Air Arabia Maroc damaged baggage: seven-day claim and evidence
Inspect Air Arabia Maroc checked baggage before leaving the reclaim area, report new damage immediately and send a written claim no later than seven days after receiving the bag. Keep the baggage tag, PIR or damage report, photographs, travel documents and repair or replacement evidence. For qualifying Montreal Convention carriage, the current baggage liability ceiling is 1,519 SDR per passenger, but payment depends on proven loss and is not an automatic award.
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Enter your route, date and type of disruption. We will check whether your case qualifies for a claim under EU 261/2004 or UK261.
What happened to your flight?
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
Minor scratches, scuffs, dents and cuts associated with ordinary handling can be treated as normal wear. A broken wheel, split shell, torn seam, unusable handle or missing contents requires clearer photographs and a prompt report.
Damage response table
| Finding | Immediate action | Later evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Broken suitcase at the belt | Photograph it in the reclaim area and report it before leaving | PIR, tag, repair assessment and purchase proof |
| Damage noticed after reaching home | Photograph it at once and notify Air Arabia within seven days | Explain when and why it was discovered later |
| Contents missing from checked bag | Record seal, zip or shell condition and list items | Ownership, value and packing evidence |
| Bag was already damaged before travel | Separate old marks from new damage | Earlier photos and check-in condition |
| Cabin bag damaged by the passenger | Carrier liability may be weak | Evidence of airline or agent negligence if alleged |
| Bag and contents exceed treaty limit | 1,519 SDR remains the standard current ceiling | Special declaration or insurance documents |
The seven-day written notice is shorter than the 21-day period for delayed baggage. Do not wait for a repair quotation if that would miss notification; send the initial claim in time and supplement it.
Report damage before leaving the airport
Go to Air Arabia baggage services or its handling agent at the destination airport. Present the tag and boarding credential, ask for a Property Irregularity Report or damage reference, and make sure the description is accurate. Photograph the full bag, close views, tag, belt area and any exposed contents.
Air Arabia's conditions state that accepting baggage without complaint is evidence of delivery in good condition unless proved otherwise. A later claim is not necessarily impossible, but the passenger must explain the delay and connect the damage to carriage. An airport report removes much of that uncertainty.
Do not surrender the suitcase or original receipts without a written handover record. If staff take it for repair, note company, date, condition and promised return. Keep copies of every document.
Written notice within seven days
The Montreal Convention and Air Arabia's current terms require a written complaint about checked-baggage damage as soon as it is discovered and at the latest within seven days of receipt. Count cautiously and submit through the official baggage channel well before the final day.
The airport PIR may not contain the monetary request. Send a separate written claim identifying the passenger, flight, date, bag tag, report number, damage and requested remedy. Attach photographs and proof of timely submission.
If an online form rejects a file, save the error and submit the core notice without waiting for every attachment. Use another official contact channel and state that supporting material will follow. A telephone call alone may not satisfy a written-notice requirement.
Repair, replacement and depreciation
Ask a competent repairer whether the bag can be restored safely and what it will cost. If repair is uneconomic or impossible, obtain that statement and document the price of a reasonably comparable replacement. The claim is for actual loss, not an automatic new premium suitcase.
Age, original value, condition and expected useful life can affect assessment. Provide the original invoice where available, plus older travel photos, warranty registration, model information or a card statement. Explain missing documents rather than inventing a purchase value.
Do not discard the damaged item until the claim is resolved or Air Arabia gives written permission. The carrier or insurer may ask to inspect it. If immediate replacement is necessary during travel, keep the new receipt and show why waiting was impractical.
The current 1,519 SDR ceiling
ICAO revised the Montreal Convention Article 22 baggage limit to 1,519 SDR per passenger from 28 December 2024. It covers destruction, loss, damage and delay of checked and unchecked baggage together. It is not 1,519 SDR for each suitcase and not a guaranteed payment.
Actual proven loss may be lower. A passenger travelling with several bags still has one ordinary passenger ceiling. A higher amount may be possible where a special declaration of value was made at check-in and the required charge was paid, subject to the declaration terms.
Air Arabia's current Conditions of Carriage still display an older 1,288 SDR Montreal figure, and a public baggage page refers to a USD 20-per-kilogram approach. For qualifying carriage, ask the carrier to address ICAO's effective 2024 revision and identify whether Montreal, Warsaw or local law governs the itinerary. Do not accept or reject a figure without matching the legal regime.
Checked baggage versus cabin baggage
Under Montreal, a carrier is generally responsible for destruction, loss or damage to checked baggage when the event occurred during carriage, subject to treaty defences. For unchecked baggage, including personal items retained by the passenger, fault by the carrier or its agents usually must be shown.
Describe who controlled the item when damage occurred. A cabin bag broken because the passenger dropped it is different from one damaged by staff while forcibly gate-checking it. Preserve gate tags and witness details if custody changed.
Air Arabia's conditions exclude liability for inherent defect, poor quality and ordinary wear. They also warn against checking fragile, perishable or high-value items. Those clauses do not answer every treaty case, but packing, pre-existing weakness and prohibited contents will affect the evidence.
Missing contents and successive carriers
For missing contents, photograph tampering, damaged locks, seals and the inside arrangement. List each missing item with age, value and ownership evidence. Report suspected theft through airport or police channels where appropriate, but retain the airline claim deadline.
If several carriers transported the checked bag on one international contract, Montreal has rules for successive carriage. Preserve all ticket and bag-tag segments and identify the first, last and suspected carrier. Do not choose Air Arabia Maroc solely because it sold one sector.
The delayed and lost baggage guide covers non-arrival and essential purchases; do not use its 21-day delay notice for physical damage.
Submit and track the claim
Send the itinerary, boarding credential, tag, PIR, photographs, repair report, purchase evidence, claimed amount and payment details through the official channel. Ask for a reference and itemised decision. State whether insurance paid anything and avoid duplicate recovery.
Court action under Montreal is generally subject to a strict two-year period. Complaint handling does not necessarily suspend it. Seek jurisdiction-specific advice early if a material claim remains unresolved.
Rules were checked on 26 August 2026. Treaty applicability, SDR conversion and airline procedure should be confirmed for the individual itinerary and decision date.
FAQ
Is an airport PIR the same as the written seven-day claim?
Not necessarily. Create the airport report, then send a written monetary claim with the damage, evidence and requested remedy within seven days.
Does Air Arabia pay for small scratches on a suitcase?
Ordinary scratches, scuffs, dents and cuts may be treated as normal wear. Structural or functional damage needs clear proof.
Will I automatically receive 1,519 SDR?
No. It is the current Montreal ceiling per passenger for baggage claims. Payment is based on actual proven loss and can be lower.
Should I throw away the broken suitcase after taking photos?
No. Retain it until inspection is complete or the airline gives written permission, unless safety or practical necessity makes that impossible.
What if another airline operated the last flight?
Keep the full itinerary and baggage tag. Successive-carrier rules and where the damage occurred determine which carrier or carriers can receive the claim.