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What to do if your luggage is lost at a Spanish airport

Passengers are entitled to compensation if their suitcase is lost, delayed or damaged enroute to Spain

It’s every traveller’s holiday nightmare: you get to your destination and are waiting at baggage reclaim until the very last suitcase comes out... and you don’t see yours anywhere.

Lost luggage can happen to anyone at the airport. It’s important to know, therefore, that whether luggage is lost, arrives late or is damaged, travellers are entitled to financial compensation by reporting the incident and lodging a claim with the airport.

The first step: don’t leave the airport without reporting it

The most vital point, according to the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), is not to leave the airport without making a claim if your luggage doesn’t arrive on the baggage carousel.

Passengers should immediately go to the airline’s counter and request a Baggage Irregularity Report (PIR) which should be filled out there and then. In the event that the airline window isn’t open, passengers can phone, email or flag down an airline representative in the airport.

What can I claim?

Passengers whose suitcases simply don’t turn up are forced to replace the necessary items and so “the first thing is the right to be paid for any product that is urgent and you have to buy, especially if you go to a tourist destination and you have to spend money on clothes, swimsuits, shoes,” general secretary for Facua, Ruben Sanchez, explained.

It’s essential, therefore, that travellers keep their receipts and present them to the airline, as they will be compensated even if the suitcase shows up a few days later. If the luggage is never found, compensation for the value of the suitcase itself is added to these costs, which is calculated based on the kilos of weight.

Deadlines to file a complaint

In the event that your luggage is delayed, customers have a maximum period of 21 days to claim compensation. The same deadline applies for lost luggage.

On the other hand, if your bags arrive damaged or missing some belongings, you have seven days to lodge a claim.

How is compensation calculated?

Financial compensation for the destruction, loss damage or delay of checked baggage is calculated by what’s known as the Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The maximum claim amounts to around 1,000 euros.

What if my suitcase is damaged?

If your luggage is damaged during the flight, the customer has the right for their suitcase to be repaired, at the expense of the airline, or replaced if the damage is irreparable. If you don’t have the original receipt, the current market value of your bag will be used.

Image: Freepik

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