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

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

Keeping track of your luggage when travelling can prove challenging if you travel with a lot of bags. Losing your baggage on a United Airlines flight is an uncommon occurrence.

Luckily for those who lose their baggage when travelling on a United Airlines flight because the airline has a Baggage Resolution Center. You can contact the baggage resolution center whether your luggage is lost, delayed, damaged or missing some items.

The manner in which you notify United Airlines of lost luggage will depend on where you are and what is the nature of your lost luggage.

Reporting Lost or Damaged Luggage

If you notice any discrepancies with your bag while you are still at the baggage claim area in the airport, you should notify the Baggage Service Office immediately.

They will examine the bag and grant you a file number. You may have to fill a form at the Baggage Service Office.

If you have already left the airport, you should report lost or damaged baggage to the Baggage Service Office within 24 hours for domestic flights and 7 days for international flights.

If you have been waiting at the baggage claim area for over an hour, you should report your bag is delayed at the Baggage Service Office and they will immediately start searching for your bag. You should check the ‘Baggage Track' feature on the United Airlines mobile app or website before notifying airport authority.

The Baggage Service Office will notify you via phone or email when they find your bag. You will also receive updates in the same way if your bag is not found.

If you want to find your baggage, you should ensure that you hold on to the receipt. It has your baggage file reference number which the Baggage Service Office can use for reference when necessary.

If you still do not have your luggage after five days, you should call United Airlines customer service and speak to a representative. You will be eligible to receive $1,500 for the value of your baggage without needing to provide documentation.

If the value of your lost baggage is above $1,500, you should file a claim with the Baggage Service Office. You will have to prove the value of your luggage using receipts.

For domestic flights within the United States, the highest amount you can receive for lost luggage is $3,500. The rate can be higher for international flights depending on the origin country.

Filing a Claim

If you are certain that the airline has lost your luggage which is after five days, you should file a claim with the Baggage Service Office. You will have to fill the same claim form whether it is at an airline kiosk, on the mobile app or airline website.

The process of filing a claim for lost baggage with United Airlines is as follows:

1. Launch your web browser and open the United Airlines website.
2. Hover your mouse over the ‘My Trips' tab at the top of the site homepage.
3. Click ‘Lost or Damaged Bags' under ‘My Trips Help.'
4. Click on ‘Issues with your bags' on the next page.
5. Scroll down the next page and click ‘Submit a Claim' at the bottom and you will be directed to the Claim Form page.
6. Select ‘Lost/Delayed Bag' on the claim type and proceed to input your name and file reference number.
7. Click ‘File Claim' when finished.

You can also visit the United Airlines website whenever you want to check the status of your claim. However, to be sure you may have to call United Airlines customer service and hear it directly from the horse's mouth.