Wizz Air lost baggage compensation.
Could you be entitled to it? What are the airline baggage rules?
Delayed baggage, damaged baggage, lost baggage, all of this is very frustrating. Whatever the reason, losing your luggage is the last thing you need on your vacation or business trip! Standing by the baggage carousel at the arrivals hall, waiting for your suitcase, and realising that most likely it hasn’t made it — this is one of the worst sides of air travel. What to do if your luggage is lost?
Continue reading to learn how to make lost baggage claim.
What to Do if Your Luggage Is Lost?
When you realise your bag is not coming, do not panic.
Do not leave the baggage reclaim area (baggage hall). You’ll need to report the loss of your bag. Find the Baggage Service Office, which is often located in the baggage reclaim area right next to the baggage carousels. There you can report the loss of your baggage.
There you’ll have to show your passport or ID, boarding pass and baggage tag (that sticker on the back of your boarding pass). If you have it on your phone or laptop, show a photo of your suitcase/bag. This will speed up the process of finding your bag. However, don’t be put off if all you have is your passport/ID and boarding pass, and register the loss anyway.
At the Baggage Service Office, you’ll have to fill in a form. You will have to indicate the value of your Wizz baggage. After that you will be given a written confirmation (Property Irregularity Report or PIR) with a personal reference number. Do not lose it. You will be told what to do next. In some situations it takes around 24 hours to find a lost bag, in some — longer than that. Most likely it will take a minimum of 12 hours until you hear back from Wizz Air.
After they contact you, you will still have to agree upon delivery.
Lost Baggage Tracking
Mostly you can track your lost bag online.
You have been given PIR with a personal reference number. Go to the online lost baggage tracker and use this code to track the progress of your baggage online. Alternatively, you can also just wait. Once Wizz Air personnel has found your baggage, they will contact you.
Wizz Air Lost Baggage Compensation
Do you have the legal right to claim compensation from the airline if your hold luggage is lost? Could you be entitled to Wizz Air baggage compensation? Will Wizz Air cover any of your expenses, if you replace some of the necessary items while waiting for your luggage (essential clothes, toiletries, underwear, etc.)?
First, it’s important to determine if your baggage is really lost, or is it simply delayed. If it really is lost, you will be entitled to “airport lost luggage” compensation.
Delayed Baggage
If your baggage is delayed, it will be delivered to you in a few days.
In some situations it takes around 24 hours to find a lost bag, in some — longer than that. Most likely, it will take a minimum of 12 hours until you hear back from the airline. If you haven’t done anything wrong, like given wrong boarding pass to a different destination when checking in your bag, the bag will be delivered to you for free.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Do you have to replace any of necessary items you had in your bag?
If your baggage is delayed or lost, and you have to replace some of the essentials, you are entitled to reimbursement for your expenses. Sometimes, travellers refer to this reimbursement for lost luggage as delayed baggage compensation, late baggage compensation or EU lost luggage compensation (even though, it isn’t only a EU thing). Keep in mind, you won’t get the money right away, though, and you also shouldn’t be trying to replace everything.
You can get reimbursed only for essential things only. These are things that were in your bag that you can’t manage without, such as essential clothes, toiletries and underwear. Keep all the receipts. You will need them when you will be filing the claim for additional expenses. Keep in mind that you have 21 days from the day you receive your lost baggage to file a claim for reimbursement.
Lost Baggage Compensation
The airline has to return your baggage within 21 days.
If your baggage is lost for more than 21 days (3 weeks), it’s considered lost. In this case, you’re entitled to Wizz Air lost baggage compensation of up to €1300. In order to receive this compensation from Wizz Air, you’ll have to provide a list of things you had in your bag and indicate the value of these things. Keep in mind that it’s not advised to carry electronics, art, jewellery, money, etc., in checked baggage. It’s because Wizz Air isn’t liable to compensate for the full value of such items, only to the extent defined by the Montreal Convention and its Conditions of Carriage and Wizz Air baggage policy.
In addition to this, you can file a claim for additional expenses. If you had to replace some of the necessary items, you can file a claim for additional expenses. Do not forget that you have to provide all the receipts.
Wizz Air has to transfer your lost baggage compensation (as well as the lost luggage reimbursement of expenses) to your bank account. You don’t have to accept any vouchers. You can’t buy a new suitcase with an airline voucher, can you?
Is Travel Insurance Necessary?
No, it isn’t necessary.
You still can get airline lost baggage compensation, even if you don’t have an insurance. As long as you know how to claim lost baggage and as long as you do it.
However, it may be useful to have insurance at some point during your travels. Because you never know what may happen. While you don’t have to provide any insurance documentation when claiming lost baggage compensation, it’s still a good idea to buy insurance before all your international trips. With a good travel insurance you have more peace of mind. A good travel insurance can help you if something does go wrong on your holiday, including baggage delay.
Besides, travel insurance doesn’t cost much.
So, why not get an insurance?
Please note, that not all travel insurance policies cover baggage delay. Before you buy travel insurance, find out what does this particular travel insurance cover.
How does it all work? Why can you get lost baggage compensation without having an insurance? Generally speaking, if it’s not your fault that your luggage was lost or delayed, it’s the airline’s fault. And, according to the Montreal Convention, the airline is liable for the loss or damage. That’s why in most cases, you will be reimbursed for all the purchases that could be described as necessities. And if your bag is missing for longer than 21 days, it will be considered lost — the airline will have to refund the value of your bag.
Travel Prepared
When you have a plan B, everything is better.
If something goes wrong, you are prepared for that. If your bag is delayed or even lost, you aren’t feeling lost yourself — if you have thought of that and have packed some essentials also in your carry on luggage, things like a change of clothes, some underwear, pyjamas and travel size toiletries. Also, carry your medications and valuables in your cabin bag. So you can have access to them even if your checked luggage gets lost.
Remember about your rights! If your luggage is badly damaged, report that. This is the only way you can get Wizz Air damaged baggage compensation. And if your luggage doesn’t arrive at all — file a claim for compensation for lost baggage.
All the above-mentioned rules apply not only to Wizz Air, but to other airlines as well. These are common rules for handling claims for luggage delay, loss or damage, and are regulated by the Montreal Convention. The rules apply to most international flights and airlines all around the world.
Featured photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels