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

In a nutshell: Travelers flying to a destination always hope that their checked bag doesn't get lost along the way. If you flew with Southwest Airlines and arrived at your destination but your bag didn't, it's important to notify the company as soon as possible. Here are the steps you can take to file a lost baggage claim with Southwest Airlines.

Feb 18, 2026

Introduction

Travelers flying to a destination always hope that their checked bag doesn't get lost along the way. If you flew with Southwest Airlines and arrived at your destination but your bag didn't, it's important to notify the company as soon as possible. Here are the steps you can take to file a lost baggage claim with Southwest Airlines.

What You'll Need

Flight information

Pre-flight photos of the luggage

Go to the Southwest Airlines Website

Visit the Southwest Airlines website.

Find the "Help Center" Link

Scroll down the Southwest Airlines homepage until you find the "Help Center" link. It's almost all the way at the bottom of the page.

Go to the Southwest Airlines Support Page

Click on the "Help Center" link, which will take you to the Southwest Airlines support page. It says "What do you need help with?" at the top of the page.

Find the "Additional Topics" Section

Scroll down the support page until you find the "Additional Topics" section.

Look for the "Baggage" Box

Find the baggage box within the "Additional topics" section. It has a luggage icon, a "Baggage" header, and a descriptive line that says "Learn more about our checked and carryon baggage policies."

Go to the Southwest Airlines "Baggage" Page

Click on the "Baggage" box. This will take you to a page of the same name.

Find the Relevant Topic on the "Baggage" Page

Since your bag is lost, look for the topic that says "My baggage is missing, delayed, or damaged." It should be the fourth option down on the list.

Go to the "My Baggage Is Missing, Delayed, or Damaged" Page

Click on "My baggage is missing, delayed, or damaged," which will take you to a page of the same name.

Find the Relevant Section

Since your luggage was lost, look for the "Lost Baggage" section on the page.

Read the "Lost Baggage" Section

Read through the Southwest Airlines "Lost Baggage" section. It offers information about how to report the lost luggage while you're still at the airport and online if you've already left.

Take Action

Act quickly if your bag got lost while you were flying with Southwest Airlines. If you took photos of your luggage before your flight, make sure to provide them, if possible, so the airline can have a clear understanding of what your bag looks like. Also, make sure to report whether your luggage has your personal details inside and on the outside.

Please move on to Step 12 if you need further assistance.

Contact Southwest Airlines Customer Support

Reach out to Southwest Airlines if you have questions or need further assistance with reporting your lost baggage. They can provide you with answers and guide you through the process.

Conclusion

Don't hesitate to contact Southwest Airlines if your luggage has been lost. A knowledgeable representative can advise you on the next steps.

Further questions?

Ask a followup or related question and we will try to provide an answer in seconds.
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Southwest Airlines

Asked 6 years ago
Updated a day ago
Viewed 3,462,380 times
Losing your baggage doesn't have to be nerve-wracking
as long as you make a report with a Southwest employee within 4 hours of arriving at your destination
Southwest will do their best to locate your missing baggage within 5 days. After that and if your bags are not located
the next step would be to file a claim.

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