Can I get compensation from Air France for flight delays?

Yes, if your flight is delayed or canceled, you are entitled to compensation. Learn more about the claim process and the maximum amounts you can receive in this post .

What if I lost my baggage claim ticket?

If you lost your bag tag or checked baggage receipt, you can still use your flight number and/or booking details to declare missing baggage.

What if I lost a personal item or my carry-on baggage in the airport?

Whether you lost your items at the gate, going through security, or anywhere else, go to the Lost and Found desk in the airport.

How to Get Compensation for Delayed Baggage on Air France

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: April 22, 2024

Claim up to €1,600 for delayed, lost, or damaged baggage!

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Whether you're traveling for work or personal reasons, baggage mishandling has to be one of the most frustrating situations faced during air travel. The good news however, is that you do have rights, and you are entitled to compensation from Air France for lost, delayed, and damaged luggage.

Baggage claimn sign at airport

Key Points

The maximum amount of compensation you can get for lost or delayed baggage is €1,600. This amount is set by the Montreal Convention in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) which is subject to currency fluctuations.
You must file your claim within a certain time frame that differs for delayed, lost, and damage baggage issues.
Completing a Property Irregularity Report will increase your chances of receiving baggage compensation from Air France.

Maximum Compensation for Air France Baggage Claims

Whether your baggage was damaged, lost, or delayed, the maximum amount of compensation you can receive is USD $1,715 / CAD $2,349 / €1,600. This maximum liability amount is established by the Montreal Convention in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) which is subject to currency fluctuations.

Making a Lost, Damaged, or Delayed Baggage Claim with Air France

While it might seem overwhelming at first, making a baggage claim with Air France is fairly straightforward. Patience and attention to detail are very important parts of the process. The following are the steps you’ll need to take for each of the three baggage claim scenarios.

Delayed Baggage

If you didn’t see your baggage on the baggage carousel, then you need to make a report with the Air France baggage office before you leave the airport. This is an important step because if you end up filing a claim, you will need to show that you made this report.

What is a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)

A Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is a document that you should complete when you've encountered lost, delayed, or damage to your luggage.

The PIR is especially important because it will include any necessary information about damage to your bag or its contents. It's basically confirmation that you have reported the lost, delayed, or damaged luggage. Most airlines will require a PIR in order to process your claim.

You will complete this with a member of the airline staff and be given a reference code. Keep a copy of your PIR and reference code because you will need it to file a claim.

When you make a report:

You will be given a claim number.
Make sure you also complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
Keep the claim number and a copy of the PIR because you will need this information to track the status of your baggage and to file a claim.

How to File a Delayed Baggage Claim

Waiting for delayed baggage

After you file a report, then you should file a written complaint with Air France requesting reimbursement for any purchases you had to make in the absence of your baggage.

In most cases, you will only be compensated for necessary expenses including toiletries and clothing. Also, compensation is usually limited to delays that occur during the outbound part of your trip. If you arrive at your home airport and your luggage is delayed, then you might not receive any compensation because Air France figures you have most of the items you need at home.

So, to file a delayed baggage compensation claim, gather all supporting documents like original receipts as well as information about your flight, your PIR, and claim number, and send this to the airline within 21 days of receiving your bags.

Air France Baggage Tracker

Air France has an online baggage tracker that you can use to follow the status of your luggage in real time. All you have to do is enter the claim number that you received when you made the report online or in person at the airport.

Lost Baggage Compensation

Air France considers baggage delayed until it is missing for 21 days. After 21 days, then your luggage is considered officially lost. So if you can’t find your baggage when you arrive, take the following steps:

If you are still at the airport

Make your way to the Air France KLM baggage counter and file a report.
Complete a baggage irregularity report.
Keep your claim number and copies of your PIR. Your claim number will come in handy for tracking the status of your lost luggage.
Complete the "inventory and claim form" that you can find in the Air France baggage search tool.

If you've already left the airport

You have up to 48 hours from the time of your arrival to file a delayed baggage claim to Air France.
Complete the online claim form on the Air France site or on their app.
You will need to have a copy of your checked baggage receipt number to complete the form. Once you have entered all the details, you'll be given a claim number that you should keep in order to track the status of your lost baggage.

Provide as much detailed information as possible about your missing baggage and its contents including the cost of each item and receipts (paper or digital) if you have them. This is important because the details you entered into the search tool will be used to estimate the amount of your compensation.

Tip: You should have received your baggage receipt from the airline representative when you checked in. If you did this yourself from home, then you can find your receipt information on the page titled: Baggage Receipt. Your confirmation email should also contain this info.

Woman with baggage in France

Missing Items from Checked Baggage Air France

You can claim compensation from Air France for an item that was lost from your baggage.

If you're still at the airport

Go to the Air France baggage office to make a Property Irregularity Report. If you've arrived at Paris-Orly or Paris-Charles de Gaulle, you will need to complete a complaint document that they will give to you while you're there.

If you've already left the airport

Make your request for damaged baggage compensation within 7 days of getting your luggage by completing this form. Be sure to file within this timeframe or your claim could be denied.

Tip: If you have misplaced any carryon items, check with the lost and found department at the airport or with Air France.

Damaged Baggage

As with delayed and lost baggage compensation, you need to follow specific steps in order to receive compensation for damaged baggage.

If you are still at the airport

Go to the Air France baggage office and make a Property Irregularity Report.
An airline representative will give you a claim number and all the necessary info you will need to have your luggage repaired.
Keep copies of the report as well as the claim number so you can keep track of your claim status.

If you've already left the airport

Don't worry! You have 7 days from the time you retrieved your bags to make a damage compensation claim.

Complete the Air France online form.
If you cannot access this, then phone customer service in your country of residence.

Documents you need to file a damage claim:

Your bag tag / checked baggage receipt
Your ticket and/or boarding pass
An estimate for the repair cost or a statement that describes why the luggage cannot be fixed. (This must come from a professional baggage repair shop.)

Don't proceed with any repairs or make any new luggage purchases without an authorized letter from Air France. If you do, you might not be compensated for these expenses.

The process of filing a baggage claim can be frustrating. The good news though, is that here at AirAdvisor we’ll be offering baggage compensation claim services to you in the near future.

In the meantime, if you’ve had a delayed or canceled flight in the past 3 years, you could still be eligible for compensation! Let us do hard work and file the claim for you! It’s totally risk free! Check below to see if your flight is eligible.