This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you if you click on one of the product links, we may earn a commission.

On my summer trip to Prague, my luggage was lost. Out of all my travels, this was the very first time my luggage did not arrive at my destination. I wasn’t exactly sure what my next steps were or how I should handle the situation but I figured it out along the way. Now I am more prepared for this type of dilemma and hope this guide helps out those who have or will be in similar situations with lost luggage.

Before I get started on the lost luggage process, there are two important steps you should take before getting on your flight:

1) Consider getting travel insurance from World Nomads or SafetyWing. This is something I just started doing and on this trip I used World Nomads. There are two plans you can choose from and I chose the Explorer Plan which cost more but it covered more on Baggage & Personal Effects for my camera equipment. Both plans cover Baggage Delay for the same reimbursement amount so if you’re only concerned about that, the Standard Plan will work just fine for you.

2) Pack extra clothes on your carry-on bag for two days along with any toiletries or anything you can’t live without for a couple of days. I usually carry extra clothes in my bag but for some reason on the ONE trip I lost my luggage, I didn’t bring any extra clothes with me and barely brought any toiletries. Huge mistake on my part.

I also want to note that there are many credit cards that cover travel mishaps so make sure you look over your credit card benefits. I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and it covers Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Baggage Delay, Lost Luggage and more.

Now, back to the actual steps to take when your luggage is lost.

First thing’s first, you have to fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airline’s service desk. Usually they are located fairly close to the baggage claim area. A representative will ask for your address, telephone number and description of the missing bags. Make sure to ask when they expect your bag to arrive and if they will deliver it. They should also provide you with a phone number on the report to check on the status of your bag.

While you wait for your luggage, make sure to save all your receipts, tags, invoices, statements and boarding passes. Anything and everything that has to do with your trip and lost luggage. You will need to submit these documents when you file a claim for reimbursement.

If you still haven’t received your luggage after 6 hours, it’s time to go shopping for your necessary personal items. You can buy anything from clothes to makeup to toiletries and more. Most insurance companies will grant $100 ~ $150 per day but it seemed like Delta did not have a limit when it came to my expenses per day. World Nomads gave me $150 per day up to $750. My luggage was delayed for almost 3 days so I spent about $250 on clothes, toiletries and makeup.

My suitcase arrived in my hotel room while I was out and about exploring Prague. I also received an email from the courier to confirm that I received my luggage.

After you return from your trip, submit your claim as soon as possible. As I mentioned earlier, you need to submit anything and everything from your trip including receipts and invoices for the personal items you purchased, proof of travel (e.g. itinerary, eTickets, boarding passes), credit card statements (e.g. flights, accommodation), written confirmation from airline (when your baggage arrived), baggage tags and ticket stubs, and the Property Irregularity Report.

I submitted my claim to World Nomads a few days after I returned from my trip and it took nearly three weeks for them to finalize and approve my claim. I received an email stating how much I would get reimbursed and it was exactly what I expected. After a couple of weeks, I received my check.

On a separate occurrence, I submitted a claim to Delta on their website when my luggage was lost and they responded within 2 days with the amount they were going to reimburse me. And within a week, I had a paycheck from Delta. I was very impressed. If you want to be reimbursed quickly, I would try submitting your claim to the airline first.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• ALWAYS pack an extra set of clothes for a day or two on your carry-on

• Save ALL receipts, tags and boarding passes

• Claim with the airline first before insurance or credit card

If you’re traveling within the U.S., you might want to take a look at this article that ranks the worst airports for lost luggage: Flyer Beware: This Is the No. 1 Airport in the U.S. for Stolen Baggage