Ryanair damaged baggage compensation.
Are you eligible for compensation? What are the guidelines?
At times, luggage suffers damage. We aren’t addressing minor wear and tear on your suitcase, for which Ryanair isn’t responsible. Things like this can happen with all airlines all around the world. However, Ryanair can be held accountable for significant damage, such as fractured wheels and handles, or even major issues like punctures or splits.
What should you do if your luggage is damaged?
What to Do If Your Luggage Is Damaged?
Firstly, report the damage.
Do not exit the luggage collection area, and try to locate the Baggage Service Office. It is usually found in the luggage collection area near the luggage carousels. Here, you can file a report regarding the damage to your bag.
Have your passport and boarding pass ready. Bring your damaged bag. Fill in the form and you will be guided on the next steps. Most likely, the airline will repair your bag at no charge. If your suitcase or bag cannot be repaired, Ryanair will replace it.
If you notice the damage upon arriving home or at your hotel after leaving the airport, you can submit a claim to the Ryanair Customer Contact Centre within 7 days of arrival. Don’t let this deadline lapse. It is recommended to report the damage as soon as you arrive.
Check your compensation online.
Ryanair Damaged Baggage Compensation
What rights do you have if your luggage is damaged?
Could you be eligible for Ryanair baggage compensation?
Damaged Baggage Compensation
If your checked baggage is damaged, you could be entitled to compensation.
Ryanair is liable for this, and you could receive compensation up to €1300.
The compensation amount will depend on the value of your damaged bag. It is designed to cover your expenses for purchasing a new bag of the same value.
Don’t forget to submit your Ryanair compensation claim.
The airline must transfer this compensation to your bank account. You don’t need to accept Ryanair compensation voucher, miles or coupons. Please remember that it is not recommended to transport electronics, artwork, jewellery, etc., in your checked luggage, because Ryanair isn’t liable to compensate for the full value of such items, only to the extent defined by the Montreal Convention and its Conditions of Carriage.
If the damage is due to a defect in the bag itself, you won’t be entitled to compensation. Also, Ryanair is not responsible for minor damage such as scratches, small dents and other typical signs of usage on your suitcase. Regrettably, this is the nature of air travel.
Reimbursement of Expenses
In many cases, you won’t receive anything.
If your luggage is lost, and you need to replace necessary items, you are entitled to reimbursement for your expenses (sometimes referred to as delayed baggage compensation). You can buy the essential items, then make a claim by submitting all the receipts, and Ryanair will pay you.
You have 21 days from the day you receive your lost luggage to file a claim for reimbursement. However, this only applies to situations when your luggage is lost or delayed.
Is Travel Insurance Necessary?
Is baggage insurance necessary? It can be, but it’s not mandatory.
You can certainly travel without it.
Ryanair will anyway be responsible for your luggage and its safe delivery, due to the Montreal Convention, a treaty that applies to the carriage of luggage. It applies to most international flights of Ryanair and other airlines worldwide.
However, having quality travel insurance is always beneficial.
It may speed up the compensation process. Once you have filed a report for damage to your bag, contact your travel insurance provider to ask for their next steps. Your travel insurance may compensate you for the cash value or price of your luggage. You’ll need the paperwork you’ve received at the Baggage Service Office to make a claim.
Please remember, not all insurance policies cover damage to your luggage. Make sure to find this out in advance to avoid unnecessary stress and unpleasant surprises later.
Travel Prepared
It’s always smart to have a backup plan.
Serious baggage damage is rare, but it can happen.
Hence, it’s wise to pack a change of clothes and some underwear in your hand luggage. Just in case your suitcase and the items inside get damaged. Also, avoid packing valuable items, cash, medications, documents and credit cards in your checked luggage. If your bag is severely damaged (like having large punctures or splits), the contents may be damaged too. Or you could even lose some of the contents.
You might also want to bring a packable or foldable duffle bag. If your luggage is severely damaged, you can move your belongings to this duffel bag. If you don’t use it for this purpose, the packable duffle bag may come in handy when you run out of luggage space at the end of your trip.
Note that in this case, with Ryanair compensation for damaged baggage, just like in many other situations we are talking about on this website, it doesn’t apply only to Ryanair. Rules are the same for other airlines as well. In this case that’s because of the Montreal Convention, a treaty that applies to the carriage of baggage. It applies to most international flights of Ryanair and other airlines around the world.