I used to work for Air France, KLM and Delta baggage compensation and I would like to give some advices regarding the compensation process.
These tips are 100% accurate for KLM, Air France and Delta, as I used to work in the compensation department for them not to long ago. Other airlines may have slightly different procedures
First of all,
ALWAY, ALWAYS ALWAYS keep receipts for what you buy. Let me say this again:
ALWAYS KEEP RECEIPTS FOR WHAT YOU BUY! Extremely important if you will ever bring that stuff in a check in bag when you fly
I know what you are saying -"no one ever does that...thats stupid"
Maybe, but still, according to the Montreal convention, which you agree to by buying the ticket, and airline is only responsible for the PROVEN value of the items.
Also, and airline is also NEVER responsible for more than a total of 1131 SDR (which today is about roughly 12-1300 EUR) per PERSON (so not per bag) with a checked in bag.
So if you chose to put you 2000 EUR iMac in there, or your super expensive GUCCI dress - that is YOUR problem.
Now, if the bag gets delayed (i is regarded as delayed the 21 fist days for AF, and 45 first days for KLM and DELTA), you are allowed to go out and spend necessities. Just remember to keep all invoices. You can do so from the first minute the bag is delayed, and you can also do this on your return flight home. But it MUST be dated before you receive your bag
When you call them, they will say that you are allowed to spend 100E per person involved, but that is just to make sure people dont go shopping like crazy. IF you DO have invoices for 800 Eur, you will get them covered in any case... (well, not computers or other things that should not be check in in the first place)
However, remember... IF your bag is gone more than 21 days, you are also entitled for compensation for the stuff that is missing...in addition to the necessities you needed to buy
BUT..beware - the sum the airline is responsible for is STILL 1300 EUR...So if you have invoices for 800 E for necessities, and proved values for the missing items for 1200 E, you will still only get 1300 E as this is the maximum reliability for the airline. Just so you know. In this case, I hope you have private travel insurance, as they normally will pay the amount over 1300.
COMMERCIAL GESTURES NO INVOICES
If you dont have any invoices for your necessities, you will still receive UP TO 100E.
If you dont have any invoices for the items and your bag is lost for more than 21 days, you will still receive UP TO 3-4-6-900 E, depending on the length of you travel )and if you are a Hight Contribution customer -silver-gold etc)
TIME LIMITS:
DELAYED/LOST BAGS
The delay issue must be reported to the airline at the airport,or at the very latest, within 7 days to receive a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) -how ever this is just for TRACING, and is NOT automatically enough to get compensation. In addition, you need to claim the compensation at the latest 21 days AFTER you receive you bag.
Also, if you did NOT report the delayed bag for a PIR before 7 days, you also lose your rights for compensation.
So 1: report the missing bags immediately, and 2) claim compensation before 21 days after delivery.
If the bag is still lost after 21 days, and you have a PIR, you have 2 years to make your claim
DAMAGED BAG/ITEMS/PILFERAGE
If you report this at the airport, and receive a DPR PIR, you have 2 years to make your claim. If you do NOT report it at the airport (ie you only discover the damaged at home), you have to claim it within 7 days
However, Air France, KLM and Delta also accept time limits as commercial gestures...meaning they accept also claims within the above mentioned days after returning HOME (so not from delivery of bag)
The compensation for damage is the same as with delayed/lost bags - up to 1300 EUR, but it must be proven. You NEED a DPR PIR - and a confirmation from ANY shop (not necessarily the shop you bought it from) that it cannot be repaired. so do NOT throw your damaged bag away without this first
...i guess there are many more things to...but...ask away
One more thing
If you have bought a ticket with KLM, Air France or Delta, but the last leg of the trips was with another airline, then THAT airline is responsible for all tracing and delivering of your bag - regardless of where it was lost.
This is a common rule all over the world
Also, it is the airline of the last leg of your trip - to whom it was reported - that is responsible for compensating you for the incident.
HOWEVER, as a commercial gesture, Air France, KLM and Delta also accept the compensation claim as long as it was bought with them, They are one of the very few who does this -everyone else will tell you to go to the operator of the last leg