How do I report a bag that appears damaged after a flight?

If you are still at the airport, contact the airline’s baggage service desk before leaving and ask how to file a damaged-bag report. Follow the instructions for the airline that handled your trip rather than assuming every carrier uses the same process. For example, Delta directs travelers with a damaged checked bag to its Baggage Service Office, preferably before leaving, and says to keep the file reference number. [S2]

If you have already left, look up the airline’s current official damaged-baggage instructions promptly. Deadlines and exceptions can depend on the airline and itinerary. American Airlines, for example, states different reporting windows for U.S. and international flights; those are American’s rules, not a general deadline for all airlines. [S1]

Stick to what you can observe. Identify the part of the bag and describe its condition in plain, specific terms. Avoid guessing when or how the damage happened, or stating that a particular cause is certain if you do not know.

You can use this template:

“Bag: [color, type, brand or other identifying detail]. Damage noticed: [specific visible damage and location, such as ‘the right-side handle is cracked’]. First noticed: [date/time and place]. Flight or trip reference: [airline and flight/date, if available]. Report reference: [number, if issued]. I can provide: [photos or other details requested by the airline]. Please tell me the next steps for submitting the report or claim.”

For example: “Black hard-shell suitcase. A crack about [length] is visible near the upper-left corner. I noticed it at [place] on [date/time]. Flight details: [airline, flight/date].” Use placeholders until you can verify details; label a measurement as approximate if you estimate it.

Keep the airline’s report reference or file number, a copy or screenshot of what you submitted, and the airline’s instructions about any next step. Save your boarding pass or itinerary and any bag identification information you have, so you can refer to the trip and bag consistently. Take clear photos of the damage from a few angles, and ask the airline whether it wants particular images or other documentation.

Record when and how you contacted the airline, along with any response or stated deadline. Do not treat a reference number as approval of a claim: American says its damaged-bag report produces a 13-character file ID that can be used to submit a claim, while Delta says to keep its file reference for the subsequent claim. These describe those airlines’ processes, not a promised outcome. [S1] [S2]

Use this sequence, and confirm the current instructions with the airline responsible for your bag:

1. Note when and where you first noticed the damage.
2. If you are at the airport, ask the baggage service desk how to report it before leaving.
3. If you have left, check the airline’s official damaged-baggage page or contact its baggage service promptly. Confirm the deadline and reporting method for your particular trip; do not apply another airline’s deadline.
4. Describe visible damage and bag details factually. Keep photos and relevant trip records together.
5. Save the report or file reference number and the submitted information. Ask what to do next and note any deadline the airline gives you.

A report documents or begins the process; the cited airline information does not promise that a claim will be accepted or that repair, replacement, or reimbursement will be offered. [S1] [S2]