How to get compensation when United Airlines loses or delays your baggage

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated:  17 March 2026

Reviewed by:  Anton Radchenko

For baggage mishandling, United Airlines has clear procedures in place, and if you’re flying domestically in the United States, you’re also protected by strong rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). For international flights, the Montreal Convention gives you additional rights and protections.

This guide will help you understand what to do when your baggage is delayed, lost, or damaged on a United Airlines flight, and how to get reimbursed and compensated.

Your Baggage Rights with United Airlines

Before diving into the step-by-step process, it’s important to understand the laws that govern your baggage rights.

On U.S. Domestic Flights (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

United must follow US DOT regulations for domestic flights, meaning that compensation is limited to $4,700 per passenger for lost, damaged, or delayed checked bags. The only exception is for wheelchairs or other mobility equipment. If these are lost or damaged, they are completely covered.

On International Flights 

United must adhere to the rules of the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that sets compensation for baggage issues at roughly $2,080 USD, depending on currency rates.

Both legal frameworks have strict deadlines for reporting problems and filing claims. If you miss these deadlines, your claim will be rejected even if United is clearly at fault.

Delayed Baggage after a United Flight

Checked baggage that doesn’t arrive when you do is considered to be delayed before it is classified as lost. So, if you don’t see your belongings on the carousel, the first thing you need to do is file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). 

DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! If you do you will not be able to track your bags or claim compensation or reimbursement.

How, Where & When to Report United Baggage Issues

You must report your delayed bag within 24 hours for U.S. domestic travel and within 21 days for international travel.

You can report a delayed bag at the airport or through United’s:

• Online delayed baggage form
• The United app
• The website chat feature
• By Texting the word BAGS to 32050, or 
• Through the Baggage Recovery Center phone line

Once the PIR is submitted, you’ll be given a PIR number (also called a file reference number) that ends with an “M.” You’ll need this number to arrange delivery or track your bag.

If you had to pay baggage fees, United offers automatic refunds for these fees when a baggage delay exceeds certain thresholds past your arrival time. 

• More than 12 hours late on a domestic U.S. trip
• More than 15 hours late on an international trip shorter than 12 hours
• More than 30 hours late on a long-haul international trip

Buying Replacement Items While Your Bags are Missing

You can purchase essentials such as clothing, hygiene items, or basic necessities while you’re waiting for your bags, but keep all the receipts. You will need them for your reimbursement claim. 

For domestic flights, you have 45 days to file the reimbursement claim and for international trips, you have 21 days.

Keep in mind that these reimbursements will count toward your final settlement. So, if your baggage is eventually declared lost, United will deduct any interim expense payments from the total payout.

Was your trip ruined because the airline delayed or lost your bags? You could be owed as much as $4,700.Start your claim

What Happens if United Declares Your Bag Lost

If your bag still hasn’t shown up after 5 days following a domestic flight, United recommends filing a lost baggage claim, but you can only do this after you have formally reported the bag as delayed.

If you flew internationally, your baggage will ONLY be classified as lost after 21 days of your arrival at your final destination. Once that threshold has been reached, you can file a compensation claim.

To get compensated for your lost luggage, you will need:

• A detailed list of the items inside the bag
• Receipts if you have them
• A copy of your ID

This will be used to assess the value of your luggage and to determine how much compensation you will receive.

If Your Bag Is Damaged by United Airlines

When your checked baggage is damaged after a United Airlines flight, you should file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) immediately. As with baggage delays, the PIR is essential for claiming compensation. 

You must report the damaged baggage:

• Within 24 hours for U.S. domestic travel
• Within 7 days for international travel

United asks that you make damage reports at the airport, but if you only notice the damage later, you can still report it through chat, text, or the phone number for the Baggage Recovery Center listed earlier. United will then give you a damage-related reference number ending in “A” or “D.”

If your bag appears to have been damaged during a security inspection, you must file a claim directly with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), not United.

Which United Routes Have the Most Baggage Problems

Based on AirAdvisor’s internal claims data, United’s baggage issues tend to happen the most on itineraries that run through the airline’s largest US hubs, where huge volumes of luggage must be transferred quickly.

The routes with the most mishandled baggage in our data include:

• Newark (EWR) to Memphis (MEM)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Houston (IAH)
• Berlin (BER) to Newark (EWR)
• Dubai (DXB) to Detroit (DTW)

These routes all have a high-traffic transfer point, such as Newark or Houston. When bags arrive from a long-haul flight and need to be re-sorted for a tight domestic connection, they’re more likely to fall behind and get routed on a later flight.

How United Handles Reimbursement, Repair, or Replacement

Once United has a valid report and reference number, they will guide you through the next steps. In many cases, United uses a third-party repair network, so they might have you submit your damage claim through Ryansluggage. If they do, you must send it within 14 days of making your damage report.

If United handles the claim themselves, thee deadlines are the same as for delayed & lost baggage:

• 45 days for domestic
• 21 days for international

What to Do if United Doesn’t Respond or Rejects Your Claim

Many passengers report long wait times or incomplete responses from United, so if United ignores your claim, delays communication, or denies your claim, you still have a few options.

1. You can escalate your case through United’s Customer Care channels.
2. You can cite DOT regulations (for domestic flights) or the Montreal Convention (for international flights).
3. You can request a review of your submitted evidence if your claim was rejected for “insufficient documentation.”

When these attempts don’t work, many travelers turn to AirAdvisor for support.

How AirAdvisor Helped Get United Baggage Compensation

Here are some recent baggage claims we handed for United Airlines passengers.

Delayed Baggage from Newark to Memphis

Emma was flying from Newark to Memphis when her checked suitcase failed to arrive at the baggage claim. With important work items inside and no clear update from the airline, she reached out to AirAdvisor for help.

We guided her through documenting the delay and submitted a properly supported claim. Our team ensured her receipts and timelines were presented in line with the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements.

Outcome: United approved the claim and compensated Emma for her delayed luggage and out-of-pocket essentials.

United Airlines Delayed Baggage Los Angeles to Houston

Michael flew from Los Angeles to Houston on United, but his checked bag never arrived. The flight was on time, yet baggage handling delays at the hub meant his suitcase had been misrouted.

AirAdvisor assisted Michael by preparing a clear claim submission, including the baggage tag information, timeline of events, and evidence of expenses. We also followed up with United when their initial response stalled.

Outcome: United compensated Michael for his delayed baggage and reimbursed his essential purchases during the wait.

You’ve waited days for your luggage to arrive?Don’t let the airline get away with it. Enter your flight details to start your United baggage claim today!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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