Airline Baggage Claim Denied? What to Do Next
Baggage claim guidance
Having an airline deny your baggage claim can be frustrating—especially when you believe you provided everything needed to support your request. But a denial doesn't necessarily mean you've reached the end of the process.
The first thing to do is understand exactly why the airline denied your claim.
Review the airline's explanation
Look closely at the email, letter or claim-status update you received. The airline may have denied all or part of your request because it believes an expense isn't covered, information is missing, the amount isn't adequately supported, or its baggage policies don't apply to the situation.
Understanding the reason for the decision can help you decide how to respond.
Gather the important facts
Before responding, organize the basic information surrounding your claim:
Airline and flight information
Travel date and itinerary
Baggage report or claim number
A short timeline of what happened
The amount you requested, if applicable
The airline's response
Any previous correspondence
You don't necessarily need to send everything you have. The goal is to make the important facts easy to understand.
Respond clearly and professionally
If you believe the claim deserves another review, explain why.
A strong response doesn't need to be angry or confrontational. State what happened, reference the airline's decision, explain why you're requesting reconsideration and clearly state the resolution you're seeking.
Keep the correspondence factual, concise and easy for someone unfamiliar with your case to understand.
Consider escalation when appropriate
If your original claim hasn't produced a satisfactory resolution, you may want to ask that the matter be reviewed again or elevated within the airline.
The U.S. Department of Transportation also accepts air-travel consumer complaints. DOT generally encourages travelers to give the airline an opportunity to resolve the issue first.
Need help preparing your response?
BagResolve helps U.S. domestic travelers prepare professional correspondence for delayed, lost or damaged baggage and missing contents.
Tell us what happened and where your claim currently stands. We'll prepare correspondence tailored to your situation and provide guidance on the appropriate airline submission route.
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