Baggage insurance: how to get the maximum refund

The P.I.R., the first essential document

Before any claim, you must fill in the P.I.R. (Property Irregularity Report) at the airport's Lost & Found office: without this form, neither the airline nor the insurance company can proceed with the refund.

The airline's liability limit

The Montreal Convention sets the compensation due from the carrier at a maximum of 1,519 SDR, a figure that fluctuates around 1,800-1,900 euros depending on the day's exchange rate. A supplementary insurance policy is designed to cover the actual value of lost goods beyond this ceiling: this is why photographing the suitcase contents before departure is a useful precaution.

What the policy covers (and excludes)

While waiting, it is convenient to keep receipts for essential purchases (clothing, hygiene products): the policy reimburses them up to the maximum stated in the contract. Pay attention instead to clauses on valuable objects: electronics, jewellery and cash are almost always excluded from standard hold baggage compensation and should be kept in carry-on luggage or insured separately.

Timeframe to file a claim

Beyond the twenty-one days that trigger the loss declaration, the Montreal Convention allows two years to file a compensation claim: a wide margin that nonetheless should not be taken advantage of fully, because the more time passes the harder it becomes to recover receipts and documentation.

Photograph the inside of your suitcase before departure and keep every receipt for expenses incurred while waiting: these are the proofs that allow both the airline and the insurance company to settle the refund without dispute.