Originally Posted by
Steve M
How do you make an on-the-spot claim for delayed bags, when you don't know if your bags are delayed or lost, or how long the delay will be? It seems to me that as long as you fill out the lost bags paperwork before you leave the airport, then that's enough to make whatever the standard claim is for whatever the eventual loss or delay turns out to be.
That depends on the airline, your status with the airline, the cabin you flew, and you have to ask the person in charge in details, there is no such thing about standard claim not unless you bought your own travel insurance. Some airline will give you a basic toiletry kit regardness of the length of the delay or even just overnight, some let you send in receipts on the clothing you spend (every airline has different limit too, you have to ask the limit as they could deny your claim even you had all the receipts, you can't say you spend $1500 on clothing just because you have to go to a meeting for a 2 days delay bag), some will give you some money on the spot to spend on basic toiletry and clothes, can still send in the receipt later if the delays are lengthy.
One time I thought I lost my bag with UA in ORD, but it seemed like someone took my bag mistakenly as his/hers. So I asked what if the other person doesn't return my bag, then the agent told me they will call the police and file theft charges against that person, I didn't even know that if I didn't ask. Bottom line is you have to ask in details, not just fill the papers and leave.