Report the issue at the airport before leaving baggage reclaim — get a written PIR reference. Claims without one are much harder to pursue.
Photograph any damage to the bag or its contents before repairing or discarding anything.
List the contents affected with an estimated value, and keep any receipts or proof of purchase you still have.
Keep receipts for essential items bought while your bag was delayed (toiletries, a change of clothes) — these are separately claimable.
Note the Montreal Convention liability limit (around 1,288 SDR, roughly £1,000–£1,150) — very high-value items may need separate declared-value cover or travel insurance.

The template

Fill in every [BRACKETED] field with your own details before sending — do not send this letter with placeholders still in it.

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR EMAIL] · [YOUR PHONE]

[DATE]

[AIRLINE NAME] Baggage Claims / Customer Relations

Re: Baggage claim under the Montreal Convention — PIR reference [PIR REFERENCE]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to claim compensation for [LOST / DAMAGED / DELAYED] checked baggage on flight [FLIGHT NUMBER] from [DEPARTURE AIRPORT] to [ARRIVAL AIRPORT] on [FLIGHT DATE]. I reported this at the airport and hold Property Irregularity Report reference [PIR REFERENCE].

[CHOOSE THE RELEVANT SECTION:]

Damaged baggage: On collecting my bag, I found the following damage: [DESCRIBE DAMAGE]. Photographs are enclosed. I estimate the cost of repair or replacement at £[AMOUNT].

Lost baggage: My bag has not been returned to me. It contained the following items, with estimated values: [LIST ITEMS AND VALUES]. Total estimated value: £[AMOUNT].

Delayed baggage: My bag was delivered [NUMBER] days after my arrival. While waiting, I had to purchase essential items, for which receipts are enclosed, totalling £[AMOUNT].

I am claiming under the Montreal Convention 1999, which makes the operating airline liable for loss, damage, or delay to checked baggage. I understand the liability limit is approximately 1,288 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, and my claim of £[AMOUNT] falls within this limit.

Please confirm receipt of this claim and your proposed next steps within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[Signature if posting]

PIR reference: [PIR REFERENCE]
Flight: [FLIGHT NUMBER], [FLIGHT DATE]
Enclosed: [PHOTOGRAPHS / RECEIPTS / PIR COPY]

How to send it

Send to the airline's baggage claims department — most have a dedicated online form linked from their baggage-tracing page.
Attach your PIR reference, photographs of damage, and any receipts.
Keep the damaged item and its packaging until the claim is resolved — the airline may ask to inspect it.

If you don't get a response

If the airline rejects or ignores your claim, you can escalate to its Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme using our CEDR / Aviation ADR escalation letter, or pursue a small claims court case for amounts within the Montreal Convention limit. Travel insurance with baggage cover may also top up any shortfall — see our travel insurance claim letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I did not get a PIR report at the airport?

A claim is still possible without one, but much harder — airlines frequently reject baggage claims that were not reported at the airport before leaving the baggage hall. Always report lost, damaged, or missing bags before you leave, even if the queue is long.

Does the Montreal Convention cover items inside my bag, or only the bag itself?

Both, up to the overall per-passenger liability limit (around 1,288 SDR). Airlines commonly exclude or cap fragile, electronic, or high-value items in their own conditions of carriage, so check those terms and consider travel insurance for expensive contents.

How long does the airline have to respond?

There is no fixed statutory deadline in the Convention itself, but airlines typically aim to resolve baggage claims within a few weeks. If you hear nothing after a reasonable period, chase in writing and consider escalating.

This template is provided for information only and is not legal advice. FlightLogic is not a law firm and does not guarantee any outcome from using this letter — always check the facts of your own situation and adapt the wording accordingly.

Written by Emma Walsh

Editor, Hotels & Europe

Emma reviews boutique and independent hotels across Europe, alongside British Airways and Oneworld product reviews. She writes FlightLogic's Avios redemption guides.

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