Qantas Lost Baggage: How to Get Compensated for Damaged & Delayed Bags
What do you do when you get to your destination only to discover that your baggage is lost? Lots of travellers ask this question, but if you’ve flown with Qantas and had your baggage lost or damaged, you’re in luck because in this article, we’ll show you how much compensation you can get for Qantas baggage mishandling and all the steps you need to take to get it.
Key Points
- Claim for up to approximately €1599 / AU $2,616 in compensation for Qantas baggage mishandling issues.
- Specific timeframes are in place for making your compensation claim. Failing to submit within the specified times could result in your claim being denied outright.
- Your air passenger rights for baggage mishandling issues are outlined and protected by the Montreal Convention.
What Are My Rights if Qantas Loses My Baggage
The Montreal Convention, an international treaty signed in 1999 protects you if your baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged by Qantas or any other airline that has agreed to its rules.
The rules of the Montreal Convention state that Qantas is required to compensate passengers up to approximately €1,599 / AU $2,616 for baggage mishandling. This amount is determined by the use of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) which is a combined value of several different currencies. Baggage is set at 1,288 SDRs and is reviewed every 5 years for inflation adjustments.
What Causes Qantas Lost Baggage
Lost baggage usually happens during transfers between connecting flights, and it could be caused by many different factors including staff shortages, outdated technology, or mechanical problems.
Qantas Lost Baggage
First, it’s important to understand that airlines will only consider your baggage lost after it has been missing for 21 days. Until that time, they prefer to call it delayed which is why you must wait until after the 21st day to submit a claim for lost baggage compensation.
Steps to take for lost baggage
The most important thing to do is to file a Qantas lost baggage report as soon as you realise your baggage is missing. To do this, find the Qantas Baggage Service Desk in the airport’s baggage reclaim area. You can also do this on the Qantas portal.
As part of the standard reporting process, you’ll be given a Property Irregularity Report to complete. Keep a copy of this as well as the number associated with it so you can file a compensation claim later.
After you complete the report, you can use the report number to check the status of your lost baggage while you wait for Qantas to contact you once your baggage has been found and forwarded to you.
Buying necessary items
If you’re away from home when your baggage is lost, then you can be compensated for the purchases made for essential items. To get this compensation, remember to retain all receipts and only submit the ones for clothing, toiletries, and other necessities.
When to Make a Qantas Lost Baggage Compensation Claim
Once your baggage has been returned to you, you can file your compensation claim for essential purchases on the Qantas site. Otherwise, you must wait until 21 days have passed before you submit a lost baggage claim.
How Much Qantas Baggage Compensation Can I Get
Qantas will compensate you up to roughly €1,599 / AU $2,616 for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage as long as you file your reports and claims correctly. Failure to file a report before you submit your claim could eliminate your chances of receiving compensation.
Qantas Damaged Baggage
It’s very important that you report your damaged baggage with Qantas as soon as you notice it. We recommend that you do this before you leave the airport, but if you don’t notice the damage until later, then you can also report it on the Qantas site. You have 7 days to report your Qantas damaged baggage on international flights and 3 days to report on domestic Australian flights.
If you are still at the airport, find the Qantas Baggage Desk and complete the Property Irregularity Report. Also, take photos of the damage and keep the bag tags in place as you’ll need this for the compensation claim.
Qantas Damaged Baggage Compensation
After you have made your report, you have 7 days to submit your claim for compensation. Bear in mind that Qantas will not compensation you for poorly packed or fragile items, or luggage that was already compromised before your flight
To file your compensation claim, send Qantas all the supporting documents including the Property Irregularity Report, bag tags, photos of the damaged luggage, boarding pass and ticket information, as well as your personal contact information. When this is finished, you can relax and wait for Qantas to contact you about their final decision.
How Long Does It Take to Process Compensation Claims
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a month for Qantas to arrive at a decision about your claim and pay you compensation if they have decided in your favour. Unfortunately, there are no formal time limits for the airline to adhere to, so there is a lot of variation in response time.
About Qantas
As Australia’s largest airline, Qantas is headquartered in Sydney and serves all seven of the world’s continents. Founded in 1920, Qantas is the 2nd oldest airline.
You might also like:
Flight Compensation Calculator:
Check if you are entitled to flight delay compensation in just 3 minutes.
