How Soon Must You Report a Damaged Bag Abroad?

Generally 7 days for damage and 21 days for delay in writing, but report at the airport first.

Published November 3, 2026 · 3 min read · Topic: Travel & Airline Rules · Travel rules

Typical situation

You flew internationally and your bag arrived damaged or came late. You want to know how long you have to make a claim, and what to do before leaving the airport.

Main answer · berabags Editorial Team · Consumer-rights view

For international flights covered by the Montreal Convention, a written complaint is generally due within 7 days of receiving damaged baggage, and within 21 days of receiving delayed baggage. The EU’s summary of the rules and the European Consumer Centres Network give the same deadlines. Report at the airport first.

What to do at the airport

Before you leave, report the damage or the missing bag to the airline’s desk.
Ask for a Property Irregularity Report, or the airline’s equivalent, and keep a copy.
Take photos of the bag and the damage, and of your tag.
Keep your boarding pass and baggage tag.

After you leave

Make a written claim to the airline within the deadline. Use email or a form, and keep proof that you sent it.
Include the report, photos, receipts and proof of value, if you have them.
If a delayed bag is returned later, the 21 days run from the day you receive it.
A bag that has not arrived after 21 days can be treated as lost. Claim as soon as you can.

What the claim can cover

The Convention sets a limit on the airline’s liability for baggage, which is stated in special drawing rights and revised from time to time. Delay-related necessary purchases can be included. Check the current limit with the airline or your consumer authority.

Where this answer stops

This is general information about the Montreal Convention’s deadlines as described by EU and consumer bodies. Your airline’s contract and your national law may add other rights or rules. This is not legal advice.

Sources and further reading

Three more perspectives

berabags Editorial Team · Purchasing view

Keep receipts for the bag and for any essentials you buy while it is delayed. Under the Convention, delay-related costs can be part of the claim, but you will need to show what you spent and why.

berabags Editorial Team · Selection view

Photograph the bag, its tag and any damage straight away, and again at home. Dated photos help show what the bag looked like when it arrived, and what you reported.

berabags Editorial Team · Use view

Put the deadline in your phone calendar the day your bag arrives. A written claim sent after the deadline can be refused even if the damage is obvious, so do not wait for the airline to contact you.

Independent and unofficial. berabags is an independent editorial site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any bag brand, retailer, airline or agency named on this page. This page contains no affiliate links; if berabags adds any in future they will be labelled. Rules and policies change, so check the linked source before you act. This is general information, not legal, medical or professional advice.