How Do I File a Lost Baggage Claim with American Airlines?

This article outlines what you should do if your baggage has been lost or delayed on an American Airlines flight. If you have recently flown with American Airlines and lost your baggage, this article may be beneficial for you. The guide explains how to issue a lost baggage claim, the timeframe within which you need to submit your claim, and how to proceed if these tips don't work.

Jeff Whelpley is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Jul 9, 2020

You have recently flown on an American Airlines flight. However, the airline lost your baggage, and now you need to make a baggage claim

You chose to fly with American Airlines because they usually provide a great service and good prices. However, after your most recent flight, it became apparent that the airline lost your baggage. For that reason, you need to file a lost baggage claim, but you are unsure of how to do so.

Lost baggage is extremely inconvenient. However, filing a lost baggage claim with American Airlines is quick, simple, and can be done via their website.

To discover the easiest way to file a lost baggage claim, follow this simple guide.

Bags Delayed for Under Five Days:

If your bags have been lost or delayed for under five days, you will not be able to file a lost baggage claim.

In the instance that you cannot find your bags upon landing, you should locate an American Airlines agent. Let the agent know about your issue and they will provide you a 13 digit reference number that you can use to track your bag.

To track your lost bag, visit the American Airlines website and then click on the "Travel Information" tab at the top of the homepage. From the drop-down menu, click on the "Bags" option. On the "Bags" page, find the "Delayed or Damaged Bags" tab and follow that.

On the "Delayed or Damaged Bags" page, you need to search for the "Find Your Bags" heading and follow the hyperlink. You can then enter your details to find your lost or delayed bag.

Bags Delay For More Than Five Days:

If your bags have still not arrived five days after your flight landed, you need to fill out a Passenger Property Questionaire.

You can find the Passenger Property Questionaire on the "Delayed or Damaged Bag" page. Scroll down the page until you find the "Bags Delayed 5+ More Days" heading, then click on the "Complete The Questionaire PDF."

Complete The Passenger Property Questionaire:

To officially file a lost baggage claim for luggage that is more than five days delayed, you need to fill in the "Passenger Property Questionaire." Once you have filled out the questionnaire, you then need to send it to the provided American Airlines address within 30 days of losing your baggage.

To complete the questionnaire, you will need to provide your name, home address, email address, flight itinerary, and details regarding your flight and baggage. You will also need to supply information regarding the items that were inside your lost baggage, including their value and age.

If This Doesn't Work:

If you have followed this guide carefully, but you still are unsure of how you can file a lost baggage claim, you need to directly contact American Airlines. The easiest way to contact the airline is via phone.

To find up to date contact details for American Airlines, visit the GetHuman website. Upon calling the airline, customer advisors will be able to help you file your lost baggage claim.

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Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
How Do I File a Lost Baggage Claim with American Airlines?

Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for American Airlines Problems?

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