Air France lost baggage compensation: What to do when your bags go missing or get delayed

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated:  17 March 2026

Reviewed by:  Anton Radchenko

If you are a US-based passenger flying with Air France internationally, you have particular rights under a treaty called the Montreal Convention. This determines what the airline must do if they delay, lose or damage your checked baggage. This guide explains your rights and the steps you should take if your bags are mishandled. 

Your Baggage Rights with Air France

All international flights are covered by the Montreal Convention (MC99). So, any time you fly with Air France across borders, your baggage rights are protected by this law.

It states that the airline must provide compensation up to $2,080 (€1,920) if your baggage was lost, delayed, or damaged, but you will need to take a few steps as soon as you realize your checked bags are missing or damaged in some way. 

What to Do When Your Air France Baggage is Delayed or Lost 

Air France allows you to declare missing baggage in one of two ways, depending on your arrival airport:

1. Directly at the Air France baggage office before you leave the airport, or
2. Online, within 48 hours of arrival 

Making a Report at the Airport

It’s always best to do this immediately while you’re still at the airport. Just look for the Air France help desk in the reclaim area. There, an agent will help you complete a Property Irregularity Report, commonly referred to as a PIR.

DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! This report serves as the official record of your missing bag and is essential if you file a claim for reimbursement or compensation.

Once you file the PIR you'll be given a unique claim number that allows you to track the status of your bags in real time.

Making a Report Online

If you have already left the airport, you can file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for your missing baggage online within 48 hours of arrival by filling out the digital form on the airline’s site or using the Air France app.

To do this, you’ll need your baggage receipt number (the same one that appears on the baggage receipt page or your check-in confirmation email.)

When you finish the reporting process, you’ll be given a PIR number. You can use this to monitor the status of your luggage. Just be advised that not all airports allow for online reporting, so if this happens, you’ll have to submit a PIR at the airport.

If Your Bags Aren’t Found within 72 Hours

If Air France can’t locate your luggage within 72 hours of your report, you’ll need to submit an inventory form through their online baggage search tool. When you do this be sure to include as much detail as possible about the contents of your bags, along with the value of each item. This helps the airline track down your suitcase more quickly.

If 21 days pass and you still haven’t had your baggage returned to you, Air France will consider it to be officially lost, and at that point you can file a claim for compensation. 

Buying Essentials While Your Bag is Missing

You’ll probably have to buy some replacement clothing, toiletries, and other essentials, especially if you are away from home when your bags are delayed or lost. 

If you did purchase replacement items, you can file a reimbursement claim for these expenses. You have 21 days from the day your bag was returned to file a reimbursement claim. However, if your belongings were lost (after 21 days of being missing), you can submit a reimbursement claim as part of a claim for compensation, which we’ll cover in another section. 

What to Do if Air France Damages Your Baggage

When baggage is damaged, Air France differentiates between normal wear and actual harm. This means that scratches, marks, and minor scuffs caused by routine handling are not covered because they are considered normal consequences of air travel. 

However, if the damage is substantial, like cracks, broken handles, or torn fabric, you must report it promptly. 

If you notice damage while you’re still at the airport, visit the Air France baggage office and submit a PIR. Then, you’ll be given repair instructions and a PIR number, which you should keep to use as part of your claim.

How to Report Baggage Damage if You’ve Left the Airport

As with delayed baggage, you can also make a report for damage online. To do this you’ll need your: 

• Boarding pass or ticket, 
• Baggage tags, and 
• A professional repair estimate or a written statement confirming the bag cannot be repaired. 

Before you have repairs completed, wait for written authorization from Air France. Without this prior approval, the airline warns that any repair costs incurred will not be reimbursed. Air France also recommends keeping all original documentation, as it may be needed later to finalize your compensation claim.

Which Air France Routes See the Most Mishandled Baggage?

From AirAdvisor’s internal claim records, baggage issues with Air France tend to cluster around long-haul international flights that pass through major hubs like Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Montreal (YUL). These airports handle extremely high baggage volumes every day, and when flights arrive even slightly behind schedule, checked bags are more likely to miss the onward connection.

Most of the delayed or lost baggage cases we see involve passengers travelling:

• From Montreal to European destinations such as Málaga or Marseille
• From Venice to long-haul destinations like Los Angeles
• Through Paris CDG, where tight layovers and heavy transfer loads increase the risk of bags falling behind

Because these itineraries often involve complex handling chains and short connection windows, even a small delay on the first leg can cause your bag to be placed on a later flight. This is why Air France’s long-haul flights that involve a connection in CDG or another Air France hub show a higher chance of baggage being delayed, misrouted, or arriving damaged.

If you’re flying Air France on one of these high-risk routes, it’s a good idea to keep essentials in your carry-on and to take photos of your checked bag and baggage tag before you board. It makes the reporting and claims process much faster if something goes wrong.

How to File a Baggage Compensation Claim with Air France

If you have followed the steps for submitting a baggage mishandling report, you can file a claim for reimbursement of expenses or compensation. 

1. Go to the Air France site and look for the section for claims and use the online claim form.
2. Then, submit your PIR number, your boarding pass and baggage details, plus detailed information about your expenses and/or the contents of your luggage. If your bags were damaged, include the damage repair estimate.
3. Submit the form within 7 days for damaged baggage, within 21 days of receiving your bags for reimbursement of expenses, and after 21 days and up to 2 years for baggage loss. 

Air France tries to review and respond to baggage compensation claims within about 30 days of submission, but it can take up to 90 days (2-3 months) for full resolution including payment. Also, you might not be given the full amount of compensation.

But there’s an easier way to get what you’re owed.

How AirAdvisor Helped an Air France Passenger Win Baggage Compensation

Case: Delayed Baggage – Air France, Paris to Houston 

A passenger flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Houston (IAH) contacted AirAdvisor after their checked luggage was delayed for several days. The bag contained work clothing, gifts, and personal items worth approximately $1,500 USD.

Here’s what we did:

1. We helped the passenger file a complete and accurate claim with Air France, including the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and all supporting receipts.
2. Then we referenced the Montreal Convention to establish Air France’s liability and included a request for reimbursement of the checked-bag fee, as required under their Contract of Carriage.
3. Next, we compiled a clear record of reasonable expenses incurred during the delay, and submitted everything within the 21-day claim window.

The Outcome: Air France compensated the traveler $1,920 USD which covered all documented expenses and the baggage fee refund. The claim was approved within 28 days, demonstrating how a well-documented case under the Montreal Convention can lead to quick, fair compensation, and how AirAdvisor helps passengers recover what they’re legally owed without the stress of dealing directly with the airline.

Did Air France delay or lose your baggage? Start your claim today by entering your basic flight details below.Start your claim

Author:

Joanna Teljeur

Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead

Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development with a focus on consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work centers on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.

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