What Do I Do If My Baggage Was Damaged with Delta Airlines?

It seems like no matter who you fly with, there's always a possibility of damaged baggage. Luckily, Delta streamlines the process for claims. As long as you show the damage to a Delta Associate immediately after landing, they can advise you if you need to file a claim online. And you can also call the Baggage Claims office anytime, if you have a question about their process or want to check on your claim.

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

Delta Airlines has been around since 1925 and now operates in six continents. Like other airlines, they want to get you to your destination so that you'll keep using them when you want to travel. It's one thing to get you in one piece to your destination but it can be another challenge to get your baggage there in one piece. So, what happens if your baggage gets damaged? This guide will help you make sense of the damaged baggage claim process and let you know where Delta assumes no responsibility for damages.

No Liability

  1. Delta assumes no liability for damages that are as a result of pre-existing damage, such as minor cuts or scratches, or broken zippers caused by overstuffing the bag, or normal wear and tear from normal baggage handling.
  2. The Transportation Security Administration TSA made a random search of your bag, which resulted in its damage. In this scenario, please call TSA here.

Important Information About Reporting the Damage

  1. All damages must be evaluated in person, by a Delta agent, at the Delta Airlines Baggage Office.
  2. The Delta agent will advise you to file a damaged bag claim form, if necessary. The form is located here https://www.delta.com/bags/claimLanding.action
  3. The claim form will need to be filed within 24 hours for travel inside the United States, but international travelers will have 7 days to file the report.
  4. You will need the File Reference Number you received from the Baggage Office along with any supporting documents to verify your claim when you file.
  5. The File Reference Number is also needed when you need to check on the status of your claim. To check the status of your claim or if you have questions, please call Delta Baggage claims here.
  6. Delta should respond to your claim within 2-4 weeks, but it may take longer in cases of severe weather.

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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.
What Do I Do If My Baggage Was Damaged with Delta Airlines?

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