Turkish Airlines Lost and Found

Losing your baggage is an unpleasant experience, not to mention the harassment and panic it can cause, especially if you’re not sure what to do next. If ever you find yourself in such a situation, knowing Turkish Airlines lost and found policy will not only improve the chances of recovery but also apprise you of your rights to reimbursement and compensation if your baggage arrives late or gets lost. 

Below are the steps you should take if you’re faced with a Turkish Airlines baggage lost and found situation.

• Checked baggage: If you don’t receive your checked baggage at the destination point, you must immediately file an application with The Turkish Airlines Lost and Found Office at the airport, or The Lost and Found Office/Lost Property Office of the company that provides the service at the destination airport.
  • If you have left the airport, you must submit an online application via the Baggage Irregularity Report page.
  • After you apply (be sure to provide a detailed description), you will receive a reference number, or a PIR/Baggage Disruption Report number (such as ISTTK54321) for the lost baggage. You must keep this number with you securely, along with your baggage tag and boarding pass, until your baggage is delivered to you or you are indemnified for any loss if your bag cannot be found. 
  • Bags without baggage tags will be searched but not assessed for any pecuniary losses. 
• Unchecked baggage: If you left any item on the aircraft or in one of the lounges, you must fill out and submit the Forgotten Item Form (on the Baggage Irregularity Report). You can also check your missing item’s status through this page or by contacting the airport’s Lost Property Office.

Turkish Airlines Lost and Found Tracking

After you’ve filed a PIR/Baggage Irregularity Report with Turkish Airlines, you can trace your missing baggage status online through the Track Baggage page.

• Within the first 5 days of your flight, you can:
  • Track your baggage status by contacting the Lost Property Office through the phone number provided on the PIR. 
  • Correct any errors on the report.
• Turkish Airlines offices will track your baggage through the International Baggage Tracking Systems (WorldTracer) used by most airlines worldwide (most lost baggage items are tracked within 24 hours and then delivered).
• After 5 days of your flight, if your baggage still cannot be found, a Turkish Airlines representative will request you to make a claim by providing a detailed list (with price) of the contents of the lost baggage. If you do not receive such a request, you should:
  • Call and remind Turkish Airlines at the number provided in your PIR/Baggage Irregularity Report, or 
  • Make an online claim via the baggage disruption notification and tracking page. When making the claim, you can add a document to ensure you have fully described the details of the missing baggage item, including but not limited to color, brand name, size, along with contents. 
• After you’ve provided the above information, Turkish Airlines will search for your missing baggage extensively for 21 days. 
• Turkish Airlines will contact you after your baggage is found.
• If your bag cannot be found after 30 days of your flight, the Turkish Airlines lost and found tracking will stop and you will then be eligible to claim compensation.

Turkish Airlines Domestic Lost and Found Office

Turkish Airlines domestic lost and found offices are located in the baggage claim areas of the airport. 

If you lose your baggage, you must:

• Immediately file a report with the Lost Property Office at the airport. 
• Provide a detailed description of the missing baggage to help locate it faster. 
• Make sure that the baggage description and address provided are correct.
• Retain the baggage check-in tag(s), boarding pass, and reference number (comprising 5 letters and numbers each) on the Property Irregularity Report (PIR). 
• Wait to hear from Turkish Airlines when your baggage has been found and is ready to be dispatched.
• Contact the Lost Property Office by phone (at the number provided on the PIR) within the first 5 days of your flight to track the latest status and/or to correct errors, if any. 
• File a claim with the airline if your bag cannot be found within 5 days. 
• Track your lost baggage status online via the baggage tracking page.

Tips to Avoid Turkish Airlines Baggage Lost and Found Situations 

Following the tips below will help reduce the chances Turkish Airlines baggage loss and found situations:

• Always pack valuable items such as your jewellery, credit cards, cash, keys, business papers, medicines, mobile phones, etc. in your carry-on bag/personal item. 
• Do not pack your items in damaged bags. Check if your baggage had suffered cracks or cuts in your previous travels. Keeping such bags unchecked or leaving them unrepaired will make you prone to losing your baggage during your flight. There are also chances that your bag will be ripped apart causing you to lose your belongings.
• Ensure that your baggage has a proper lock and key system. This is because even if the baggage has been opened due to security reasons, you can ask the security staff to let you lock the baggage after its items have been checked and verified. 
• When you hand over your baggage at check-in, be sure to collect a copy of your baggage tag. 
• Keep your baggage tag and boarding pass safely until the issue has been fully resolved. You will need your tags to identify your luggage or Turkish claim compensation if your bags go missing.  
• Always label your luggage including bags and suitcases with your contact information so that it can be identified in case of loss or delay.

Turkish Airlines Reimbursement for Delayed Baggage 

If your baggage arrives late, you can claim reimbursement for any reasonable expenses you may have incurred on necessities such as clothing and toiletry items as a result of the delay—as long as you submit a claim in writing no later than 21 days after receiving your baggage.

How to Claim Reimbursement

To claim reimbursement, you will need to apply to the Turkish Airlines Lost and Found Office at the airport (or the airport’s Lost and Found Office), or online via the baggage disruption notification and tracking page. To log in, provide your reference number (such as ISTTK54321) and last name, fill out the form, and provide valid copies of invoices for purchases made by you due to the delay, along with your credit card slip, etc., to prove that you incurred such expenses. 

• To claim reimbursement of expenses, you must apply in writing within 21 days of receiving your baggage, because applications made after this period will not be considered. 
• If your delayed baggage arrives in damaged condition or with missing items, you must apply to Turkish Airlines within 7 days of receiving your baggage, or you will not be eligible to receive any compensation. 

The maximum reimbursement you can claim will depend on the actual expenses incurred by you, subject to the limits below.

• For flights covered by the Warsaw Convention, the maximum reimbursement is limited to Franc Poincaré 250/kg for checked baggage (approx. USD 20/kg) and Franc Poincaré 5,000 for unchecked baggage (approx. USD 400).
• For flights covered by the Montreal Convention, the maximum reimbursement per ticketed passenger is limited to SDR 1,288.

Turkish Airlines Compensation for Lost Baggage

Turkish Airlines compensation for lost baggage will depend on whether your flight is covered by the Warsaw Convention or the Montreal Convention. 

• If your flight is governed by the amended Warsaw Convention, the compensation per ticketed passenger is subject to a maximum of:
  • Franc Poincaré 250/kg for checked baggage
    (approx. USD 20/kg or the equivalent in the local currency)
  • Franc Poincaré 5,000 for unchecked baggage
    (approx. USD 400 or its equivalent in local currency)
• If your flight is governed by the Montreal Convention, the compensation per ticketed passenger for a lost, delayed, or damaged checked bag is subject to a maximum of SDR 1,288.

How to File a Delayed/Lost Baggage Complaint 

To file a delayed or lost baggage complaint for a checked bag, you must immediately file a complaint with The Turkish Airlines Lost and Found Office at the airport, or the airport’s Lost and Found Office/Lost Property Office. If you’ve left the airport, you must file an online complaint via the Baggage Irregularity Report page.

If you have left an unchecked baggage item on the plane or in a lounge, you must immediately contact the airport’s Lost Property Office or submit the Forgotten Item Form on the Baggage Irregularity Report. 

Important

• Be sure to pack your belongings securely so that are fully protected at all times.
• You will not be entitled to lost baggage compensation if the items in your baggage are lost due to defective zippers, straps, or belts.
• If your luggage is taken away by mistake by another passenger and damaged as a result, or if any other problems arise after your luggage arrives on the conveyor, Turkish Airlines lost and found office will not assume any responsibility for the loss unless such damage was due to mishandling by the airline’s staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

The section below answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Turkish Airlines lost and found baggage, so do check them out!

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