Standing at the baggage carousel and your suitcase never appears? Or have your belongings been returned with broken wheels and tears? Under international air passenger law, the airline is liable. However, you must act immediately: baggage problems are subject to extremely strict and short reporting deadlines. Use our free generator now to create a claim letter to Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
Editorially reviewed on: 05/07/2026
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Compare the best free travel credit cardsThe so-called Montreal Convention is an international treaty that regulates airline liability for problems with checked baggage in a largely uniform way worldwide. Whether your suitcase was damaged during handling on a flight with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, arrived late at your destination or disappeared completely, the airline is liable regardless of fault up to a statutory limit of 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). This artificial currency basket corresponds to roughly €1,500 to €1,600 per passenger.
If you arrive at your holiday destination and your suitcase is not there, you may buy essential items at Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s expense (so-called replacement purchases). The key legal principle here is the duty to mitigate loss. You cannot simply go to the nearest luxury boutique. Reimbursable items are those genuinely necessary for the purpose of your trip. These include toiletries (toothbrush, shower gel), underwear and reasonable clothing (for example, a replacement suit for an urgent business meeting or swimwear and a shirt for a beach holiday). Keep all receipts carefully and reclaim the costs using our template letter.
If your baggage does not reappear despite extensive searching, it is legally deemed lost after exactly 21 days (total loss). From day 21 onwards, you are entitled to claim the full replacement value or current value of the suitcase as well as the value of its entire contents (up to the maximum limit of around €1,600) from Deutsche Lufthansa AG. It is best to prepare a detailed packing list from memory and, where available, attach old purchase receipts.
If you arrive home (at your place of residence) and your suitcase is missing, you will generally not be entitled to make emergency purchases. Courts and airlines usually assume that you have enough toothbrushes and clothes at home. Permanent damage or a total loss of the suitcase can of course still be reimbursed.
Ideally, you still have the purchase receipt for the suitcase or the valuables inside it. However, Deutsche Lufthansa AG will usually apply a deduction for wear and tear when reimbursing you. If the suitcase is physically destroyed, it is best to obtain written confirmation from a local luggage repair specialist that a repair would not be economically worthwhile.
No, never send original purchase receipts to the airline by post. Always include only clear copies or scans with your letter. The airline is legally required to accept copies. Keep the originals safe at home.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is Germany's largest network airline, connecting destinations worldwide from its home hub of Frankfurt am Main and other hubs. For UK passengers, the key protections are UK Air Passenger Rights (Regulation 261, as retained in UK law) or, on flights departing the EU, EU Regulation 261/2004, for flight delays and cancellations, and the Montreal Convention for lost, damaged or delayed baggage. Overpaid taxes and fees may also be reclaimed in certain circumstances. Lufthansa's registered office and legal jurisdiction is Cologne, Germany. As a major carrier, it must assess and meet passenger claims on a case-by-case basis.
Our guides and generators are based on a strict review of current regulations such as UK Regulation 261 (UK261), leading court judgments and UK consumer travel law.
They are developed by Marc (project lead) & team to help travellers enforce their rights against airlines and package holiday providers with confidence.
Important note: our tools provide self-help support for flight delays, hotel problems or rail disruption. They do not replace individual legal advice from a solicitor.
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