British Airways baggage deadlines: report, written claim and legal action
Reviewed on 10 August 2026. British Airways baggage cases use several deadlines. Damage to checked baggage generally requires written complaint within seven days after receipt; delayed baggage requires written complaint within 21 days after it is returned; a bag missing for more than 21 days can be treated as lost; and Montreal court action generally must begin within two years.
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Report the incident immediately even where the Convention allows more time. A tracing report, written monetary claim and court filing are different procedural steps.
Deadline table
| Event | Conservative action |
|---|---|
| Bag missing at arrivals | Report before leaving and obtain reference |
| BA online delayed-bag report | BA currently says within eight days, but immediate is safer |
| Checked bag or contents damaged | Written complaint within seven days of receipt |
| Delayed bag delivered | Written expense claim within 21 days of delivery |
| Bag still missing after 21 days | Passenger may invoke loss treatment |
| Court action | Start within two years under Montreal Article 35 |
Do not add seven or 21 days to the flight date mechanically. Damage runs from receipt; delayed-baggage complaint runs from the date the bag is placed at the passenger's disposal.
The airport report
The Property Irregularity Report or BA portal reference documents that baggage did not arrive or was damaged. It starts tracing and captures the tag, passenger, itinerary and delivery address.
Make it immediately. BA's current page says delayed bags should be reported within eight days, but waiting sacrifices evidence and can complicate delivery. Damage should be photographed and reported before leaving baggage reclaim whenever possible.
Check the reference details. A misspelled surname, wrong bag count or old hotel address can delay recovery. Save the report outside the BA app.
The seven-day damage complaint
The Montreal Convention presumes baggage was delivered in good condition unless the passenger complains within the Article 31 period. For checked-baggage damage, send written notice no later than seven days after receipt.
Identify the damage, flight and bag; attach photographs, report reference, tag and requested repair or replacement. Keep the item available. An oral conversation at the airport is not dependable written notice.
If a bag arrives after delay and is also broken, the seven-day damage clock begins when it is received. Do not rely only on the original missing-bag report.
The 21-day delay complaint
Once BA returns a delayed bag, send the claim for reasonable essentials within 21 days. Attach itemised receipts and explain why each purchase was necessary away from home.
The period begins on delivery, not on scheduled flight arrival. Preserve courier confirmation, delivery email or a dated photograph. If the bag was collected rather than delivered, record collection time.
Submitting the tracing report does not automatically claim money. Use BA's baggage claim path and save its confirmation.
Loss after 21 days
Montreal Article 17 allows a passenger to enforce rights as for lost baggage when the carrier admits loss or the bag has not arrived after 21 days from when it ought to have arrived. This is a status rule, not the same as the 21-day written complaint for a bag eventually delivered.
Prepare an item inventory, ownership proof, age and value. The liability ceiling is generally 1,519 SDR per passenger, not per bag or item. BA may apply reasonable depreciation.
If the bag appears after a loss payment, coordinate return or settlement with BA. Do not conceal recovery.
The two-year court period
Article 35 extinguishes the right to damages if an action is not brought within two years, counted from arrival at destination, the date the aircraft ought to have arrived, or when carriage stopped. The method of calculating the period follows the law of the court hearing the case.
Do not substitute the six-year England and Wales summary used for some UK261 claims. Montreal baggage has its own treaty period. Internal complaint, insurer negotiation or ADR should not be assumed to stop it.
If the two-year date approaches, obtain legal advice on jurisdiction and filing. Another email to BA is not court action.
BA, insurance and CEDR
Notify travel insurance within the policy period as well as BA. Insurers may require the baggage report, carrier response and receipts. Disclose payments so the same loss is not recovered twice.
British Airways participates in CEDR for eligible unresolved complaints. ADR scheme timing is separate from Article 35. A claim may be admissible to one process and late for another if the passenger waits.
CAA complaint guidance includes Montreal baggage issues, but the CAA does not normally replace BA's approved ADR provider or issue a court award for the passenger.
Build a deadline calendar
Record flight date, expected arrival, actual bag receipt, report time, written claim time, BA response and two-year stop-date. Attach the document proving each date. Use reminders several weeks early.
For damage, prioritise seven days. For delay, do not wait until day 21 to organise receipts. For loss, start the inventory while tracing continues so proof is not reconstructed months later.
The BA delayed and lost baggage guide covers valuation. The damaged baggage guide explains inspection and repair evidence.
Distinguish baggage from flight claims
A three-hour flight delay uses UK261 or EC261 and has no role in the seven- or 21-day baggage clock. A bag can be delayed after an on-time flight. Conversely, a long flight delay without baggage loss creates no Montreal baggage claim.
Care expenses caused by waiting for rerouting belong to the flight disruption file. Toiletries caused by a missing bag belong to the baggage file. Label receipts to prevent duplicate or misdirected claims.
The EU passenger-rights reform's future nine-month request period does not replace Montreal deadlines. It concerns fixed flight compensation once the revised rules apply.
FAQ
Do I have 21 days to report a missing BA bag?
Do not wait. Report immediately. Twenty-one days has different roles for delayed-baggage claims and treating an undelivered bag as lost.
When does the seven-day damage period start?
It begins when the checked bag is received. Send written notice promptly and retain proof of submission.
Does the airport report claim my expenses?
No. It records and traces the incident. Submit a separate written monetary claim with itemised receipts.
Can I use the UK six-year court period for baggage?
Generally no. Montreal Convention baggage action has a specific two-year extinction period requiring its own calculation.
Does CEDR stop the Montreal two-year clock?
Do not assume it does. Check provider rules and governing procedural law, and seek advice before the court date approaches.