Report Lost or Damaged Items in Baggage to Southwest

Loss of and delay in delivery of suitcases, as well as damage to them during the Southwest Airlines flight, are the responsibility of the United States airline, and it is important that as a consumer you know your rights to know how to react in this type of circumstance.

One of the biggest drawbacks that consumers can find when traveling by air is that when they arrive at their vacation destination, their luggage does not appear on the conveyor belt or if they do, they are in a different state from that which they left before .de embarkation.

It is the responsibility of the airline, while checked baggage is in its custody, for loss, destruction or damage caused to it, provided that it has not taken appropriate measures for its custody and, therefore, it must respond to the consumer when something unforeseen like this.

The loss and delay in the delivery of suitcases, as well as the damage caused to them during the flight, are provided for in the regulations of the United States and Montreal, and it is important that as a consumer you know your rights. Know how to react in such circumstances.

Loss or damage to baggage: General recommendations

First of all, it is very important that you do not leave the airport without claiming damage to or loss of your suitcase. It is considered that when checked baggage is received and there is no consumer complaint, it has been delivered in good condition. Therefore, you must claim it before leaving the airport.

In the event of loss, damage or delay in the arrival of your baggage, you must go to the counter of the company with which you traveled and complete the Baggage Irregularity Report (PIR), to which you must attach the baggage check (the sticker they give you with your boarding pass).

This requirement is essential for the company to be able to deal with the incident that occurred with the suitcase.

It is important that, if the loss or delay occurred outside your place of residence, you keep all receipts for purchases of clothing or toiletries, for a future claim.

There is the possibility of declaring-insuring the luggage you check in, if you consider that the effects you are transporting in it are more valuable than the maximum compensation established by law. In this case, you will have to pay an additional fee. At the check-in counter, company personnel will carry out the corresponding checks and assessments.

In the same way, you can take out insurance for your luggage, which covers these possible inconveniences. You should review the terms of Southwest’s contract to find out whether the compensation will be additional to what the company has to offer you, or whether it will be a stand-alone compensation.

Compensation in the event of loss, delay or damage to baggage

In addition to completing the P.I.R, a claim can be submitted to the airline requesting compensation, for which certain deadlines are available:

– Due to damaged baggage

The complaint must be formalized in writing within 7 days of the delivery of the luggage.

– Due to late baggage delivery

You will have 21 days from receipt of the suitcase to claim the delay in the arrival of your suitcase.

– For loss of baggage

In this case, after 21 days of delay, your suitcase is considered lost. There is no deadline for claiming, but it should be done as soon as possible.

If you wish to take legal action, you have two years to do so.The maximum limit of compensation established by the liability of the company is limited to 1,131SDR per passenger (around $1560). Liability limits, on the other hand, do not imply automatic indemnification of maximum amounts.

The Special Drawing Right (SDR) is a unit defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) whose value is the combination of four international currencies: the euro, the pound, the dollar and the Japanese yen. You can calculate the value of SDR in euros on this link, where you can make the conversion.

File a claim against Southwest Airlines

If you consider that the compensation Southwest is offering you is less than the value you estimate, you can file a claim with this airline by calling their customer service at this number: 1.8882.0210.24.