Delayed luggage issue. We checked 2 large luggage, 1 carry on (this was gate checked to final destination since flight was packed), 2 car seats, 1 stroller & 1 hiking carrier. We only got 1 luggage at final destination...super inconvenient & frustrating as we're missing all the kids stuff!!
Our first flight was to Chicago (air canada) and then Copenhagen (SAS). Arrived Monday (1:30pm local time) and now it's Thursday. We did get confirmation that they found 2 things yesterday (the carry on and 1 car seat) which is being sent to our next location as we are doing a road trip around Scandinavian. The airline told us that we can buy essentials so got a couple outfits for the kids, myself, sunscreen, diapers & wipes. Also had to rent car seats from the car rental. The one big luggage we got was all my husband's stuff so he doesn't need anything.
I guess, if more days pass we can continue to buy essentials as needed? How long usually until the airline deems luggage lost? What is the international regulations on lost luggage & compensation?
Would like to hear other people's experience with delayed/lost luggage. Best way to maximize compensation for such a huge inconvenience.

air canada has the worst reputation for losing luggage. I always look for alternative airlines.

You only loose luggage on air canada if you travel through Toronto the worst place for loosing baggage.

I would hesitate to use your car seat. You have no idea how it’s been treated or where it’s been now.

I waited 10 days on an Africa trip, bought essentials , clothes at 2 nd hand store. It really sucked and no compensation, luggage was in Germany.

Dee KBlig odd. Isn’t there an international lost luggage tariff?
Seems it would have at least been eligible for compensation under EU261(?).

Scott what is on paper and reality is 2 different concepts

Airline website should be able to give you info.. Plus any travel insurance policy you have.

Join the FB group Air Passenger Rights (Canada). Look in the “Guides” section, there is a lot of information on amounts that you are entitled to. Suspect it is more than airline has suggested but you look and see what you think.
For future, Apple air tags are great.

Marlene yes! And i also put a piece of paper taped inside with all of my info. I’m paranoid that a luggage tag will come off and it will be lost forever.

Alison Brown that's a really smart thing to do. Definitely do that for the future

The rules around lost luggage change all the time and change per airline. The information should be online of internet is working in your area. It tends to be more easy to find the information on a computer verses a smart phone.

Also realize that you are likely subject to EU travel rules, which are a lot more customer friendly, so check them out in terms of what they are required to provide.

Last time our luggage was lost with AC we got essentials and filled out a form and they reimbursed us within few weeks. They told us there is no limit on how much we spend but it should be reasonable. For one week, we spent around $200 (granted, we were at home).Keep your receipts

One thing I have learned when checking luggage is to always put something inside the suitcase with your name and contact info. Mostly I use a carry on but I am checking luggage on my next flight also to Copenhagen. My flight was originally booked through TO but now I switch at Heathrow.

Shout out to Cathay. They once did not load my son’s lacrosse gear on a New York flight. He is a goalie and had to play later the same day so it is hard to borrow gear. We spent a lot replacing it and after a few days got the bag but too late to play. They fully reimbursed the cost of the gear.

Last time we lost our luggage for 4+ hours, our credit cards allowed us to purchase $500 worth of items for each person. Check your CC benefits.

it took 6 months until they found my cousins luggage at London Airport.

So sorry to hear, that is alot of stuff you needed with kids..

Ugh what a pain! I know it won't help on this trip, but for future trips consider packing some items for each person in each bag. We have started doing this a few years back and that way no one is missing all their items while the airline tries to find the missing bags.

Do you have travel insurance? Call them

If you purchased your flights on a credit card with travel insurance, they also give you $ to offset. Just google your card to see. Sorry…I feel your pain. I now “cross” pack all my suitcases so if one gets lost, I at least have some clothes

I always cross pack our luggage. I also attach a piece of paper to the inside of our luggage with info details, tel #, email, name and address etc.,. I also put a few days clothing, swimsuit etc., for both my hubby and myself in our carry on and all medications.

May Yes, that's the way to go.

May you’re def a frequent flier
i try to do this but often the last minute packing limits our ability to achieve this level of organization. also: i always try to put our dirty laundry in the checked bags on the way home; if it’s lost, then we don’t need to clean it

Guy Good one about the dirty laundry. Lol.

Mine was lost for my entire two week trip to Europe and was eventually sent back to my house after I returned home. I had to buy everything (we were travelling over Christmas) from a winter coat to underwear and it was super inconvenient and frustrating. Go shop for cheaper stuff so you have everything you need, but try your very best to not let it ruin your trip
. Good luck!

We lost all our luggage on aeromexico after being stranded overnight at MEX yesterday and so far have been given the run around! We’ll be calling our CC and travel insurance but so far the airline has been of no help

Junie keep receipts for anything you need to purchase and ask them to reimburse you.

Brenda thats the plan! I got some response after i shared screenshots of repeatedly not getting responses

Assuming you used a credit card to book your trip? Some of them have travel related coverage - eg. lost luggage Worthwhile checking out.

Buy everything you need at one stop to the max insurable. You can't tell when or what will show up and what condition it will be. Then donate anything you don't need at the end of your trip.

We had our luggage delayed in London few years ago. We just kept buying stuff until we got our suite case delivered to hotel 3 days later. At the end we got everything compensated for and, on the positive side, quite a few new things that we wouldn't plan on purchasing. You need to save your receipts and provide and explanation for purchases. Nothing wrong with claiming you need a new t-shirt everyday, however, there could be a problem with claiming $200 per t-shirt.

I put Apple air tags in every piece of luggage. That way if anything gets lost I can tell them where to go and look. Worth it

I flew from Vancouver to Lima once to do see Macy Picchu. I had new hiking and camping gear. I was on a 2 month backpacking trip to South America. I flew air canada via Toronto. When I went to the baggage carousel in Lima no back pack. Two months ahead and no clothes. I bought a few essentials and travelled light. air canada reimbursed me for my loss. Morals of the story. You can travel light, get to the carousel asap. If your luggage isn’t there tell the airline they have to fly you home now at their expense and back with new luggage. They will find it. There was another guy in the same boat. He asked to be flown home and miraculously his bag appeared at the Lima airport. I was too tired and stressed to say the same.

Daniel man that is the worst! I was once on a trip to Africa doing an overland safari for 3 weeks (camping). There was a couple on my trip on their honeymoon & their luggage was lost! No sleeping bag, clothes, camping gear etc! One of their bags ended up being back in Australia on their front doorstep when they got home. The other was never seen again!

Jenna how did that work out. We’re they able to find gear there

Daniel our guide took them to buy a bunch of knock off / old camping gear from the locals lol. It sucked though cos for stuff like lighting they couldn't buy headlamps so had to get big heavy torches & taking that to squat to the toilet at night must've been... Difficult....

Buy what u want/need - air canada will reimburse

I’m also hearing more and more about cancellations, delays and loss of luggage right now. Lots of people who were laid off because of “you know what” have not returned to their jobs yet. It’s certainly different times. I suppose we have to plan more now, in the event of something going wrong!

You probably do this too, but I also pack essentials (enough to survive a few days) in my carry on just in case this happens.

A few years ago I flew Vancouver to Sicily (for a week) and then over to Rome, a 20 minute flight. We were meeting friends for a hiking adventure for 3 weeks, around and through Tuscany. My luggage never arrived until I was back home. So inconvenient. Insurance paid a bit for immediate necessities but nothing more. Thankfully my friends had shirts I could hike in.

Just go on their website. It’s all there. It happened to me. I called them and they told me I could spend $50 and when I let them know that was unreasonable it suddenly went to $250 US. that would be per person. It was east to upload the receipts in their website and I had my money within 10 days. I could have spent more but my luggage came to me after two days, just keep receipts

When that happened to me I posted on their FB page and that seemed to get my luggage to me faster. Yes, Air Canada...

How long was your layover? A lot of these issues right now is due to not enough staff and short layovers.

Jason it was 1.5hrs

Ashley in today’s times, 1.5 hrs can be short depending on staffing levels on the day. It’s a new world in travel!

Our luggage was delayed for 5 months on our way home from NZ during COVID where we flew Emerites to SYD and then qantas to Handi Japan and then transfer to Kansai to YVR on AC. Luggage did not transfer in SYD and ended up in Dubai. Hard to determine airline of record due to 2 long flights and mixture of airlines. qantas and AC refused to provide money as we were home. Emirates never answered any messages until they contacted us they had our luggage and were couriering it back to us. We were just happy with that. The insurance companies try and get out of paying when you are heading home and luggage gets lost. I was just REALLY GLAD that I would not let Emerites check my walker as luggage (they wanted to do it really bad) as being without for 5 months would have taken it to a new level.

Lynda wow, 5 months. That's crazy! Yeah I think all airlines don't compensate when the luggage is delayed when going back home since they figure you should have stuff at home.