Missing or delayed baggage
If your bags do not arrive at your destination, report this to the United baggage agents in the claim area/office before you leave the airport. It is important to do so as soon as possible so we may obtain information pertinent to locating your luggage. Please note that all lost, damaged or delayed property must be reported to United within 24 hours. In addition, a written claim giving full description and value of the missing property must be submitted to United within 45 days of the occurrence. If your bag was misplaced, we will make every reasonable effort to return your checked baggage within 24 hours in the United States.
Interim purchases
If you are still in transit away from home, and you need to make interim purchases such as toiletries, United may offer a per diem for necessities. Please ask a baggage representative to inform you of our guidelines.
Claims
If you do not receive your bag after three days, please complete the Baggage Tracing/Claim Form and mail, within 45 days of the occurrence, to the following address.
United Airlines
Central Baggage Service - HDQLZ
P.O. Box 66140
Chicago, IL 60666-0140
Interim expense claim
If your bag has been located and returned to you, and you still wish to request reimbursement of related expenses, send your request in writing, within 45 days of the occurrence, to the following address. Please include a copy of your ticket receipt, any baggage claim checks, a copy of your delayed baggage report, and any itemized purchase receipts pertinent to your claim.
United Airlines
Central Baggage Services - HDQLZ
P.O. Box 66140
Chicago, IL 60666-0140
Missing property claim
If you have received your bag and there are items missing from it, you must report the missing property immediately to a United representative or, no later than 24 hours from receipt of baggage. Please complete the Missing Property Questionnaire and mail, within 45 days of the occurrence, to the following address.
Damage claim
Baggage is designed to protect the contents. Scratches, nicks or dirt may appear despite care in handling.United does not assume liability for normal wear and tear to baggage, which includes: damage to or loss of protruding baggage parts such as straps, pockets, pull handles, hanger hooks, wheels and feet or other items attached to the baggage as well as damage to over sized/over packed bags.
Damages should be reported to and resolved by the individual United Baggage Services Office at the airport location where the damage was discovered. If this is not possible, please direct your report and claim to our airport staff at the location nearest you within 24 hours. We will need a copy of your ticket and claim check and will make a visual inspection of the damage.
Limits of liability
For travel wholly between points in the U.S., United will not be liable for loss of money, jewelry, cameras, negotiable papers/securities, electronic/video/ photographic equipment, heirlooms, antiques, artifacts, works of art, silverware, irreplaceable books/publications/manuscripts/business documents, precious metals and other similar valuable and commercial effects. United prohibits the foregoing items being placed in checked baggage for travel wholly between points in the U.S. as well as for international transportation.
Domestic
For travel wholly between U.S. points, liability for delay, damage or loss to checked baggage, including carry-on baggage if tendered to the carrier's in-flight personnel for storage or otherwise delivered into the custody of the carrier, is limited to a maximum of $3,300 per ticketed passenger.
View Contract of Carriage
International
For international travels, including the domestic portions, subject to the Warsaw Convention, the liability limit for delay, damage or loss is approximately $9.07 USD per pound ($20 per kg) up to $635 USD per bag for checked baggage and approximately $400 USD per ticketed passenger for unchecked baggage. Where the Montreal Convention applies, the liability limit for the delay, damage or loss to checked and unchecked baggage is limited to 1,000 Special Drawing Rights per ticketed passenger. Exchange rates are available online at www.IMF.org.
If you wish to declare a higher value beyond the stated limit of liability, additional insurance coverage can be purchased from a private insurance company or excess value insurance can be purchased from the airline(s). For further information, please contact your airline or insurance company representative.
Contact us
Baggage Services/Lost & Found
E-mail: web-baggage@united.com
Phone: (800) 221-6903
