Air Malta delayed baggage compensation.
What amount can you request? What’s the procedure?
Realising that your suitcase did not arrive with you can be an anxiety-inducing experience. This is a relatively common situation, often arising from baggage mishandling during transit or a failure to make its scheduled connecting flight. Regardless of the underlying cause, dealing with baggage complications is consistently inconvenient.
What to do if your luggage is lost or delayed?
What to Do If Your Luggage Is Lost?
What actions can you take if your baggage is delayed or lost?
The best course of action when you notice that your baggage is delayed is to report the delayed/lost baggage at once.
Immediately report the delay of your baggage to the representative present at a Baggage Service Office in the baggage claim area. To file a complaint about a delayed or lost bag, you will need to show your passport, boarding pass, and baggage tag (a sticker added to your boarding pass during check-in). Offering a picture of your suitcase or any extra details can expedite the process.
The airport staff will note down your contact details and provide you with a Property Irregularity Report or PIR, which includes a unique reference number for tracking purposes. Keep this document safe. You will need it to track your bag online.
On most occasions, if your baggage is misplaced, it is typically located within the first 24 hours. Once your bag is found, the airline will get in touch with you to fix a delivery time.
Tracking Your Lost Baggage
At the airport, you have received a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) that carries a unique reference number. Safeguard this document as you will need it to track your baggage.
To confirm the status of your lost items, use the airline’s online baggage tracing system. The representatives will share the details with you when you report your lost bag. Essential details like your name and PIR number are needed to utilize this baggage tracking system.
Take note, the number on your baggage tag is not the same as your PIR number.
Air Malta Delayed Baggage Compensation
What happens when your checked baggage is delayed?
Are you entitled to Air Malta delayed baggage compensation?
Baggage Delayed For a Few Days
Once you complete the Property Irregularity Report at the airport, the airline will initiate a tracer (electronic communication) to the flight’s departure location. If your checked bag is located promptly, it will be put on the next available flight to your destination. In the event it is not found immediately, a secondary tracer is sent to multiple destinations until a positive match is established. Subsequently, your baggage will be forwarded at the earliest opportunity.
You can check on the status of your baggage by using the tracer tool provided by the airline.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Keep in mind that delayed baggage compensation means reimbursement of expenses in case of baggage delay.
Please note that you are eligible to be reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries, underwear, and necessary clothing if your checked baggage goes missing. However, remember to have the receipts for these items as they will be necessary when submitting a claim.
Only essential items qualify for reimbursement.
The claim needs to be submitted within 21 days from the day you receive the delayed bag.
This reimbursement is often called “delayed baggage compensation”.
Lost Baggage (You Can Get Compensation)
Air Malta has a duration of 21 days to locate and return your checked baggage.
If after 21 days your delayed baggage remains unfound, it is officially classified as lost. At this point, you can lodge a lost baggage compensation claim with the airline.
You could be entitled to compensation of up to €1300.
Please bear in mind that carrying items such as electronics, art, jewellery, etc., in your checked baggage is not recommended as Air Malta (or any other airline for that matter) may not compensate for the full value of such items, but only to the extent specified by the Montreal Convention and its Conditions of Carriage.
For the claim process, you are required to present your boarding pass, baggage tags, and the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with your reference number. If you have any additional costs while awaiting your bag, these can be included in your claim by providing the receipts for your purchases.
Is Travel Insurance Necessary?
Is travel insurance necessary to claim Air Malta delayed baggage compensation?
While it is not a formal requirement to have insurance during the claim process, it is beneficial to have an insurance policy before setting off on your travels.
Travel insurance provides a safety protection during your journey, particularly in case unexpected issues arise. With travel insurance, the majority of problems can be managed by your insurance provider, contributing to a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience. Travel insurance policies can often be offered at affordable rates, making it a worthy investment. Moreover, if your baggage is misplaced or delayed due to no fault of your own, your insurance policy might cover the cost of essential purchases, potentially making the process less complicated than dealing directly with the airline.
Before making any expenses, it is crucial to notify your insurance provider and maintain all receipts. Reimbursement is typically possible by providing these receipts. It is important to understand the specifics of your policy, including whether it covers delayed baggage scenarios.
Travel Prepared
How to be prepared for possible baggage loss or delay?
One practical approach is to pack a change of clothes and undergarments in your carry-on bag. This becomes particularly crucial when travelling to tropical locations where specific weather-appropriate attire and swimwear might be required.
Medications and high-value items should be packed in your carry-on as a preventative measure in the event of an incident with your checked baggage.
What is your experience with baggage delays on Air Malta flights? Has Air Malta ever lost your baggage? Have you ever applied for “Air Malta delayed baggage compensation” (reimbursement of expenses in case of baggage delay)?
Please note that the rules for compensation for lost or delayed baggage with Air Malta are the same as those for other airlines. This is due to the Montreal Convention, which applies to the carriage of baggage on most international flights operated by Air Malta and other airlines globally.