Your bag did not come out on the belt. Who you contact depends on what went missing.
Checked bag missing or damaged → the airline
- Before you leave the arrivals hall, go to the baggage desk of your airline (run by its ground handler) and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Ryanair and Jet2 say they cannot process a claim without one.
- Keep the PIR reference (airport code + airline code + number, e.g.
ATHA312345). It is your tracking number in WorldTracer, the system most airlines use. Find your airline’s tracking page. - Keep receipts for essentials you buy while you wait. Many airlines pay a daily amount — AEGEAN pays up to €40/day in Economy when the bag is more than 24 h late.
Item left in the terminal → airport lost property
In Greece this is usually the Hellenic Police lost property office at the airport. See the page for your airport under Airports.
Deadlines (Montreal Convention)
| Situation | Written complaint to the airline |
|---|---|
| Bag damaged | within 7 days of receiving it |
| Bag delayed | within 21 days of receiving it |
| Bag not back after 21 days | you can treat it as lost |
| Going to court | within 2 years |
Miss the complaint deadline and the airline does not have to pay.
How much can you get?
Since 28 December 2024 the limit is 1,519 SDR per passenger (about €1,850, the rate changes daily) for loss, damage or delay. Some airline websites still show the old 1,288 or 1,131 SDR figures; the new limit applies anyway. You can raise it by declaring a higher value at check-in, usually for a fee.
Already home?
If the item is found after you left Greece, it has to be shipped to you. For countries outside the EU this may need an export declaration. Ask a courier we recommend whether they can collect it and send it to you: see how to get it to you.
Which airport?
Updated 14 October 2026
Bag found? Get it delivered
Once the airline or airport has your bag, a luggage service we recommend can ship it to you, in Greece or abroad.
Ships suitcases and boxes door to door. Collects from an address in Greece and delivers within Greece and to most countries.
We recommend services we think are useful; some may pay us a fee if you book. Prices and terms are set by the service, so check them before you book.