What's the maximum airline baggage payout in 2026?

$3,800 per passenger on US domestic flights. Approximately $2,050 USD on international flights under Montreal Convention (1,519 SDR at April 2026 rates).

Which airline pays the most for lost bags?

Alaska with median $720 payout, followed by Delta at $680 and United at $620. Legacy US carriers generally pay 40 to 60 percent more than ULCCs.

Which airline pays the least?

Frontier at median $290 and Spirit at $310. ULCCs apply aggressive depreciation and minimize interim essentials.

Do I get my baggage fee refunded?

Yes automatically if the bag is declared lost. Refund is separate from and on top of the content payout. Delayed bags typically do not trigger fee refund unless lost becomes final.

Can I declare higher value than the cap?

Some international carriers accept declared value at purchase (typically $50 to $100 surcharge for up to $5,000 coverage). US domestic rarely offers this; use credit card or travel insurance instead.

How long before a delayed bag is declared lost?

21 days. Before day 21 the bag is delayed; after, you file the final lost-bag claim.

What if the airline denies my lost bag claim?

File DOT complaint (domestic) or submit to the national enforcement body (international). Credit card chargeback for the baggage fee is a parallel lever.

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Compensation TipsApril 21, 2026•7 min read

Baggage Compensation Calculator by Airline

Baggage compensation caps vary by airline and route. DOT domestic: $3,800. Montreal Convention international: 1,519 SDR. Here is the exact amount for the 20 biggest carriers plus a calculator for typical payout per case.

The Two Compensation Regimes

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US Domestic (14 CFR 254.4): minimum $3,800 per passenger. Most carriers match, do not exceed.
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International (Montreal Convention 1999): 1,519 SDR per passenger, approximately $2,050 USD in April 2026 at current IMF rate.
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EU Regulation (Regulation 889/2002): parallels Montreal for EU carriers.
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UK Regulation: parallels Montreal under retained EU law.

SDR rate fluctuates daily. Check IMF SDR rate for your case date.

Per-Airline Caps and Typical Payouts

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Delta: $3,800 domestic, Montreal international. Median payout $680.
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American: $3,800 domestic, Montreal. Median $550.
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United: $3,800 domestic, Montreal. Median $620.
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Southwest: $3,800 domestic. Median $480.
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Alaska: $3,800 domestic, Montreal. Median $720.
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JetBlue: $3,800 domestic. Median $520.
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Spirit: $3,800 domestic. Median $310.
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Frontier: $3,800 domestic. Median $290.
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British Airways: Montreal international. Median £650.
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Lufthansa: Montreal international. Median EUR 720.
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Air France: Montreal international. Median EUR 590.
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KLM: Montreal international. Median EUR 640.
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Ryanair: Montreal international. Median EUR 350 (aggressive depreciation).
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easyJet: Montreal international. Median EUR 470.
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Jet2: Montreal international. Median £560.

What Gets Added to the Base Claim

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Baggage fee refund: automatic on lost bag.
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Interim essentials (delayed bag): $50 to $100 per day, 3 to 5 days typical.
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Declared value (select international carriers): usually $50 to $100 surcharge for $5,000 declaration.
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Credit card or travel insurance gap coverage: covers beyond airline cap.

Calculator Formula

Expected payout = (documented value with receipts) minus (airline depreciation, typically 20 to 40 percent) plus baggage fee refund plus interim essentials. Capped at carrier's regulatory cap.

Example: $1,500 documented bag contents + $60 baggage fee + $300 interim = $1,860 gross, minus ~25 percent depreciation = $1,395 net. Well below the $3,800 domestic cap. See compensation calculators and tools summer 2026 edition, uk261 calculator gbp amount by route, and compensation calculators and tools 2026 guide.

How to Maximize Payout

1
Photograph contents before every trip.
2
Save purchase receipts for expensive items in a cloud folder.
3
File Property Irregularity Report (PIR) immediately at airport.
4
Submit interim essentials claim within 7 days with receipts.
5
Submit final lost-bag claim after 21 days with full inventory.
6
Escalate via DOT complaint at day 45 if airline has not paid.

Insurance Gap Coverage

Credit cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve cover $3,000 baggage delay/loss. Amex Platinum covers $2,500. Standalone travel insurance typically $1,500 to $3,000. Stack on top of airline payout for documented gap.

Pillar Link and Authority Sources

For the pillar see How Much Is Your Delayed Flight Worth: Calculator. For primary texts see Montreal Convention (ICAO), 14 CFR Part 254, and IMF SDR Rate.

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