This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Air France Baggage Rules.
Air France gives a delayed bag 21 days before it counts as lost. The Air France baggage tracer runs on WorldTracer, a search system most international carriers share. That 21 day date matters more than any phone call.
This page covers what to do when a bag does not show up on the belt. It walks through the report, the tracer, interim expenses, and the compensation limits.
The Air France baggage tracer: how to check status
The Air France baggage tracer runs on WorldTracer, an industry standard search network. It is not a proprietary app.
File a Property Irregularity Report, called a PIR, at the airport or online. That gives you a claim number tied to the search.
Enter the claim number into the WorldTracer online search tool to see the status. Air France’s own page says that after 72 hours without recovery, the tool asks you to list the bag’s contents.
That inventory becomes the basis for a claim if the bag stays missing. The Air France baggage tracer shows a search status, not a live map, so treat it that way. Our guide to tracking a lost bag explains what each WorldTracer status means.
Reporting a bag that did not arrive
File the report before you leave the baggage claim area. Go straight to the AIR FRANCE KLM baggage desk.
Staff open a PIR on the spot. You get a claim number and, at some airports, a form for delivery once the bag turns up.
If the desk is closed, Air France’s page also accepts the report online or through the Air France app. You have 7 days from the flight’s arrival to file it that way. Some airports do not support the online option at all.
See our guide to reporting a lost bag for what to bring to the desk.
Interim expenses while the bag is delayed
Air France’s page covers basic necessities directly related to the delay. In practice that means toiletries and a change of clothes.
Keep every receipt. You have 21 days from the date the bag is returned to submit that claim with proof of purchase. Air France’s stated policy is that a late claim is no longer eligible.
When a delayed bag becomes a lost bag
Air France’s page states that if the bag is not recovered within 21 days of the report, your inventory becomes the basis of compensation. That is when a delay claim becomes a full loss claim.
Traveler reports around Air France baggage claims describe processing that can run past the 21 day mark before payment arrives. A complete inventory with receipts tends to move faster. A claim built from memory tends to move slower.
Compensation limits: what the law actually caps
Two ceilings apply, and both were confirmed on transportation.gov on 2026-09-07.
On a domestic US itinerary, the DOT allows carriers to cap liability at 4,700 USD per passenger. On an international itinerary, the Montreal Convention caps liability at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger.
Transportation.gov states that figure is roughly 2,175 USD at current exchange rates. Most Air France tickets from the US are international. So 1,519 SDR is usually the figure that governs, not the domestic one.
Neither number is a guaranteed payout. It is a ceiling, and Air France can pay less based on your inventory and receipts.
Damaged baggage
A cracked shell or a torn handle is a separate claim from a missing bag. It has its own reporting window at the desk, before you leave the airport, and photos of the damage at that moment matter more than photos taken at home.
See our damaged luggage claims guide for the documentation Air France and most carriers expect.
What travelers say goes wrong
Recurring themes in traveler accounts include slow replies from the claims team. A first offer that undercuts the inventoried value is common too, and appealing with receipts tends to close that gap.
None of that changes the legal caps above. It just shapes how close to the cap a real claim lands. Our lost luggage compensation guide covers that in more detail.
Preventing a lost bag from becoming a real problem
A tracker inside the bag turns still being traced at the desk into a location you can show the agent. The Apple AirTag 4 pack is the common choice: one tag per checked bag.
Android travelers get the same result from a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. A Tile by Life360 tracker works across both phone platforms.
A pair of Travelambo leather luggage tags with a name and phone number on the outside is the low tech backup. A bag that is misrouted rather than truly lost gets rerouted faster when ground staff can read a name off the handle.
For the fees and allowances that govern the trip itself, see the Air France baggage rules record. The Air France baggage fees page covers what a second checked bag costs, and it is worth reading before a claim ever comes up.
The bottom line
File the PIR at the desk before you leave the airport. Watch the Air France baggage tracer through WorldTracer. Mark the 21 day date on your calendar too, since that is when a delay becomes a loss claim.
Keep every receipt for interim purchases. Know that 1,519 SDR, roughly 2,175 USD, is the realistic ceiling on an international claim, not a guaranteed payout.
Common questions
How long does Air France give me to report a missing bag?
You should report it before leaving the airport. Online or app reports must be filed within 7 days of the flight’s arrival.
What tracking system does Air France use for lost bags?
Air France uses WorldTracer, the industry standard baggage search network shared by most international carriers.
When does a delayed bag officially become a lost bag on Air France?
If the bag is not recovered within 21 days of the report, the inventory taken at that point becomes the basis of a compensation claim.
Will Air France reimburse me for clothes and toiletries while my bag is delayed?
Air France states it covers basic necessities directly related to the delay, and you have 21 days after the bag is returned to submit receipts.
What is the compensation limit for a lost bag on an international Air France flight?
The Montreal Convention caps liability at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, about 2,175 USD, as stated on transportation.gov.
What is the domestic US baggage liability limit if my Air France trip is domestic?
The Department of Transportation allows carriers to cap domestic liability at 4,700 USD per passenger.
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