LOT baggage claims and Montreal Convention
LOT Baggage Compensation
If LOT Polish Airlines lost, delayed or damaged your checked baggage, the claim is usually not a EUR 600 EU 261 case. Baggage claims are evidence-based and normally use the Montreal Convention, with a current liability limit of 1,519 SDR per passenger.
A practical guide for passengers dealing with delayed bags, lost luggage, damaged suitcases, missing contents and LOT baggage refusals.
Start a claim
Check your flight without leaving the article
If this guide matches your situation, you can start with the form here. We collect the route, date, disruption type and documents needed for an initial claim review.
- Initial EU 261 or UK 261 eligibility review
- No upfront fee for accepted cases
- You can return to the guide after adding your details
What happened to your flight?
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
Quick answer: baggage compensation is not automatic EU 261 money
LOT baggage compensation is different from fixed flight compensation. EU 261 can give EUR 250, EUR 400 or EUR 600 for eligible delays, cancellations and denied boarding. Lost, delayed or damaged baggage is normally assessed under the Montreal Convention and depends on proof of actual loss, expenses or damage.
The current baggage liability limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger unless a valid special declaration of higher value was made before the checked baggage was handed over. This is a ceiling, not a guaranteed payout. In practice, receipts, photos, repair estimates, baggage tags and the PIR reference often decide how strong the claim is.
| LOT baggage problem | Possible claim | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed checked baggage | Claim reasonable essential purchases | Keep receipts and claim within 21 days from the date the bag was delivered. |
| Lost baggage | Claim proven value of lost contents | Prepare an inventory, proof of value and baggage tracing documents. |
| Damaged suitcase or contents | Claim repair, replacement or loss of value | Report immediately, take photos and submit the written claim within 7 days. |
| Missing items from checked baggage | Claim proven value if documented | Act like a damage case: report quickly, identify missing items and keep purchase evidence. |
| Flight delayed and baggage delayed | Two different claims may exist | EU 261 can cover the flight disruption; Montreal covers baggage damage and expenses. |
| Bag left on board or at the airport | Usually a lost-property route | This is different from checked baggage irregularity and may go through airport or lost-property channels. |
Do not ask for EUR 600 for the suitcase
What to do before leaving the airport
If the bag does not arrive, or it arrives damaged, report the problem immediately if you can. Ask for a PIR reference or other written baggage irregularity confirmation. The PIR is not the final money claim, but it is one of the most useful pieces of evidence because it links your bag, flight and airport report.
Keep the baggage tag, boarding pass and booking confirmation. If the suitcase is damaged, photograph it before leaving the airport and take close-ups of the baggage tag, wheels, handle, shell, zipper and damaged contents. If the bag is delayed, keep every message showing delivery status and the date the bag was returned.
| Deadline or action | Timing | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| At the airport | Report the irregularity before leaving if possible | Ask for a PIR or written confirmation and keep the reference number. |
| Damage or missing contents | 7 days from baggage receipt | Send a written claim with photos, baggage tag, PIR and proof of value or repair cost. |
| Delayed baggage expenses | 21 days from baggage delivery | Claim necessary purchases with receipts after the bag is returned. |
| Baggage still not found after several days | Act quickly and complete the inventory process | LOT points passengers to further tracing steps and a detailed contents list. |
| Court action | 2 years | The Montreal Convention deadline is counted from arrival, scheduled arrival or the date carriage stopped. |
| Higher-value checked baggage | Before check-in | A special declaration of interest can raise the limit if accepted and any required fee is paid. |
Delayed LOT baggage: what purchases can be reimbursed?
Delayed baggage means the suitcase arrives after you. The usual claim is not the full value of the bag. It is reimbursement of reasonable, necessary purchases made because you were without checked baggage: basic clothing, toiletries, hygiene items, essential chargers or other items needed for the trip.
Context matters. A passenger arriving for a business meeting may justify a shirt and basic toiletries more easily than a passenger returning home with spare clothes available. Luxury purchases, duplicated items, unreceipted expenses or purchases unrelated to the delay are much easier for LOT to dispute.
The 21-day clock starts from delivery
Lost baggage, damaged baggage and missing contents
When baggage is not found after the initial tracing period, the case becomes more evidence-heavy. Prepare a realistic inventory of the contents and support each important item with receipts, bank statements, product photos, travel photos or other proof. Overstated lists without documents are easier for an airline to reduce.
Damaged baggage is faster-moving. For damaged checked baggage or missing contents, the written complaint should be submitted within 7 days from receipt. Describe the damage, attach photos from several angles, add the bag tag and PIR reference, and include a repair estimate or proof of value where available.
If the issue is a flight delay as well as a baggage problem, separate the claims. Use the LOT flight delay compensation guide for EU 261 and this baggage guide for Montreal Convention documents.
How much can LOT baggage compensation be worth?
The Montreal Convention does not work like a fixed tariff. The upper limit for baggage is expressed in SDR, a special accounting unit. LOT and ICAO refer to the current 1,519 SDR limit for baggage, but the amount paid in a real case depends on the proven damage and the evidence attached.
| Claim type | Possible amount basis | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed baggage | Reasonable necessary expenses | Clothing, toiletries or essentials bought because the bag arrived late. |
| Lost baggage | Proven value of contents | Receipts, photos, payment records and a realistic inventory matter. |
| Damaged baggage | Repair, replacement or loss of value | Photos, repair estimate, purchase proof and baggage tag help. |
| Missing contents | Proven value of missing items | The claim is stronger when the items and their value are documented. |
| Montreal Convention ceiling | 1,519 SDR per passenger | This is a liability limit, not an automatic payout. |
| Special declaration | Possible higher limit | Only if the higher value was declared before checked baggage was handed over and the airline accepted it. |
If valuable items were checked without a special declaration, the ordinary limit may be a problem. For future trips, keep valuables, medicines, electronics and documents in cabin baggage where possible and check LOT's rules before handing over a high-value bag.
When should the baggage claim go to LOT?
LOT provides a baggage complaint form for delayed, damaged or missing-content cases where LOT Polish Airlines was the last carrier on the route. This is especially important on connecting journeys, where one airline may have accepted the bag and another may have operated the last segment.
On multi-airline itineraries, check the ticketing carrier, operating carriers, baggage tag, final segment and which airline accepted the checked baggage. If LOT says another airline is responsible, ask for the refusal in writing and keep the explanation with the rest of your documents.
For wider LOT passenger-rights issues, start with the LOT Polish Airlines compensation guide. If baggage arrived late because a connection was missed through Warsaw, the LOT missed connection guide may also matter.
Evidence to keep for a LOT baggage claim
Baggage cases are document cases. The more clearly you connect the bag, the passenger, the route, the report and the amount, the harder it is for LOT to dismiss the claim as unsupported.
| Evidence | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| PIR or baggage irregularity reference | Shows the problem was reported promptly and links the claim to the baggage tracing file. |
| Baggage tag and boarding pass | Connects the bag to the passenger, route and LOT flight. |
| Booking confirmation and e-ticket | Shows itinerary, passenger names and connecting flights. |
| Photos or videos of damage | Useful for cracked shells, broken wheels, torn fabric or damaged contents. |
| Receipts for emergency purchases | Needed for delayed baggage reimbursement. |
| Inventory of lost contents | Lists what was in the bag and how each value is supported. |
| LOT or airport messages | Shows delivery date, tracing progress and any refusal wording. |
| Bank statements, product photos or repair estimates | Can support value when original receipts are missing. |
- Report the issue quickly. Get a PIR or baggage irregularity reference where possible.
- Keep the baggage tag. It links the suitcase to your route and passenger file.
- Separate the claim type. Delay expenses, damage, missing items and lost contents need different proof.
- Attach values carefully. Use receipts, statements, photos or realistic replacement costs.
- Watch the deadlines. Seven days, 21 days and two years are not interchangeable.
LOT refused your baggage claim?
Send the PIR, bag tag, receipts, photos and LOT response. ClaimWinger can check whether the baggage refusal is worth challenging.
FAQ: LOT baggage compensation
1. Does LOT baggage compensation pay EUR 600 automatically?
No. EUR 250, EUR 400 and EUR 600 are EU 261 amounts for flight disruption. LOT baggage claims are usually assessed under the Montreal Convention and require proof of actual damage or expenses.
2. What is the LOT baggage compensation limit?
The current Montreal Convention limit for baggage is 1,519 SDR per passenger unless a valid special declaration of higher value was made before check-in. It is a ceiling, not a guaranteed payment.
3. Do I need a PIR for a LOT baggage claim?
A PIR is very important because it proves the baggage irregularity was reported promptly. A missing PIR can make the case harder, especially for delayed or damaged checked baggage.
4. How long do I have to claim for damaged LOT baggage?
For damaged checked baggage or missing contents, the written complaint should be submitted within 7 days from the date the baggage was received.
5. How long do I have to claim for delayed LOT baggage?
For expenses caused by delayed baggage, submit the written claim within 21 days from the date the baggage was delivered to you.
6. Can I claim both EU 261 and baggage compensation from LOT?
Yes, if the facts support two separate claims. EU 261 can cover a flight delay, cancellation or missed connection, while Montreal can cover baggage damage, loss or delayed-bag expenses.
7. Who handles the baggage claim if several airlines were on the ticket?
LOT indicates its baggage complaint form for cases where LOT was the last carrier on the route. On multi-airline journeys, also check the ticketing carrier and the airline that accepted the bag.
8. Can ClaimWinger help with a LOT baggage refusal?
ClaimWinger can review the PIR, deadlines, receipts, photos, inventory and LOT refusal wording to see whether the baggage claim is documented well enough to challenge.
Legal sources: LOT problems with baggage, LOT baggage complaint form, LOT air carrier responsibility for passengers and baggage, Montreal Convention 1999, ICAO 2024 liability limits update, and EUR-Lex air carrier passenger and baggage liability summary.