A missing suitcase is the worst way to start a trip, and it's probably the moment you wonder if you should have bought baggage insurance. Before you pay for a policy, it is good to know that the airline is already liable for lost, delayed, or damaged checked bags: up to $4,700 per passenger on US domestic flights and 1,519 SDR (about $2,080) on most international trips.
Baggage insurance is worth having for what falls outside those limits, such as expensive electronics, jewelry, or costs the airline refuses to cover.
Key takeaways
- On US domestic flights, you can claim up to $4,700 per passenger for a lost, delayed, or damaged bag, as long as you can prove your losses. The limit rose from $3,800 on January 22, 2025.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airport before you leave. International claims then need a written follow-up within 7 days for damage or 21 days for delay, and domestic deadlines are set by each airline.
- If you file a mishandled baggage report and your bag isn't delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight (15 to 30 hours internationally), DOT rules entitle you to a refund of your checked bag fee.
- Baggage insurance is most useful for the gaps: costs above the airline's limit and items many airlines exclude from checked-bag claims, such as electronics and jewelry.
What airlines already owe you for a lost, delayed, or damaged bag
Your airline is responsible for your checked bag until you collect it, as one of your US air passenger rights. On US domestic flights, you can claim proven losses up to $4,700 per passenger. On most international trips, the Montreal Convention sets the limit at 1,519 SDR (about $2,070).
| US domestic flights | International flights | |
| Rule | DOT rules (14 CFR 254.4) | Montreal Convention, Article 22(2) |
| Applies to | Flights within the US | Most trips to or from the US, including domestic legs on the same ticket* |
| Maximum compensation per passenger | $4,700 | 1,519 SDR (approx $2,080**) |
| In force since | Jan 22, 2025 | Dec 28, 2024 |
*If your trip includes a US connection on the same booking as an international flight, the international limit applies to the whole journey, even the domestic leg.
**An SDR (Special Drawing Right) is a currency unit set by the International Monetary Fund, so its dollar value changes daily. On August 7, 2026, 1,519 SDR was worth about $2,074.
Airlines pay what your items were worth when they went missing, not what they'd cost to replace, and they can refuse claims for valuables on domestic flights. Baggage insurance is for those gaps.
Most travelers buy baggage insurance without checking what they're already covered for. Before you pay for a policy, look at the airline's liability limit, your credit card benefits, and your home insurance. If your valuables are still exposed after that, a policy with decent per-item limits is worth the money.
— Anton Radchenko, air passenger rights expert and founder of AirAdvisor
Lost, delayed, or damaged bag?The airline may owe you up to $4,700.Check your claim
How to file a baggage claim and the deadlines that matter
- Report the problem before you leave the airport. Go to the airline's baggage service office and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), which some airlines call a mishandled baggage report, and keep the file reference number.
- Photograph any damage, and keep your bag tag, boarding pass, and receipts for anything you buy until your bag turns up.
- Send the airline a written claim with your file reference number and receipts, within the deadlines below.
- If the airline ignores or rejects a fair claim, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.
| Domestic flight | International flight | |
| Delayed bag | Report at the airport | File a written claim within 21 days of getting your bag back |
| Damaged bag | Report within 6 to 24 hours, depending on the airline | File a written claim within 7 days of receiving your bag |
| Lost bag | Airlines such as Delta and United search between 5 to 21 days before treating it as lost | You can treat it as lost after 21 days |
Should you get baggage insurance? Where it fills the gaps
Baggage insurance pays out for lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed belongings, and it usually comes as part of a travel insurance policy. Given what the airline already owes you, it's most worth buying if:
- You're checking expensive items on a domestic flight. US airlines can exclude electronics, jewelry, cameras, and cash from domestic baggage claims, and DOT rules allow this. On international trips, the Montreal Convention doesn't allow these exclusions.
- Your belongings are worth more than the airline's limit, which is easy to reach on international trips capped at about $2,000.
- You need clothes and toiletries quickly. Airline claims can take weeks to process, and a baggage policy with delay cover may pay out faster.
- You want to be covered if your bag goes missing outside the airline's care, such as from a hotel or a taxi.
Before you buy, check the small print. Most policies set a per-item limit and a lower cap for valuables, so a policy that covers $2,500 of luggage might pay far less for a single laptop.
It's worth checking what you already have, too. Many premium travel credit cards include lost and delayed baggage cover when you pay for the flight with the card. Homeowners and renters insurance often covers belongings away from home, after your deductible.
What baggage insurance won't cover
Most policies exclude:
- Normal wear and tear, like scuffs and broken zips
- Items you left unattended in a public place
- Items taken by customs or airport security
- Cash, tickets, and travel documents, or they cap them at a low amount
- Losses you didn't report to the airline or police within the policy's deadline
Popular baggage insurance options compared
Lowest to highest plan tier, per person. US residents, as of October 2026. Limits vary by plan and state; check the policy certificate before you buy.
What to do next
If your bag went missing or came back damaged, start with what the airline owes you before turning to your insurer. It's worth checking what you can recover with our guide to mishandled baggage compensation.
FAQs
Most policies cover carry-on and checked bags under the same limit. Airline liability mostly applies to checked bags, so insurance is often your only cover for a stolen carry-on. Your airline's checked and carry-on baggage allowance shows what you can keep with you on board.
Yes, but not for the same loss twice. Claim from the airline first, then send the insurer the airline's decision. The insurer can pay the difference up to your policy limit.
Rarely. Baggage cover usually comes as part of a travel insurance plan, though a few flight-only plans include fixed baggage benefits at a lower price.
It's the airline's official record that your bag was delayed, damaged, or lost. Airlines and insurers both usually ask for it, so file one before you leave the airport.
