Brussels Airlines delayed or lost baggage: report and claim
Short answer: report missing Brussels Airlines baggage before leaving the arrival airport and keep the PIR reference, baggage tag and boarding pass. Buy only reasonable necessities and retain itemised receipts. Send a written expense claim within 21 days after the bag is delivered. If tracing fails, Brussels Airlines treats a bag as lost after 21 days following the completed inventory process. Montreal liability is currently capped at 1,519 SDR per passenger unless a higher special declaration was made.
Free eligibility check
Check your case in the form
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:
A PIR starts tracing; it is not the complete written claim for money. EU261 EUR 250-600 does not compensate baggage loss, although a passenger can have a separate flight-disruption claim from the same journey.
Report before leaving the airport
Go to the Brussels Airlines baggage desk in the reclaim area or the airport Lost & Found point. Describe colour, brand, size and distinctive features. The report generates a code such as BRUSN12345 for online tracing.
Check that the report records the correct delivery address, telephone, bag-tag number and flight sequence. Photograph the PIR and baggage tag. If the desk is closed, use the official online reporting route immediately and preserve proof of submission.
Do not report a bag merely as an item forgotten on board. Lost property follows the arrival airport's process, while checked luggage accepted under a baggage tag uses Montreal tracing.
Delayed versus lost
| Status | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Delayed | Carrier is tracing and may deliver the bag |
| Inventory requested | Passenger supplies detailed contents to improve search |
| Not located after 21 days | Brussels Airlines says it is treated as lost |
| Delivered late | Start the 21-day written expense-claim period |
Complete the inventory accurately and promptly. List categories, brands, colours and distinguishing items without inflating value. Keep a copy; it later supports a loss valuation.
Reasonable replacement purchases
Brussels Airlines says passengers can buy necessary replacement clothing and toiletries when bags arrive late. Reasonableness depends on trip purpose, destination, duration and what the passenger already has.
| Usually defensible | Needs strong explanation |
|---|---|
| Basic toiletries and underwear | Premium cosmetics |
| Essential clothing for weather | Full wardrobe replacement |
| Required work garment | Luxury brand chosen for preference |
| Necessary child or medical item | Electronics carried contrary to baggage guidance |
Buy incrementally. A bag expected the next morning justifies less than luggage missing for a week-long trip. Keep itemised receipts and proof of payment. Do not surrender the purchased items unless a settlement expressly requires and values that outcome.
On a homebound journey, Brussels Airlines may argue that fewer purchases were necessary because the passenger had access to belongings. Explain any genuine need, such as onward travel, medication access or inability to return home promptly.
Written 21-day claim
Under the Montreal Convention, a written complaint for damage caused by baggage delay must be sent no later than 21 days after the bag is placed at the passenger's disposal. Count from delivery, not flight date. Submit sooner while evidence is organised.
Include PIR, baggage tag, boarding passes, delivery record, itinerary, numbered receipts and a cost table. State why each purchase was necessary. Keep submission confirmation. Do not assume airport reporting satisfies this later written requirement.
Valuing a lost bag
Montreal compensation is compensatory, not an automatic 1,519 SDR payout. List each item, purchase date, original price and current reasonable value. Provide invoices, bank statements, photographs or comparable evidence. Account for age and wear.
Avoid claiming replacement-new value for every old item without explanation. The liability ceiling applies per passenger, not per suitcase, for baggage and related Montreal damage combined. A family whose bags are on one tag should still identify which passenger owned each item.
High-value items such as cash, jewellery, passports and many electronics are poor checked-baggage risks and can face exclusions or contributory arguments. Preserve any special declaration of interest made at check-in, because that can establish a higher ceiling after payment of a supplement.
Which airline handles the claim?
Baggage journeys can involve Brussels Airlines and partners. Brussels Airlines' liability notice states that where actual and contracting carriers differ, the passenger can address a Montreal complaint or damages claim to either in the circumstances covered by the Convention. Operational tracing often starts with the last carrier at arrival.
Keep the full itinerary rather than applying the EU261 operator rule mechanically. Identify who checked the bag, who performed each sector and which airline delivered or failed to deliver it.
Baggage after rerouting
Cancellation or a missed connection can separate the traveller and bag. Brussels Airlines says it arranges baggage transfer after rebooking and seeks prompt reclaim when onward travel changes to train or bus. Confirm the bag route before leaving BRU or another transfer airport.
If a bag does not appear at final arrival, make a new PIR there even if staff said it was forwarding automatically. Save every reissued bag tag and delivery message.
Separate EU261 and Montreal claims
A passenger can receive fixed compensation because an ordinary technical delay caused arrival six hours late and separately recover necessary purchases because baggage came two days later. Use different forms or clearly separated sections, legal bases and deadlines.
Care during the flight wait, such as meals and hotel, is not baggage damage. Do not count those receipts against the 1,519 SDR baggage ceiling.
Court deadline
Montreal damages actions must generally be brought within two years from actual or scheduled arrival, or when carriage stopped. The right is extinguished if court action is too late. Informal tracing does not justify waiting. Applicable procedure determines calculation.
The Brussels Airlines webpage still displays an older SDR figure in part of its liability summary, while the Montreal limit was revised to 1,519 SDR from 28 December 2024. Use the current Convention revision for post-change events and verify the travel date.
FAQ
Is a PIR the same as a Brussels Airlines compensation claim?
No. It starts baggage tracing. Send the separate written expense or loss claim with evidence within the applicable deadline.
How long do I have to claim delayed-bag purchases?
Send the written complaint within 21 days after the bag is delivered, and keep proof of receipt by the carrier.
Does Brussels Airlines automatically pay 1,519 SDR for a lost bag?
No. It is a liability ceiling per passenger. The passenger must prove actual value and loss.
Can I claim EU261 and baggage damages together?
Yes when both events qualify, but keep the legal bases, evidence and amounts separate.
Who handles baggage on a codeshare journey?
Tracing usually begins at final arrival, and Montreal rules can involve contracting and actual carriers. Preserve every sector and bag tag.