Ryanair delayed or lost baggage compensation
Short answer: A bag that Ryanair delivers late, loses, or damages is covered by the Montreal Convention, not EU261 or UK261. Report it at the airport straight away and get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), then file a written claim within 21 days if the bag is delayed or 7 days if it is damaged. A bag not found after about 21 days is generally treated as lost. Ryanair's liability is capped at roughly 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger, and you have two years to bring a court claim.
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Baggage is a different legal track from flight compensation
It is easy to assume everything that goes wrong on a Ryanair flight falls under the same rules, but it does not. EU261 (euros, for EU/EEA and Ireland departures) and UK261 (sterling, for UK departures) cover the flight — delay, cancellation, denied boarding, downgrade. Anything to do with your suitcase — a bag that arrives late, never arrives, or turns up broken — falls under the Montreal Convention, with different deadlines, amounts, and claim routes.
So if your Ryanair flight from Dublin or London Stansted landed three or more hours late and your bag went missing, you may have two separate claims: a flight-delay claim (a fixed EUR 250/400/600 or GBP 220/350/520 by distance) and a baggage claim under Montreal. They do not cancel each other out. For the flight side, see our main Ryanair compensation guide.
Report the problem at the airport first
Report the problem before you leave the airport. Go to the Ryanair or ground-handling baggage desk in the arrivals hall and ask for a Property Irregularity Report (PIR): it is your proof that you flagged the issue on time, and you will need its reference number at every later step. Walk out without a PIR and the airline can — and often does — reject the claim outright.
The operating carrier is liable — the airline that actually flew you, even if you booked through an agent or platform (the principle in C-532/17 Wirth). Ryanair Group flights run under several carriers — Ryanair DAC, Malta Air, Buzz, and Lauda — so note which one operated your leg. The booking channel does not change who you claim from.
The deadlines that decide your claim
The Montreal Convention sets strict written-notice deadlines. Miss them and Ryanair can refuse the claim outright.
| Situation | What to do | Deadline for written claim |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed baggage | File a written claim after the PIR | Within 21 days of the bag being returned to you |
| Damaged baggage | File a written claim after the PIR | Within 7 days of receiving the bag |
| Lost baggage | Bag not found after ~21 days is treated as lost | Follow up in writing; court claim within 2 years |
| Court action (any of the above) | Legal claim if Ryanair does not pay | Within 2 years of the arrival date |
What you can get back
Ryanair's liability for delay, loss, or damage to checked baggage is limited to roughly 1,519 SDR per passenger — an IMF currency unit worth around EUR 1,850 (about GBP 1,600), though the exact figure moves with exchange rates. That cap took effect on 28 December 2024.
While your bag is delayed you can claim reimbursement of reasonable and necessary essentials — basic clothing, toiletries, and other items you genuinely need while away from your luggage. Keep every receipt and buy sensibly: the airline reimburses what a reasonable traveller would spend, not a replacement wardrobe. If the bag is ultimately lost, you claim the value of the bag and its contents up to the 1,519 SDR ceiling, so an itemised list with proof of value (receipts, photos) strengthens your case. Damaged-bag claims work the same way — our Ryanair damaged baggage claim guide covers those, and the PIR deadlines guide sets out the timing traps. Travel insurance or a credit-card policy may pay out faster than the airline.
How the Ryanair process works — and how to push back
Report at the desk, get the PIR reference, then submit your written claim through Ryanair's online baggage form within the deadline above, quoting the PIR number and attaching receipts. Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, is well known for rejecting a large share of first claims, so a refusal is not the end. If it is vague or ignores your evidence, reply in writing, restate the Montreal Convention basis, and insist. For the general approach, see how to claim from Ryanair.
Ryanair also runs a "beware of claims chasers" campaign. Keep it in perspective: your right exists regardless of who helps you enforce it, and a no-win, no-fee service is a legitimate way to claim.
How ClaimWinger helps
ClaimWinger works on a no win, no fee basis: no upfront cost, and a commission only if your claim succeeds. Our team handles the paperwork, chases Ryanair, and escalates where needed. If your baggage problem came alongside a delayed or cancelled flight, start the flight side at /delayed-flight and use our flight compensation calculator to see what a 261 claim could be worth.
Where to escalate
If Ryanair does not resolve a baggage claim, escalate to the relevant body: the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for UK departures, or Ireland's Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR, aviationreg.ie) for Dublin and other Irish departures. As a last resort you can sue within the two-year Montreal window.
FAQ — Frequently asked questions
Is delayed baggage covered by EU261 or UK261?
No. EU261 and UK261 cover what happens to your flight — delay, cancellation, denied boarding, downgrade. Baggage delay, loss, and damage fall under the Montreal Convention, with its own deadlines and a compensation cap of about 1,519 SDR.
How long before a delayed bag counts as lost?
There is no fixed rule in the treaty, but airlines, including Ryanair, generally treat a bag as lost once it has been missing for around 21 days. From that point you can claim its full value up to the liability cap rather than just interim expenses.
What is 1,519 SDR worth?
SDR is an International Monetary Fund currency unit. 1,519 SDR — roughly EUR 1,850 (about GBP 1,600), moving with daily exchange rates — is the most Ryanair is liable for per passenger for delayed, lost, or damaged checked baggage, effective from 28 December 2024.
Can I claim for clothes and toiletries while my bag is delayed?
Yes — for reasonable and necessary essentials bought because you were without your luggage. Keep all receipts and buy sensibly; the reimbursement counts towards the overall liability cap.
How long do I have to take Ryanair to court over baggage?
The Montreal Convention sets a two-year time bar, running from the date the aircraft arrived or should have arrived. Miss it and your right to sue is lost, even if you filed the PIR and written claim on time.
Sources
This guide reflects the legal position in 2026. Baggage rules follow the Montreal Convention (liability around 1,519 SDR, effective 28 December 2024), separate from EU261/UK261 flight compensation. The EU261 three-hour arrival threshold and the EUR 250/400/600 and GBP 220/350/520 bands remain in force; the proposed 2026 EU261 reform is not yet law. This is general information, not legal advice.