A damaged, delayed, or lost baggage can be a huge inconvenience. If you report the problem to British Airways, you can get help fast. If your bag is missing, it should be returned within 72 hours.
Have You Received a Notification?
If British Airways finds your missing bag, they will send you a notification through email or text message. The notification will contain a missing baggage report number. You should use the number to track the status of your bag. If you have received the notification, check your contact details and tell them where you want the bag to be sent.
Reporting a Missing Bag
If you notice that your bag is missing, you should report it as soon as possible. If you are still at the airport, you may report to any member of staff. Explain the appearance of your bag and how you lost it. They may help you. If you have already left the airport, report your problem online. Try to report your missing bag as soon as you can. If you wait for more than eight days, it may be impossible to get help. If you wish to report your missing bag online, you must have the following information;
1. Your booking reference for the flight where your baggage went missing. The booking reference is a series of letters and numbers. Every booking has a unique booking reference.
2. Your checked baggage receipt numbers. Provide a baggage receipt number for every missing baggage. If some of your bags arrived safely, you can check your receipts against the counterpart tags. This way, it is easy to identify the receipt number of your missing bag.
If the flight to the airport where your baggage is missing was with a different airline, you may need to contact them for help.
Reporting a missing bag should take ten minutes or less depending on the number of bags you lost.
Reporting Damaged Bags or Contents
If your baggage is damaged, you should report it as soon as you can. If you are still at the airport, report to a member of staff while you are still there.
If you have already left the airport, contact British Airways support team for help. Report damages to your baggage or its content within seven days of receiving it.
Checking and Updating Your Missing Baggage Report
After reporting your missing baggage, you will receive a missing baggage report number. You can use it to log into the baggage tracing system of British Airways. With the number, you can do the following;
1. You can check the status of your missing bag
2. Update your forwarding address and contact information
3. Provide other details that may help them identify your bag
You will get your bag as soon as British Airways finds it. You do not need to pay anything for it. You may need to fill a local customs declaration form if you have traveled internationally. In some countries, the local laws may make it difficult for British Airways to forward your bag. You may need to pick it from your airport.
If your baggage is delayed or damaged, you may be eligible to make a claim. Before making your claim, make sure that you have reported your baggage problem. Check your travel insurance and see how much it covers you. You can make a claim for; missing contents, essential items, damage to your baggage, damage to your contents, and baggage that is reported as missing for over 21 days.
You may contact British Airways customer support if you need help with your baggage. You may contact them on the phone, Twitter, or help desk.