You’re sitting relaxed at the baggage carousel, your holiday was fantastic – but suddenly your gaze stops at the empty carousel. Where is your suitcase? A nightmare that unfortunately happens more often than you think.
Anyone who gets nervous now should know what to do and where the responsibility really lies. So don’t panic.
Suitcase gone? The airport is not responsible for this
Sometimes there is a lack of staff, sometimes the technology goes wrong or the weather goes crazy – unloading can take time in a storm, for example. “Most of the time there are conclusive explanations for missing luggage,” reveals Lukas Weinberger, press spokesman for Cologne/Bonn Airport “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. But who actually takes care of your lost suitcase? The answer: Not the airport, but the airline.
++ Vacationing by plane: Be careful! Suitcases often get lost at these airports ++
Eurowings also emphasizes this – they are the direct contact persons. What does that mean for you? The important thing is: act immediately! You should report your loss at the airport, directly to your airline’s baggage tracing department. Describe your suitcase as precisely as possible – color, size, maybe even special features.
Right to compensation
In Cologne/Bonn there are practical QR codes on the conveyor belt that you can use to complete your report quickly online. You will then receive a written confirmation with a reference number – you should keep this in a safe place because you can use it to track online where your suitcase is currently located.
The good news: Almost 99% of lost suitcases usually turn up within three days. The rest can usually be found within 30 days. Unfortunately, for around 1.3% of travelers searching, their luggage disappears permanently – a bitter aftertaste.
If your suitcase does get lost, the airline will help you buy replacement items – for example clothing or hygiene products. You can get back up to 30 euros per day per person for a maximum of three days. The following applies: only buy what you need!
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And don’t worry if you have to wait longer for your luggage: you are entitled to compensation – how much depends on the value of your suitcase and its contents.
