How to Claim Baggage Compensation from IndiGo Airlines

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: April 15, 2025

You know that feeling of dread that wells up when you’re waiting for your bags to arrive? You stand there looking for your suitcase but it never arrives, or you find it and realise that it’s damaged! Now what?

Mishandled baggage can spell disaster for any trip. In this guide, we’re going to walk you through what you should do before leaving the airport and the steps you should take to get compensated.

Your Rights for IndoGo Baggage Mishandling

Whenever IndiGo flies internationally, passengers' baggage rights are protected by the Montreal Convention. The rules of this treaty require airlines to compensate passengers up to roughly £1,645 (€1,920) for baggage delay, loss, and damage.

Delayed & Lost IndiGo Baggage

First, it’s important to point out that airlines around the world will consider luggage delayed until it has been missing for 21 days, and only then is it considered lost. So, if you arrive at your destination and your bags do not, here’s how you should proceed:

1. Find the Baggage Services Desk, and make a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Do this before you leave the airport! Also, be sure to keep a copy of the PIR to file with your compensation claim, and retain the PIR number to use for baggage tracing. 
2. Track the status of your luggage by using IndiGo’s baggage tracer.
3. Purchase essentials, like clothing and toiletries, and keep all the receipts for reimbursement.

Again, do not leave the airport until you have filed a report about your missing luggage. If you do, you will probably not be compensated for your loss or damage as the airline specifically states: 

Any receipt of baggage  without complaint  on the termination of the journey shall be prima facie evidence that the baggage has been delivered correctly and in good condition. A customer who leaves the baggage delivery area without reporting a bag as missing or damaged to an IndiGo representative will be deemed to have received his/her bag correctly and in good condition.

What Happens Next?

Once you’ve filed your report, just wait for your belongings to be delivered. If 21 days elapse and your baggage still hasn’t been returned to you, then you can begin your baggage compensation claim.

If your baggage is returned to you, you have up to 21 days to file a reimbursement claim for the essentials you had to purchase when your bags were not available to you.

IndiGo Damaged Baggage

If your checked baggage arrives damaged, you should take the following steps before you leave the airport.

1. Locate the Baggage Services desk at the airport, and complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). 
2. Take photos of the damage so you have supporting evidence for your claim.
3. Keep the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) number to use when you file a claim with IndiGo.
4. Make any essential purchases, and keep the receipts for reimbursement.
5. Submit a baggage compensation claim with IndiGo within 7 days.

IndiGo Baggage Claims: Lost, Delayed & Damaged Bags

Here’s a table showing you how much time you have to complete IndiGo baggage compensation claims. If you file your claim outside these timeframes, your claim will probably be rejected.

How to Submit an IndiGo Baggage Compensation Claim

To submit your baggage compensation claim, go to IndiGo’s complaint form and complete the provided fields by adding your:

1. Property Irregularity Report (PIR) copy
2. Photos of your damaged baggage (as applies)
3. Receipts for essentials and/or receipts from the purchase of your bags
4. Bag tag(s)
5. Details about your trip, including the arrival and departure airports, flight number(s), copy of your boarding pass, and any other relevant information.

In the message field, tell IndiGo that you are filing a claim for baggage compensation based on the rules and protections of the Montreal Convention.

You should get a response in 7-10 business days and a decision about your case within 45 days.

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Tips for Avoiding Baggage Mishandling 

Mishandled baggage is a nightmare, so to avoid having it happen to you again, here are some tips to follow: 

1. Add baggage labels. Add your name, email, and phone number to both the outside and inside of your bags.
2. Take photos of your suitcases. Photograph the contents as well as the exterior. This will help the airline locate your items if they’re missing. If your luggage is damaged, you will have a way of proving what they looked like prior to checking them with the carrier. You will also have an account of what you packed, so you can better itemise the contents as part of your report and claim.
3. Remove old barcodes and tags from previous flights.
4. Check-in early so your bags have time to make it to your aircraft.
5. Leave enough time between connections. Ideally, you should allow between 1.5 and 2 hours so your bags have time to be loaded. 
6. Don’t overpack! Overstuffed bags are more likely to be damaged during the loading process.

AirAdvisor can Help

Need help with a baggage compensation claim? Let us help! We’ve been helping passengers since 2017 get the payouts they deserve. Our legal team can contact the airline and submit a claim on your behalf, so you don’t have to! Best of all, we only get paid if we win your case.