How to Use the Lost Luggage Compensation Calculator
When checked baggage is lost or damaged, airline liability and travel insurance coverage apply as two separate, stackable limits. This calculator adds them together to show your realistic total compensation — and what portion of your loss you'd still be left covering yourself.
For international flights, the Montreal Convention caps airline liability at 1,519 SDR per passenger (ICAO revision effective December 28, 2024, up from 1,288 SDR). The dollar value moves with the SDR rate, so enter the current IMF rate above. US domestic flights fall under Department of Transportation rules (14 CFR Part 254), which let airlines cap liability at no less than $4,700 per passenger since January 22, 2025 — this calculator uses that as a default estimate (figures as of November 2026). Actual limits vary by airline and can change, so treat these figures as a starting point.
If the airline's payout doesn't fully cover your loss, a travel insurance policy with baggage coverage can reimburse the remaining amount, up to your policy's limit. Many policies also cap compensation per individual item, so it's worth checking your policy documents alongside this estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Montreal Convention, international flights are capped at 1,519 SDR per passenger (raised from 1,288 SDR on December 28, 2024 — roughly $2,000-$2,100 depending on the SDR rate). For US domestic flights, DOT rules let airlines cap liability at no less than $4,700 per passenger (since January 22, 2025). Actual limits vary by airline's contract of carriage.
If you have travel insurance with baggage loss coverage, it can reimburse the remaining loss above the airline's payout, up to your policy's coverage limit.
File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airport baggage counter immediately, then submit claims to both the airline and your insurer. Keep receipts or other proof of the item's value on hand.