Lot of travelers worldwide face this situation where the airline misplaces or delays their cheked in bag. Although this situation may seem like a frequent occurence to many but statistically speaking lost or delayed baggage is a rare situation and as per records out of the total baggage handled by the airlines only 0.3 percent is lost or delayed by the airline. There are numerous factors due to which your baggage is delayed or lost by airlines but here are some major factors which causes this. In the below pie chart you will see various factors which causes delay or lost of baggage.

In this post we wont be focusing on causes and factors of baggage delay but would rather be helping you out on how to track your baggage and what to do when you realise your baggage is lost by the airline.Do not panic and go to the counter
Steps to find your Lost/Delayed Baggage
- Go to the airline counter or lost baggage counter at the airport – Once you notice that your baggage is not found the first step you need to take is to go to the airline counter or lost and found counter at the airport. Most of the airlines at a major airport would have a seperate counter for lost or delayed baggage if the airline does not have any dedicated representative then you can also contact the airport authorities.
2 ) Fill out the form – The lost baggage department at airport will ask you to fill out a form as as below, even in case if your baggage or any of the items in your baggage has been lost or misplaced you can fill out below form. The baggage handling representative will provide you a recceipt or a code for tracking your lost or delayed baggage.
Below is a proforma of a lost baggage claim form.

3 Always keep your tag no and boarding card – This is one of the common mistakes that many people would typically do is losing their baggage tag. A baggage tag is a sticker that an Airline counter staff at the airport would stick at back of your boarding card before you board the plane. This tag has a bar code and a alpha numeric code for sorting your baggage. If you have this tag number tracking your baggage becomes lot easier for airlines.

How to track – All airlines have a baggage tracking system through which you can know the status of your lost baggage. Some smaller airlines may not be associated with baggage tracking systems for such airlines you will have to contact them directly. Below are links to some major international airlines which offer baggage tracking services to its travellers . If any traveler has lost or delayed baggage on any of below airlines they can track the status of their lost or delayed baggage through below airline links. Please note to track the lost baggage it is essential to have the baggage tag number or lost baggage track locator or a complaint has to be filed with respective airline where they would provide you with a tracking locator.
Emirates
https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/baggage/delayed-damaged-baggage/
Qatar Airways
https://haqiba.qatarairways.com.qa/Haqiba
Singapore Airline
https://www.singaporeair.com/report-delayed-bag
Qantas
https://www.qantas.com/us/en/travel-info/baggage/baggage-services/track-my-bag.html
United Airlines
https://www.united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/baggage/delayed.aspx
https://www.united.com/en/us/baggage-tracing
GO Indigo
Etihad
Air India
https://www.airindia.in/lost-damaged-and-delayed-delivery-of-baggage.htm
https://www.airindia.in/WorldTracerBaggageTracingSystem.htm
Ethiopian
https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/information/baggage-information/delayed-lost-or-damaged-baggage
https://mybag.aero/baggage/#/ethiopianairlines/en-gb/main-menu
Airlines deliver if lost baggage is found and reimburse
All airlines as per IATA regulations have to deliver your lost baggage at the address provided while filling out the form at airport, Airlines are responsible reimburse in the event they are not able to track your lost baggage. The lost baggage policy varries from airlines to airline. But as per the Montreal Convention for the carriage of baggage. The maximum baggage liability for flights covered by the Montreal Convention is currently 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (approximately $1,780.00 US). This is the most that airlines must pay a passenger for a lost, damaged, or delayed bag. Airlines are free to pay more than the limit, but are not required to do so.
In case you require more assistance or knowledge on this subject matter you can refer to below link.
https://www.airhelp.com/en-in/lost-or-delayed-luggage/
We hope that you have found this post helpful, do share this post with maximum people possible and do refer our website for your dose of travel knowledge.