Luggage lost or delayed on arrival in Spain

Key rules

• Report first: File the report at the airport desk before you leave the arrivals hall.
• Damaged bag: A damaged bag must be reported in writing within 7 days of receiving it.
• Essentials: Only reasonable purchases are reimbursed, and each airline sets its own limits.
• Receipts: Itemised receipts and your PIR reference number are what back up your claim.

Report it before you leave the baggage hall

Go to the airline's or the ground handler's lost-luggage desk before you leave the arrivals baggage hall. This applies to a bag that is delayed, damaged or lost. Leaving first can weaken your claim later.

The desk completes a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for you and gives you a file reference number. Keep that number. You can use it to track your bag online.

Have these ready: your passport or ID, boarding pass, baggage tag and flight details. Also have a delivery address in Spain, so the airline can send the bag to you. The documents list below shows what to bring.

If no desk is open, contact the airline right away and put your claim in writing.

Buy essentials while you wait

You can claim reasonable, necessary purchases made while your bag is delayed. That means toiletries, basic clothing and medication. Do not buy anything beyond what you need.

No law sets a fixed daily amount. Each airline has its own guidelines, and your claim is judged on whether the spending was reasonable. Ask the desk what the airline allows before you shop.

Keep itemised receipts for everything. Keep your flight ticket too, because you will need it to back up the claim.

Send a written complaint on time

Send a written complaint to the airline within 21 days of the bag being made available to you. The PIR is a start, but a separate written complaint is the safest route. A letter, an email or the airline's claim form all work. Attach your PIR reference and your receipts.

If your bag arrives damaged, you have less time: 7 days from the day you receive it. Describe the damage on the PIR and follow up in writing within that time.

If the airline does not respond

If the airline ignores your complaint or rejects it, you can complain to Spain's aviation authority, AESA. Keep copies of everything you sent.

The timeline, checklist and FAQ below cover the steps in order and the most common questions.

Timeline and deadlines

• Buy only reasonable essentials such as toiletries, basic clothing and medication, and keep itemised receipts: while your bag is delayed

• Send a written complaint to the airline if your bag was damaged: within 7 days of receiving the bag

Documents you need

• Passport or ID, shown at the lost-luggage desk when you report the bag

• Boarding pass for the flight your bag was on

• Baggage tag, the sticker you were given at check-in

• Property Irregularity Report (PIR), the report the desk completes for you, with its file reference number

• Flight ticket, to back up a claim for essentials

• Itemised receipts for toiletries, basic clothing or medication you buy while the bag is delayed

Checklist

• Ask for the file reference number and keep it to track your bag.

• Keep itemised receipts for toiletries, basic clothing and medication you buy meanwhile.

Frequently asked questions

What if there is no lost-luggage desk open when I land?

Contact the airline right away and file your claim in writing if no lost-luggage desk is open. Do this before you leave the airport if you can, or as soon as you have a connection. Keep a copy of what you send.

How much will the airline pay for essentials while my bag is delayed?

There is no fixed legal daily amount, so each airline sets its own limit and judges your claim on whether the purchases were reasonable. Many airlines allow a modest amount, often tens of euros per day, for a limited number of days. Ask the airline for its limit when you file.

Can I claim for damaged luggage as well as delayed luggage?

Yes, you can claim for damaged luggage, but the written complaint deadline is shorter: 7 days from the day you receive the bag. Write to the airline, either on the report or by letter, email or claim form.