Southwest Airlines Lost and Found Policy
|Tips and Information on Southwest Airlines’ Lost and Found
Here are some travel suggestions that passengers should follow in order to avoid or minimise the impact of Southwest lost baggage disruptions:
- The Southwest lost luggage department advises against putting any valuables (jewellery, cash, wallets), vital things (medication, passport, picture ID), or fragile objects (electronic gadgets, glassware, glasses, contact lenses) in your checked baggage.
- According to Southwest’s lost and found policy, you should avoid travelling with luggage that has been damaged on previous trips. The baggage may become unusable or your goods within may be destroyed if the damaged area grows larger.
- TSA-approved locks should be used. If your luggage is opened for security reasons, it will be protected from being destroyed.
- The Southwest baggage lost and found team suggests including a handwritten note with the passenger’s name and contact information, which will aid in the delivery of your luggage if the baggage tag breaks off.
- If there isn’t enough capacity in the overhead cabinet, the carry-on luggage may be removed from the cabin baggage. If the passenger does not wish to remove personal items from cabin baggage, please tell the Southwest Airlines lost and found crew.
Passengers should contact Southwest Airlines’ baggage claim and tracking staff to file a lost and found application and to follow up on an older application addressing all baggage disruptions.
Passengers must preserve the baggage tag and boarding pass until the Southwest lost baggage application is completed. All information and documentation submitted by passengers from the beginning owing to baggage disruption are processed within the scope of personal data protection, according to Southwest Airlines’ lost and found policy.
Lost and Found in the Southwest
Here’s where you can get all the details on the Southwest missing baggage situation:
Passengers can apply to Southwest Airlines’ lost and found department at the relevant airport if their luggage is not received at the destination or stopover point following the journey.
Here is a list of airports where you can contact the Southwest lost and found office about your missing luggage:
Airport Offices | Airport Codes |
Dallas Love Field Airport | DAL |
Los Angeles International Airport | LAX |
Chicago Midway International Airport | MDW |
Oakland International Airport | OAK |
San Diego International Airport | SAN |
Baltimore International Airport | BWI |
Denver International Airport | DEN |
Phoenix International Airport | PHX |
Houston Hobby International airport | HOU |
Atlanta International Airport | ATL |
Orlando International Airport | MCO |
Las Vegas International Airport | LAS |
Tampa International Airport | TPA |
Additionally, upon the passenger’s request, a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) for their misplaced baggage with Southwest Airlines will be supplied. Passengers must also preserve their baggage tag and boarding pass for all subsequent procedures until their luggage is delivered.
How can I file a claim for Southwest lost luggage?
Passengers must apply to the Southwest lost and found office at the destination airport or contact Southwest airlines customer service lost and found if their luggage is not delivered to them.
The Southwest Airlines lost luggage report must be filed in order for your goods to be thoroughly searched, the process to be followed, and appropriate compensation to be paid if the airline is unable to locate your baggage.
- When you fail to collect baggage from Southwest, you must submit your documentation and receive a PIR along with a lost and found tracking number at the airport’s baggage lost and found office.
- Southwest lost and found online application – This is an alternative for passengers who have left the airport without receiving a report and must register for luggage monitoring.
Passengers who leave the airport without reporting to the Southwest Airlines baggage claim desk are responsible for any financial losses that may occur. If a passenger is unable to identify their items on the luggage conveyors, they must immediately report their concern to the Southwest lost baggage department at the airport.
Expanded Southwest Baggage Tracking Process
Here’s how to fill out the Southwest Airlines lost and found form in detail:
- Southwest Airlines’ baggage policy states that baggage will be tracked for the first five days of travel on the route taken by travellers.
- The search and screening will be conducted using the Southwest baggage lost and found international tracking system, as most of the luggage is identified and handed to passengers within 24 hours.
- In the rarest of situations, an unwelcome delay in the delivery of the checked bag may occur owing to operational reasons.
- Passengers would be asked to give a detailed and priced list of the items covered in the lost baggage if it could not be found within 5 days. This would allow for more detailed tracking of the baggage.
- If travellers have not received a response from the airline after 5 days, they must create a notification on the Southwest baggage lost and found online tracking page.
- Passengers must enter a message and attach the papers for the notification they produced in the message area.
- Passengers must include the facts they will supply regarding the appearance and content of the lost baggage in the message in order for the baggage to be identified and delivered more quickly.
- The passenger’s lost baggage will be meticulously and passionately tracked by the Southwest lost baggage team in 21 days, based on the documentation and information you provide.
Compensation for Lost Baggage at Southwest
You can apply to the Southwest Airlines lost and found office at the airport for all baggage that was not delivered to the passenger, receive a reference number generated on your name, and file an application via the lost and found portal with the documents related to mandatory expenditure the passenger made during the delivery process. In addition, every affected passenger must maintain official papers such as invoices, credit cards, or other proof of expenditures in order to submit them during the Southwest lost baggage application.
Here’s a rundown of the mandatory reimbursements and compensations supplied by Southwest Airlines in the event of lost, damaged, or delayed baggage:
- Southwest’s lost baggage responsibility for the loss, damage, or delay in delivery of a checked bag is limited to $3800 USD unless the passenger declares the value of the lost baggage in excess of the compensation amount at the time of check-in.
- In addition, the declared value of the baggage at the time of check-in must not exceed 1250 USD, which is less than the 3800 USD maximum set by the airlines.
- Money, jewellery, photographic, video, and optical equipment, computers and other electronic equipment, computer software, silverware and china, fragile or perishable items, liquids, precious gems and metals, negotiable papers, securities, business or personal documents, samples, items intended for sale, paintings, artefacts, and other works of art and antiques are not eligible for Southwest lost and found compensation.
According to the fare classes, here’s a summary of the lost and compensation supplied by airlines in the event of delayed, damaged, or lost luggage:
Southwest Lost Baggage Claim | Business Select | Anytime | Wanna Get Away |
Lost Checked Bag | Upto 3800 USD | Upto 3800 USD | Upto 3800 USD |
Baggage Fee in case of loss of the baggage | Refundable | Non-Refundable | Non-Refundable |
Delayed Baggage Reimbursement | Compulsory Expenditure up to 100 USD (invoices need to be submitted) | Compulsory Expenditure up to 75 USD (invoices need to be submitted) | Compulsory Expenditure up to 50 USD (invoices need to be submitted) |
Baggage Fee refund in case of delayed baggage | Refundable | Non-Refundable | Non-Refundable |
How to File a Baggage Claim with Southwest Airlines Online
To get your missing baggage delivered on time, follow these steps to apply for a Southwest Airlines lost and found form:
- Report delayed baggage — If your bags have been delayed for an extended period of time, contact a Southwest Airlines employee. Passengers will be given a File Reference Number, which will be used to trace down and retrieve the lost bag.
- Passengers may be entitled for a Southwest baggage fee rebate if their checked bag has been delayed for more than 12 hours past the anticipated arrival time. If a traveller does not get baggage, the reimbursement will be given in the form of an electronic travel credit for the amount due.
- Submit Expense Reimbursement — On the Southwest Airlines baggage claim form, select the ‘Out of Pocket’ expense item. The ‘Out of Pocket’ fee is only intended to cover incidental expenses incurred while checked baggage was delayed. If the baggage is delayed for the first five days, reasonable expenses are calculated at 50 USD per day. If the bag is not discovered, the Southwest lost baggage refund will be taken from the final claim settlement.
- Declare Baggage Value – Passengers must provide documents proving the value of their lost baggage to Southwest Airlines in order to be considered for lost and found reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest’s Lost Baggage Policy (FAQs)
Is there a lost and found section at Southwest Airlines?
Passengers can take their baggage difficulties to the Southwest Airlines baggage claim desk in person, or call customer support if they have already departed the airport.
How can I get in touch with Southwest’s lost and found department?
If you haven’t received your luggage in a reasonable amount of time, contact the Southwest Airlines baggage claim desk or call the Southwest Airlines lost and found phone number.
How long does it take Southwest Airlines to locate misplaced luggage?
The search and screening will be conducted using the Southwest baggage lost and found international tracking system, as most of the luggage is identified and handed to passengers within 24 hours. Within 5 days of the escalation, Southwest Airlines may be able to monitor the luggage.
What if I leave anything behind on a Southwest flight?
Before leaving the airport, contact the Southwest lost luggage desk or the airport counter to see whether the team may be retrieved. If the person has departed the airport, they should contact Southwest Airlines’ lost and found department.
What is Southwest Airlines’ luggage reimbursement policy?
If the luggage does not arrive, Southwest Airlines may compensate up to $3500 USD if the travellers provide receipts or other relevant evidence. Depreciation would apply to any used things that were not recovered.
How can I learn more about Southwest’s luggage policy?
Southwest Airlines’ baggage policy states that the airline is not responsible for manufacturing defects or minor wear and tear such as scratches, dents, cuts, punctures, or dirt. Furthermore, Southwest’s lost baggage responsibility for the loss, damage, or delay in delivery of the checked bag shall not exceed 3800 USD unless the passenger declares the value of the lost baggage in excess of the abovementioned compensation amount at the time of check-in.
Is it possible to check the status of my misplaced luggage online?
Unfortunately, southwest.com does not provide this option. Passengers can call Southwest Airlines’ lost and found contact number to check on the status of their delayed baggage.
I’ve arrived at my ultimate location, but my checked luggage is yet to arrive. What am I supposed to do?
Passengers can apply to Southwest Airlines’ lost and found department at the relevant airport if their luggage is not received at the destination or stopover point following the journey. Passengers must also preserve their baggage tag and boarding pass for all subsequent procedures until their luggage is delivered. For all baggage-related questions, passengers can call Southwest’s lost and found phone numbers.
If my checked bag is delayed, how will I obtain it?
Southwest Airlines will follow the luggage on the path that travellers took over the first five days. The search and screening will be conducted using the Southwest baggage lost and found international tracking system, since most luggage is identified within 24 hours and given to the passengers at their preferred location.
What if my checked suitcase is never discovered by Southwest Airlines?
Passengers must provide documents proving the value of their missing luggage to Southwest Airlines in order to be considered for lost and found reimbursement. Southwest’s lost baggage responsibility for the loss, damage, or delay in delivery of a checked bag is limited to $3800 USD unless the passenger declares the value of the lost baggage in excess of the compensation amount at the time of check-in.
Related Southwest Airlines Policies:
- Southwest Airlines Check-In Policy
- Southwest Airlines Lost and Found Policy
- Southwest Airlines Pet Policy
- Southwest Airlines Cancellation Policy
- Southwest Airlines Name Change Policy
- Southwest Airlines Flight Change Policy