By The Escape desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
If your bag does not come out on the belt, report it at the airport before you leave the baggage hall and keep the report, often called a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), with its file reference. Then claim from the airline in writing: within 7 days of receiving a damaged bag, and within 21 days of receiving a delayed one. A bag still missing after 21 days is treated as lost. On international flights covered by the Montreal Convention, which Singapore applies through its Carriage by Air (Montreal Convention, 1999) Act, the airline’s liability is capped at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, about US$2,000, since 28 December 2024, unless you declared a higher value in advance.
Few things deflate a holiday faster than an empty carousel. The good news: the rules are on your side, as long as you act quickly and keep receipts.
Quick facts
- Report first: at the arrival airport, before leaving; keep the file reference.
- Damaged bag: written claim within 7 days of receiving it.
- Delayed bag: written claim within 21 days of receiving it.
- Lost bag: treated as lost once it has been missing 21 days.
- Limit: 1,519 SDR (about US$2,000) per passenger under the Montreal Convention, from 28 December 2024.
- Who to claim from: generally the airline that operated your last flight.
What to do, step by step
- At the belt: go to the airline’s Lost & Found or baggage services desk. Report a missing bag, or show damage there and then.
- Get the paperwork: a copy of the report and the file reference (Singapore Airlines issues a 10-character reference). Photograph your bag tag and boarding pass.
- Track it: use the airline’s baggage portal; give a delivery address and phone number.
- Buy only essentials: toiletries and basic clothing, and keep every receipt.
- Claim in writing: within 7 days for damage, 21 days for delay, or once the bag is deemed lost.
- Escalate if needed: if the airline’s answer is unreasonable, check your travel insurance and the dispute options for the airline’s country.
Deadlines and limits at a glance
| Problem | Claim deadline | What you can claim |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged bag | 7 days from receiving it | Repair or depreciated value; normal wear and tear excluded |
| Delayed bag | 21 days from receiving it | Reasonable essential purchases while you waited |
| Lost bag | Once missing 21 days; claim promptly | Value of contents, depreciated, up to the limit |
| Any of the above | Overall cap | 1,519 SDR per passenger, about US$2,000, unless a higher value was declared |
The Montreal Convention limits are reviewed for inflation every five years; ICAO raised the baggage limit from 1,288 SDR to 1,519 SDR with effect from 28 December 2024. Airlines usually exclude normal wear and tear such as scratches and dents, and many decline responsibility for valuables, cash, electronics and documents packed in checked bags.
A worked example
You land in Tokyo and your bag arrives three days later. You report it at the airport, buy toiletries, underwear and two shirts, and keep the receipts. Your bag is delivered on day three; from that day you have 21 days to submit your written claim for those purchases. The airline will pay what is reasonable: basic replacements, not a new wardrobe. Had the bag never come, after 21 days you would claim the depreciated value of its contents, with receipts or proof of ownership, up to about US$2,000. If your contents were worth more, the difference is a job for your travel insurance.
The evidence that wins claims
- The airport report and file reference.
- Boarding pass and bag tag.
- Photos of the bag and any damage, ideally also before you checked it in.
- Receipts for essential purchases, and for valuable items where you have them.
- Copies of every email with the airline, with dates.
The WahLiao Verdict
Never leave the baggage hall without a report, and put a reminder in your phone for day 7 or day 21 the moment your bag reappears. Pack valuables, medicines and one change of clothes in your cabin bag, photograph your checked bag at home, and keep receipts tidy. Claim from the airline first, then top up from insurance; doing it in that order keeps both sides happy.
Questions people ask
Which airline do I claim from if I connected?
Usually the airline that operated your last flight. Singapore Airlines, for example, asks passengers whose last flight was on another airline to report to that operating airline.
What is an SDR?
A Special Drawing Right is an IMF unit based on a basket of currencies. ICAO valued the 1,519 SDR baggage limit at about US$2,000 when it announced the change.
Can I claim if I left the airport without reporting?
It is much harder. Most airlines expect a report from the airport, and some allow damage reports online only within a short window, such as 72 hours for Singapore Airlines’ online form.
Can I get more than the limit?
Only if you declared a higher value at check-in, where airlines offer it and usually for a fee. Otherwise rely on travel insurance for the excess.
Sources: International Civil Aviation Organization, revised Montreal Convention limits from 28 December 2024; Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Carriage by Air (Montreal Convention, 1999) Act; Singapore Airlines, delayed or damaged baggage; European Consumer Centre Ireland, claim deadlines and evidence. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Flight Delayed or Cancelled From Singapore: What Airlines Owe You · Travel Insurance in Singapore: What It Covers and What It Doesn’t · Back to The Escape
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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