The strike movement at the beginning of July turned many holiday departures upside down. Some had their flights canceled, and others were unable to retrieve their luggage. Tens of thousands of suitcases ended up stranded in Paris after their owners had already arrived at their destination a few days ago. In the event of a problem with the baggage, the company responsible can provide a first-need kit to alleviate the emergency, or provide a credit note to compensate for expenses due to the loss or delay of the baggage. However, this option is not mandatory and will not be provided by all companies.
Then there are two possibilities: the baggage is late, or it is permanently lost. In the first situation, you can ask for a refund of the basic necessities that you had to buy in the absence of your personal belongings. For this, it is important to keep receipts and invoices. Claims must be made within 21 days of the baggage being collected.
Baggage is considered lost if it has not arrived at its destination 21 days after the originally scheduled date. If this is the case, the passenger can claim reimbursement for the lost goods and suitcase. This compensation is possible up to 1200 euros per traveler as indicated on the website of the Center Européen des Consommateurs France. To obtain this reimbursement, you must send a written request to the airline responsible for the loss of the luggage, attaching invoices and receipts for the lost goods.
Unfortunately, we rarely keep the bills for clothes or hygiene products. In this case, it is possible to make a compensation for the weight. These terms and compensation limits vary by flight and the applicable agreement. This is the Warsaw Convention or the Montreal Convention, information that should be indicated on the ticket.
In case of doubt, a form to be completed on the public service website is available.
