I started on DL yesterday going XXX-DTW-AMS all on DL metal. Connected to CPH on KLM. All 3 of my luggage pieces are missing, with all my 10 yr old's presents. Do I save receipts for KLM or Delta? I realize responsibly is supposed to be with the last airline flown (KLM here) but as we all know this "Skyteam" thing is a joke.. even as a DM on Delta I don't get a seat in EC on KLM, despite several being empty. My Delta app shows the bags last in AMS but gives no details on when they will arrive. How do I know which airline caused the problem? Or doesn't it matter?

Have you checked with KLM yet. There were 2 other flights from AMS/CPH after yours. I would have to think that, hopefully, the bags are in CPH or, at the minimum, in route. They do show they were loaded to AMS.

KLM is responsible for the bags. I'm not even sure that SkyTeam has much to do with this and think it defaults to IATA rules.

Sorry that this happened.

Not that it helps now, but for those planning later, it should be noted that European airlines mishandle bags at a much higher rate than the worldwide average and triple the rate of the US. Not sure what that means the consumer should do, other than pack some extra underwear.

Agree KL is responsible for the bags; upon arrival at CPH, you should've contacted the lost baggage office. IME, a third party handles it in smaller stations.

Some recent discussion in the KL forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-f...n-luggage.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-f...t-luggage.html

KL - tracing baggage: LINK

Sorry to read of your baggage trouble.
Patience is what I strongly suggest.
Your bags should come today or tomorrow!
However today you need to file a complaint with KLM baggage dept at CPH.
Open a file with a reference number, give as much details of your bags .. type, shape, length, color, and contents. The airlines can scan the inside of the bags and if the contents seen on X-ray match your description, they will send it to you.
Do not give them the codes to open your bags.
KLM will arrange to have the bags delivered to your address in Copenhagen.
Give them a local phone number to contact. Take their contact number and a names of at least 2 KLM baggage personnel at CPH.

Yes, and ask for an overnight kit from KLM.
Go out and purchase items you need for 2 days at a reasonable cost. Please keep these receipts as they will be reimbursed by the airline or by your insurance, either travel insurance(if you purchased travel insurance) or your home insurance.

Once you have your file reference number from the missing bag report you can use the world tracer tool to check the status and see the estimated delivery time:
https://wtrweb.worldtracer.aero/WTRI...B-41CC9758483D

You will, though, need to file a report before the above tracking tool will work.

Using the Delta mobile app, you can track your bags and see where they were last scanned at. This would tell you if they even made it to the KLM flight or were mis-handled at your XXX origin.

BTW, I don't know where XXX city code is.

The Delta app doesn't trace your baggs once in KL territory. As others wrote, fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at CPH. You will get a reference number from AF/KL and a enveloppe with all the info. With that number you can trace your luggage either by calling them or checking on the web.

The issue has nothing to do with who actually lost the bags or with alliances. It is an IATA convention that the last delivering carrier is responsible to the passenger. If the bags are recovered, it will be KL which delivers it to OP. If the bags are lost/damaged, it will be KL who reimburses the passenger. It will then be for KL and DL to slug out responsibility, but that has nothing to do with OP.

Generally speaking, KL would pay for necessities until the bags arrive. But, here, unless KL can tell you that they are headed your way, I would call KL and ask for a commitment allowing you to replace presents (recognizing that what you want may not be what is available). The issue is time-sensitive and you might just might get a KL agent to go along.

As others note, almost all bags turn up fairly quickly.

Sheboygan, WI
Sin city.

It's somewhere between AAA and BBB, which are also very popular airports on FT.

Yes, when the OP stepped aboard a KL flight as the last segment to his destination, baggage tracing and compensation stopped being DL's problem.

There are ~250 carriers that are party to the IATA's baggage convention. The rules should not be a mystery to any (true) international-traveling frequent flyer FlyerTalker.

Receipts?

I guess that assumes you will never see your bags again?

Sometimes it just means the next flight, or day.

I believe that the OP may have been referring to receipts that he might need, to document the value of the gifts that are in his luggage.

Flew dtw bos ams bru in August. Bags didn't make the tight connection in AMS. I reported to the "lost and found services" (outsourced baggage handler in BRU).

I arrived on Thursday. They found one bag Saturday afternoon and one Sunday night. Bags were set up for delivery Monday night to where I was staying in Maastricht. I was leaving back for Brussels Monday night, since I was flying home on Tuesday. I just had them deliver to my hotel near brussels.

I tweeted klm and delta almost daily while waiting. Delta referred me to KLM. I bought about $80 in clothes, toiletries, to get me through my stay with family. Submitted claim to KLM, delta ended up contacting me and sending me a check for expenses. (I think they got off easy, since I only had the clothes on my back, but I was cheap in my purchases in case I didn't get reimbursed fully.)

They required receipts, paperwork from luggage office, and bag tags. The form is fillable online and needed scans of docs.

I hope they find your bags quickly, and that patience is something your 10 year old possesses