Air France Frequence Plus - Air France lost my luggage...

Flight was DEL--> CDG --> ORD in business class yesterday. 2 checked in bags and only 1 arrived. Files a complaint and online and bag not found yet.

Called airlines and they said I can buy upto Euro 100 for essentials and file a claim and they will reimburse.

Whats the best course of action? Considering they might eventually not be able to find the luggage?

It's way too early to say that they will not find your luggage. What they told you is right : buy the essential stuff you need, keep the receipts and send them to AF. They will eventually accept that you exceed (not too much) the 100€ threshold. It is likely that they will locate your bag and deliver it to you.

How long was your layover in CDG? It's quite likely that your bag misconnected in CDG, in this case it will arrive at ORD in the next few days and then be delivered to your home (or any other adress you tell them). Don't worry about the online status, usually the luggage arrives at your home before that online system is updated ;-).

Just for the unlikely case that your luggage is not going to show up sooner or later, you may want to make a list of the bag's content - you would have to give such a list along with the estimated values to AF in this case, and it can be difficult to remember details of what you packed after a few weeks.

Whats the best course of action? Considering they might eventually not be able to find the luggage?

If they can't find your luggage, remember also to claim on your travel insurance.

...It is likely that they will locate your bag and deliver it to you.It's good for one's health to be optimistic! It is really amazing how many pieces of luggage get misdirected in spite of bar codes etc. I was in BCN the other day, arrived early to pick the bag and I spent 5 minutes reading the labels of the >20 pieces of luggage circling there for God knows how long (the previous flight had arrived one hour earlier). It made me think of the time, maaaaaaaaany years ago, when I was preparing for geography exams in sixth grade: Lisbon, Cairo, NY, and a couple more, all of those "lost" in BCN! Unfortunately I couldn't find out where they came from.

How long was your layover in CDG? It's quite likely that your bag misconnected in CDG, in this case it will arrive at ORD in the next few days and then be delivered to your home (or any other adress you tell them). Don't worry about the online status, usually the luggage arrives at your home before that online system is updated ;-).

Just for the unlikely case that your luggage is not going to show up sooner or later, you may want to make a list of the bag's content - you would have to give such a list along with the estimated values to AF in this case, and it can be difficult to remember details of what you packed after a few weeks.

The layover was 4 hours. Hoping it will show up in the next few days but want to be prepared for the worst.

If they can't find your luggage, remember also to claim on your travel insurance.

Can I file claim in both the airline and travel insurance?

Depends on your travel insurance. Usually no. Travel insurance usually kicks in only after the airline has denied compensation.

It is much too early to claim for your lost luggage from the airline or your insurance. It could still turn up again. In my worst case LH couldn't locate my luggage in Munich airport for two weeks and then it was returned.

What really makes me angry is whatever airline lost your luggage, whatever travel-class you paid for, whichever status you may hold: your problem will be treated with the same lack of interest or attention. Your missing luggage is in the tracking system now and that will probably find it or not. Full stop.

The only difference I did realize (after 18 lost and returned suitcases in 3 years) is the speed and efficiency of the search and return: AB, AC, BA, OK and OS are rather fast, IB, KL and TK are below average and AF, CX, LH and UA are pure disaster!

I have even tried to get an information of the wherabout of my luggage before boarding transit flights, but many groundcrewes refuse to check or give you a falsely securing reply.

Good luck for you to receive it back and intact very soon!

It's way too early to say that they will not find your luggage. What they told you is right : buy the essential stuff you need, keep the receipts and send them to AF. They will eventually accept that you exceed (not too much) the 100€ threshold. It is likely that they will locate your bag and deliver it to you.

Its been a week now and still no news about the baggage.

I have already exceeded the 100 Euros of essentials. But I think I will very soon need to buy additional stuff.

Anyone know how they generally treat that? If the luggage is delayed beyond a few days, still the essentials limit remains a little over 100 Euros or it exceeds after a few days?

In your original post you said "called airlines". This seems to imply that you used two different airlines on the two segments. That complicates a bit, but the first airline is "responsible".
In any case, my experience is that my general loss insurance (which covers baggage loss) is more efficient and generous than the airline. Then they know how to induce the airline to reimburse them.
If you are based in DEL, your case for buying things because of a long delay will be stronger than if you are based in ORD. I suggest that you do what the insurance/airline tells you to do. If you need to buy stuff and have no insurance,, I suggest that you contact AF lost luggage service and ask for the procedure. It will be more difficult if you simply buy stuff and later try to get reimbursed.

In your original post you said "called airlines". This seems to imply that you used two different airlines on the two segments. That complicates a bit, but the first airline is "responsible".
In any case, my experience is that my general loss insurance (which covers baggage loss) is more efficient and generous than the airline. Then they know how to induce the airline to reimburse them.
If you are based in DEL, your case for buying things because of a long delay will be stronger than if you are based in ORD. I suggest that you do what the insurance/airline tells you to do. If you need to buy stuff and have no insurance,, I suggest that you contact AF lost luggage service and ask for the procedure. It will be more difficult if you simply buy stuff and later try to get reimbursed.

I did not call the "airlines" as in more than 1 airline. Just AF.

Anyway the bag still missing and they don't give an answer as to till how much they will reimburse for necessities.

In your original post you said "called airlines". This seems to imply that you used two different airlines on the two segments. That complicates a bit, but the first airline is "responsible".


Seems irrelevant in the op's case but actually, if I'm not mistaken, in case of baggage loss or damage I believe it is the last airline which is responsible and point of contact (and can then sort it out if the others if it is not its fault).

Very much agree with all your other points, including the important of knowing if the loss occurred on the way away or on the way home. In the latter case, airline reimbursement will not be generous regardless of length.

Seems irrelevant in the op's case but actually, if I'm not mistaken, in case of baggage loss or damage I believe it is the last airline which is responsible and point of contact (and can then sort it out if the others if it is not its fault).

Very much agree with all your other points, including the important of knowing if the loss occurred on the way away or on the way home. In the latter case, airline reimbursement will not be generous regardless of length.

You are right, it is the last airline that is "responsible". At least, it is the airline you interact with to know where you luggage is (or might be) and about compensation.
After, I do not know if there are arrangements between the different airlines as sometimes, the last one might not be responsible.

Does anyone has any experience in how much time they take for processing claims. There is no number to talk to the people who process the claim and CSR just say the standard 4-6 weeks.