Delayed or damaged baggage

Delayed and damaged baggage and tracking

• Am I entitled to compensation if my baggage is delayed?

  Emirates offers Interim Relief (IR) compensation to all customers traveling to and from the US who report missing baggage. IR is also offered to passengers who have traveled on other routes when no baggage is received (excluding residents).

  IR can be used to purchase essential items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and sleepwear. To claim IR compensation, please visit your nearest Emirates office with your passport and the receipt for your ticket.

  We do extensive tracking to reunite passengers with their bags. In the unfortunate incident your baggage is declared lost, we will contact you to arrange compensation.

• Do I have to pick up delayed baggage from the airport?

  Once we’ve found your baggage and it’s been cleared by customs, we aim to return your items within four hours (distance permitting); we’ll be in touch immediately to arrange a delivery time that suits you.

  However, in some countries, local laws mean we can’t forward your bag to you, and you’ll need to pick it up from the airport. If this is the case for your luggage, we’ll let you know when you make your claim.

• How do I track my baggage on my journey?

  Use the baggage tracker in the Emirates App to see where your bags are at every step of the journey. Select your trip under ‘My trips’ and choose ‘My baggage status’. You can follow your bag from check-in to loading on the aircraft, while it’s being transferred to a connecting flight, and see when it has arrived at your destination. Check the baggage belt number when your bags are ready to collect.

  If your bag is delayed, the tracker will give you a reference number (called a PIR) and let you know what we’re doing to return your bags to you. If you don’t have the app, you can use the delayed or damaged baggage tracker on our website.

• How does Emirates find delayed baggage?

  When baggage is delayed, our team does everything possible to locate it.

  During the first seven days, we perform primary tracing—we connect with each of the stations involved in the trip, conduct physical searches, investigate with our Security and Lost and Found teams, and check the ramp and storage areas—all in an effort to have items back with passengers as soon as possible.

  If the baggage hasn't been located within seven days, we conduct intensive secondary tracing. In this stage, we carry out thorough checks at all airports and with all airlines. We begin this process as soon as the customer completes the Baggage Inventory form and provides us with all required documents. This final check will be completed within ten working days.

  Your cooperation with us, and the timely submission of documents, will speed up the process.

• What do I do if my bags went missing on another airline’s flight?

  If your baggage is lost on a non-Emirates flight, please contact the other airline directly for information.

  Please note this applies even if you were traveling on an Emirates ticket but were rerouted on a flight with another airline.