Tunisair damaged baggage: seven-day claim, PIR and evidence

This guide addresses Tunisair damaged baggage for Tunisair travel. The law and airline information were checked on 28 August 2026. Verify the route and operator for the travel date.

Which legal framework controls Tunisair damaged baggage?

Baggage liability mainly follows the Montreal Convention and the carriage contract. The trip direction does not remove those rights. EC261 and UK261 address the flight disruption, not the suitcase.

That distinction matters in a Tunisair damaged baggage case. A passenger may have two claims. One concerns proven baggage loss. The other may concern a qualifying flight delay. Each has its own evidence and deadline.

The revised baggage ceiling is 1,519 SDR per passenger from 28 December 2024. It is a maximum, not a standard award. Prove the loss, value, spending and causal link.

Prove condition, custody and value

Photograph every side of the bag, baggage tag, belt area and broken component. Ask the baggage desk to record the damage accurately. A PIR created immediately is strong custody evidence even though a separate written claim still follows.

Normal wear and an unsuitable or defective suitcase can limit liability. Distinguish scratches from structural damage, broken wheels, torn fabric or missing contents. Preserve the damaged item until Tunisair gives inspection instructions.

Obtain a repair estimate or written confirmation that repair is uneconomic. Replacement value is not automatically the price of a new premium suitcase. Age, original receipt, depreciation and comparable quality may be considered.

The seven-day notice runs quickly. Send the written claim even if an estimate is pending, identify the missing document and supplement it. The Montreal two-year action period does not extend this initial notice requirement.

Worked example

A suitcase arrives at Paris with a wheel torn from the shell after Tunisair carriage. The passenger photographs it at the belt, creates a PIR and sends written notice two days later. A repair shop then confirms the shell cannot be repaired, providing valuation evidence.

What can be requested in a covered Tunisair damaged baggage case?

Fixed payment, ticket choices and care costs are separate. List each requested amount.

EC261 normally uses great-circle distance. A protected through booking uses its final destination. Timely rerouting can sometimes reduce a fixed payment.

Extraordinary events may remove only the fixed payment. They do not erase every duty. Tunisair must prove the event, causal link and reasonable measures.

Evidence checklist

For this Tunisair damaged baggage request, preserve the following material:

• Baggage tag and passenger ticket.
• Airport photographs with timestamps.
• PIR describing the same damage.
• Written claim sent within seven days.
• Purchase receipt or proof of age.
• Repair estimate or inspection report.
• Photos of damaged contents if claimed.

How to submit and preserve the claim

Tunisair provides separate forms for flight, ticket, ground, onboard and baggage issues. Choose the form matching Tunisair damaged baggage. The airline says each form is personal. Prepare one request per traveller.

State the date, airports, PNR, ticket number and operator. Give times with the time zone. List each remedy on a separate numbered line.

Attach readable copies, not original documents. Keep the ticket, passes, notices and receipts. Save the submitted text and confirmation page.

Tunisair says it aims to answer within two months. That is not a universal time limit. Ask a vague refusal for the precise cause and measures taken.

Escalation depends on the regime and departure state. An EU body may examine compliance. It may not recover money in every case. Tunisia also has a Ministry complaint portal. Court rules need a separate review.

Common mistakes to avoid

A Tunisair code does not prove who operated the flight. Check the operated-by line. Test the EU outbound and Tunisia return separately. Accept a voucher only by informed choice.

Keep baggage, refund, care and fixed payment amounts separate. Each has its own basis. Calculate the request rather than sending one unexplained total.

The EU reform approved in July 2026 is not yet applied on the checked date. Its future nine-month claim rule is not a current deadline. Nor is its 30-day reply rule. Existing law and national limitation rules still govern.

Related Tunisair guides

• Delayed or lost Tunisair baggage
• Tunisair claim time limits
• Tunisair claim form

FAQ

Is a PIR enough for damaged baggage?

Do not rely on it alone. Send a separate written claim to Tunisair within seven days and keep delivery proof.

What counts as normal wear?

Minor cosmetic marks may be treated as wear, while structural breaks require photos and repair evidence.

Must I keep the damaged suitcase?

Yes, preserve it until inspection or settlement instructions are clear. Disposing of it can remove important evidence.

Will Tunisair pay the price of a new bag?

Not automatically. Repair cost, age, depreciation and comparable replacement value can affect proven loss.

Does 1,519 SDR apply per suitcase?

The Montreal ceiling generally applies per passenger, not automatically per item or bag.

Sources

• ICAO: Montreal Convention liability limits.
• Tunisair: General Conditions of Carriage.
• Tunisair: customer care and claim forms.
• Your Europe: air passenger rights.
• EUR-Lex: Regulation 261/2004.
• Tunisian Ministry of Transport: complaint form.