What is a pilferage claim?

A claim for stolen or missing items from a checked bag that otherwise arrived. Distinct from lost bag (entire bag missing) and damage (bag physically damaged). Airlines treat pilferage more skeptically than the other two.

How do I prove items were stolen?

Photographs of bag contents before the flight, receipts for high-value items, PIR filed at the airport on discovery, evidence of tampering (broken locks, cut fabric), and TSA inspection notices if present. Burden of proof is on you.

Is TSA or the airline responsible for pilferage?

Depends on when theft occurred. TSA inspection notices inside your bag indicate TSA access; theft near TSA processing may be TSA's responsibility. Between TSA and airline cargo hold, airline is responsible. Claim both in parallel to cover all possibilities.

Can I file a TSA claim for stolen items?

Yes. TSA handles claims via the Federal Tort Claims Act, up to $100,000 per claim. File at tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support/tsa-claims. Cumbersome process; expect 6 to 12 months.

Will travel insurance cover pilferage?

Most policies do, though with lower caps than lost bag coverage. Credit card baggage benefits (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum) often supplement airline payouts up to $2,500 to $3,000.

What's the typical airline payout for pilferage?

60 to 80 percent of documented value with clean receipts; 10 to 25 percent without receipts. Depreciated value applied for older items. The $3,800 DOT cap is rarely reached in practice.

Should I declare value on high-value items?

Yes, for anything over $500. Declared value at check-in raises your cap above Montreal Convention 1,519 SDR. Airlines charge $3 to $15 per $100 of declared value, usually worth it for cameras, jewelry, and musical instruments.

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BaggageApril 21, 2026•7 min read

Stolen Items From Checked Bag: Filing a Pilferage Claim

Pilferage claims for stolen items from checked bags are governed by the Montreal Convention on international flights and DOT 14 CFR 254.4 on US domestic. Airlines resist pilferage claims more than lost-bag claims. Here is the 2026 process for proving theft and recovering value.

Pilferage vs Lost Bag vs Damage

A pilferage claim stolen items bag situation is distinct from lost bag and damage:

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Lost bag: the entire bag never arrives. Full cap recovery possible with inventory documentation.
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Damaged bag: the bag arrives but is physically damaged. Repair or replacement cost recoverable.
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Pilferage: the bag arrives but contents are missing. Harder to prove; airlines default to skepticism.

Pilferage is the hardest baggage claim to win. Airlines argue you either packed differently than claimed or items were removed by TSA. Documentation before flight is the difference between recovery and denial.

Legal Basis

Pilferage is covered by:

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DOT 14 CFR 254.4 (US domestic): minimum $3,800 per passenger baggage liability, applies to stolen contents.
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Montreal Convention (international): 1,519 SDR ≈ $2,050 per passenger.
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Airline Contract of Carriage: usually matches the regulatory minimum, occasionally exceeds.
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TSA for airport-side theft: separate TSA Claims Act process via tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support/tsa-claims.

Proving Theft

The burden of proof is on you. Airlines start with the assumption that the passenger is mistaken or overstating. To succeed:

1
Photograph bag contents before every flight: layered, dated, multiple angles. Shows what was packed.
2
Keep receipts for high-value items: cameras, jewelry, electronics, collectibles.
3
Note TSA Precheck/LockPick status: TSA-approved locks are sometimes opened by TSA for inspection; TSA leaves a notification card.
4
File Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at airport on discovery, with full inventory of missing items.
5
Inspect bag at baggage claim before leaving the airport; damage or tampering is easier to prove when fresh.
6
Document seal integrity: broken tags, cut or forced locks, damaged fabric suggest tampering.

TSA vs Airline Responsibility

If TSA inspected your bag, the inspection notice (placed inside the bag) is the dividing line. Theft before the TSA notice means airline responsibility. Theft with evidence of the TSA notice may mean TSA responsibility. Both claim processes exist and can run in parallel:

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Airline claim: file through the carrier's baggage website within 7 days (Montreal) or 45 days (US domestic custom).
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TSA claim: file through tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support/tsa-claims. Up to $100,000 per claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
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Credit card baggage benefit: may cover the gap.
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Travel insurance: coverage varies by policy.

Claim Documentation

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PIR from airport with reference number.
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Photos of bag contents before flight.
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Photos of bag when opened (empty slots, broken locks, torn lining).
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Receipts for stolen items (originals, purchase records, appraisals for jewelry).
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TSA notice if present.
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Detailed inventory list with estimated values.
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Flight itinerary and boarding pass.
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Credit card statement showing purchase of the bag or items.

What Airlines Typically Pay

Based on 2024 and 2025 aggregate data:

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Clean pilferage claim with documentation: 60 to 80 percent of documented value, usually below the DOT cap.
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Partial receipts only: 30 to 50 percent of claimed value.
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No receipts: 10 to 25 percent of claimed value.
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TSA-involvement noted: airline may redirect to TSA; split recovery between airline and TSA possible.
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High-value items (over $500): aggressive pushback common; declared-value at check-in recommended for future trips.

Declare value at check-in for high-value items. Under Montreal Convention Article 22(2), declared value raises your cap above 1,519 SDR. Airlines charge $3 to $15 per $100 of declared value.

Authority Sources

For primary regulatory texts and official guidance cited in this guide, see Montreal Convention (ICAO PDF), 14 CFR Part 254 Baggage Liability, DOT Baggage Guidance.

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