Has your suitcase disappeared or arrived damaged, and the airline is requesting an itemised list of everything inside? This is exactly where many struggle with standard spreadsheets. With this tool, you can simply select your clothes, electronics, and valuables, adjust the price and age, and instantly receive a complete inventory list with depreciated current values, along with the appropriate compensation claim letter as a PDF.
Editorially checked on: 26/10/2026
On flights, the airline is liable under the Montreal Convention for the destruction, loss, damage, or delay of checked baggage, generally without you needing to prove fault (Article 17). However, the liability is limited: the maximum amount is 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger. Depending on the exchange rate, this equates to roughly £1,500 to £1,650. This amount applies collectively to loss, damage, and delay.
| Case | Key Deadline | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Baggage damaged | Written notice no later than 7 days after receipt (Art. 31 MC) | Get a damage report (PIR) at the airport, take photos, then submit a written claim |
| Baggage delayed | Written notice within 21 days after it is made available to you | Report the delay immediately, keep receipts for essential purchases and keep them reasonable |
| Baggage lost | Considered lost after 21 days without delivery, you can then claim | Report the loss, create an inventory list, collect receipts |
| Legal action if rejected | Two years from arrival or scheduled arrival (Art. 35 MC) | Use ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) beforehand, see notes below |
Before you leave the baggage claim area, go to the airline or handling agent's desk and ask them to file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Note down the reference number and keep your baggage tag and boarding pass. For damaged luggage, photograph the suitcase and contents while still at the carousel; for lost luggage, try to find a photo of the suitcase you took previously, if you have one.
Airlines usually do not reimburse the new price, but rather the current value (actual cash value) of the items at the time of loss. The older and more heavily used an item is, the lower its value. The tool calculates the current value from the original price, age, and an annual depreciation rate. The preset percentages are standard guidelines often used in practice, but they do not constitute a legally binding table. You can adjust every value.
| Category | Preset Annual Depreciation |
|---|---|
| Clothing and Shoes | 25 % |
| Care and Cosmetics | 50 % |
| Electronics | 25 % |
| Sports and Leisure | 15 % |
| Suitcases and Bags | 15 % |
| Watches, Jewellery, and Accessories | 10 % |
The airline will ask for evidence. If store receipts are missing, bank or credit card statements, online order confirmations, warranty cards, photos showing you with the items, or screenshots of the product pages will help. Note the brand and model as precisely as possible. The more verifiable the details, the better the chances they will be accepted.
Many terms and conditions of carriage exclude valuables, cash, jewellery, or electronics in checked baggage from liability, or strongly advise carrying them in hand luggage. Whether such clauses are legally effective in individual cases is highly debated. For hand luggage, the airline is only liable if they were at fault. A travel baggage insurance policy might close this gap. Check their exclusions and maximum limits for valuables.
If your luggage arrives days late, you are allowed to purchase absolute essentials as replacements, for example, clothing and toiletries. Keep your purchases reasonable, hold onto all receipts, and report the delay immediately at the airport. In the tool, you record emergency purchases via "Add emergency purchase (with receipt)". They are entered into the statement at the receipt amount.
You can use either the airline or your insurance, but you cannot be compensated twice for the same damage (unjust enrichment). Often, the insurance company will first ask for proof that you have reported the damage to the airline. Select the recipient at the top of the form, and the letter adapts. Inform the insurance company later what the airline has reimbursed.
If the flight is part of a package holiday, missing luggage can also be considered a holiday defect. In this case, you should also contact your tour operator, as you might be entitled to a price reduction. You can find hints in our Guide to Holiday Defects and in the general Baggage Guide.
Demand a written explanation. Afterwards, you can contact an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body approved by the CAA (like CEDR or AviationADR) which handles disputes with airlines. You can find our guide to submitting claims under Claim Tips & ADR/Mediation.
There is no affiliation between Fix my Trip and the mentioned companies. This list is for guidance only.
For checked baggage, the airline is strictly liable under the Montreal Convention without requiring proof of fault, but only up to a maximum limit of 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger. Depending on exchange rates, this is roughly £1,500 to £1,650. Generally, the current value of the items is reimbursed, not the new price.
As a rule, the current value is reimbursed, meaning the value of the item at the time of loss, taking into account its age and wear. This tool calculates the current value based on the original price, age, and an annual depreciation rate that you can adjust.
For damaged baggage, you must submit a written claim no later than seven days after receiving it; for delayed baggage, within 21 days after it is made available to you. If the baggage is considered lost because it has not turned up after 21 days, you can claim compensation. Any court action must be brought within two years. Always report any issue immediately at the airport as well.
As an alternative, collect bank or credit card statements, online order confirmations, warranty cards, photos, or screenshots with brand and model details. The more verifiable your information is, the more likely the airline will accept it. A refund without receipts is not guaranteed.
Many conditions of carriage exclude valuables, cash, or electronics in checked baggage from liability, or recommend carrying them in hand luggage. The enforceability of such exclusions in individual cases is debated. A travel insurance policy can bridge this gap, provided its terms cover valuables.
You can demand reimbursement for reasonable essential purchases made due to a delay in delivery, provided you keep the receipts. The maximum liability limit for baggage applies collectively to loss, damage, and delay. Buy only the absolute necessities and report the delay immediately at the airport.
Send only copies of your receipts and keep the originals. Secure your message with a timestamp (Email, online form with confirmation receipt, or registered mail) and ask for an acknowledgment of receipt. If the airline or insurance company offers its own form, copy the items from the inventory list into it and attach the PDF list as a supporting document.
Our guides and generators are based on the evaluation of current retained EU regulations, international conventions, and national travel law. They are developed by Marc (Project Lead) & Team to provide travellers with structured self-help for travel problems.
Important Note: This page does not provide individual legal or insurance advice. Current values are estimates; the binding decision lies with the airline or insurer.
Problem with your flight, train, or hotel?
Fix-My-Trip checks your entitlement to compensation, ticket refunds, or price reductions in just a few steps.
A service by Fix my Trip.
Spotted an error in the tool? Since we do not provide individual advice as an automated portal, it helps us enormously if you report bugs or outdated information: Send feedback to our editorial team.
Whether it's a flight delay, a hotel defect, or damaged baggage – here you will find the right guide and the right template letter for almost every travel situation.