Date source: 2026-04-29
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Delayed, lost, or damaged baggage during air travel: what are you entitled to? Published on April 30, 2026 - Service Public / Direction de l'information légale et administrative (Premier ministre)
Did you have a problem with your baggage during a flight? What are the conditions for receiving compensation, and how should you proceed? Service Public reminds you of your rights.
Image 1 Credits: Jacob Lund - stock.adobe.com
Delayed baggage
Baggage is considered delayed if it is not available when you get off the plane but is delivered to you later.
If your baggage is not there when you arrive, you must report it immediately at the airline counter so the airline can register your claim and, where applicable, start a search. If there is no counter, contact the airline as soon as possible.
The deadlines for filing a claim and the compensation available depend on the convention governing the flight you took:
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if your airline is European or is covered by the Montreal Convention: you have 21 days from the date you recover the baggage to file a written claim with the carrier;
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if it is covered by the Warsaw Convention, you have 14 days from the date you recover your baggage.
The applicable convention is indicated on your airline ticket. If it is not, ask your airline.
The Montreal Convention applies:
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to a flight between 2 States that have ratified it;
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to all flights operated by European Union airlines (regardless of their destination).
The Warsaw Convention applies regardless of the airline’s nationality:
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to a flight between 2 States that have not ratified the Montreal Convention;
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to a flight between 2 States where only one has ratified the Montreal Convention.
Did the delay to your baggage force you to buy essential items (hygiene products, underwear, etc.)? You can request reimbursement from the airline by providing the receipts.
Lost baggage
If the carrier acknowledges the loss of your checked baggage, or if your baggage has not arrived at its destination within 21 days of the date on which it should have arrived (14 days if the flight is covered by the Warsaw Convention), it is considered lost. You are then entitled to claim reimbursement for your suitcase and your lost belongings.
You must send a written request to the airline, preferably by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, enclosing the purchase receipts for the lost items. If you do not have supporting documents, compensation based on weight may be offered.
The time limit starts from the initially scheduled arrival date. The maximum deadline for filing the claim again depends on the international convention governing your flight:
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21 days for the Montreal Convention;
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14 days for the Warsaw Convention.
Damaged baggage
If your baggage was damaged or destroyed during transport, you can request reimbursement for the price of the suitcase and the damaged items by providing as much information as possible about the items damaged during transport (photos of the damaged items, purchase receipts, etc.).
You must write to the airline:
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within 7 days of receiving your suitcase (for a flight subject to the Montreal Convention);
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within 3 days of receiving your suitcase (for a flight subject to the Warsaw Convention).
What compensation is available in the event of loss or damage?
The maximum compensation is approximately €1,525 per passenger for flights subject to the Montreal Convention. This amount corresponds to 1,288 SDRs (special drawing rights), an international monetary unit that fluctuates according to exchange rates. Under the Warsaw Convention, the calculation is based on weight, at approximately €27 per kilo of baggage (also fluctuating according to SDR rates).
If your loss is below these caps, you can only claim reimbursement for the amount of your damage. If the amount of your proven damage exceeds the liability cap, you can only claim compensation equal to that cap, unless you made a special declaration of interest when checking in your baggage. You may be able to obtain additional reimbursement through insurance: specific insurance when checking in your baggage, or insurance linked to your bank card, for example.
Note that airlines do not reimburse lost personal belongings based on their new value, and often apply depreciation.
If your airline refuses compensation or does not respond after 2 months
The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF) recommends first trying an amicable process with the transport operator’s competent customer service department, while keeping a copy of your claim.
If your airline refuses compensation or does not respond after 2 months, you can contact the Médiateur Tourisme Voyage (MTV), if the airline is a signatory to the Mediation Charter, in order to find an amicable solution.
You can also contact the Centre européen des consommateurs if it is a European airline.
If amicable steps are unsuccessful, you can take the matter to court and claim damages for the loss suffered (replacement of items, loss or damage to baggage). You have 2 years to bring a liability claim against the airline before the courts.
See also
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A new procedure for requesting reimbursement of your airline tickets Service Public
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Canceled or delayed flight: what are your rights? Ministère chargé de l'économie
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Lost, damaged baggage... What are your rights? Ministère chargé de l'économie
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Source: Service-Public particuliers