Lost Baggage at Košice Airport: A Step-by-Step Guide

Baggage that doesn’t show up on the belt, arrives damaged, or turns up days late can spoil the start or the end of a trip. Košice Airport (KSC) follows the same international framework used at most European airports: the key is to report the problem while you’re still in the arrivals hall, before leaving the transit area, get a PIR report filled out, and then meet the strict deadlines for filing a written claim with the airline. This guide walks you through the whole process step by step, including what compensation you’re entitled to under the Montreal Convention.

Step one: report the problem at the airport (PIR)

If your checked baggage doesn’t appear on the belt after landing, or you find it damaged, you need to deal with it before leaving the arrivals hall. At Košice Airport, baggage irregularities are reported directly at the baggage claims desk in the arrivals hall, where staff will draw up a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) — a document with a unique personal reference number. Without it, any later claim with the airline or your insurer becomes far more complicated, and in many cases simply won’t succeed. Bring your boarding pass, your baggage tag (the sticker attached at check-in) and a description of your bag — colour, brand, any distinguishing features.

If the process at the desk seems to be taking a while, that’s not unusual, especially when several cases are being handled at once after a single flight. Photograph or note down the PIR reference number — you’ll need it for every further exchange with the carrier.

Damaged baggage: the 7-day deadline

If your suitcase is visibly damaged (a broken wheel, a cracked shell, torn fabric), you must file a written claim with the airline within 7 days of receiving your baggage. It’s best to do this as soon as possible, ideally on the same day while filling out the PIR, since carriers generally take normal wear and tear — as well as damage caused by the baggage’s own construction — into account, and typically exclude these from compensation.

Delayed and lost baggage: 21 days and what happens next

For baggage that doesn’t arrive with you but turns up later, a longer deadline applies: a written claim must be filed within 21 days of the day your baggage was finally handed over to you. While your bag is still being traced, the carrier or ground-handling company should keep you updated on the search using your PIR reference number.

If your baggage still hasn’t been found after the commonly used period of around 21 days from the flight, it’s generally treated as permanently lost, and you can claim compensation for its contents, not just for the delay itself. In that case, it’s important to be able to prove what your baggage contained and its value — with receipts, photos, or a list of items that you draw up as soon as possible after realising your bag is missing.

Compensation under the Montreal Convention

Airlines’ liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage is governed by the 1999 Montreal Convention, which also binds the airlines flying to and from Košice. The Convention sets an upper limit on compensation, which is periodically adjusted for inflation. Since 28 December 2024, the limit has been 1,519 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per passenger — up from the previous 1,288 SDR that applied from 2019. The SDR is an international accounting unit used by the International Monetary Fund; its exchange rate against the euro changes constantly, so it’s worth converting the exact amount using the IMF’s rate on the date the damage occurred.

Importantly, this limit is a ceiling, not an automatic entitlement — the actual amount of compensation always depends on the damage you can prove. If you can’t reach an out-of-court settlement with the carrier, you can take your claim to court within two years of the date the aircraft arrived, or the date it was due to arrive.

How to file a baggage claim with Ryanair and Wizz Air

Both low-cost carriers that fly most frequently from Košice handle baggage claims primarily online. The PIR filled out at the airport serves as supporting evidence, but you still need to submit the actual written claim through the airline’s online form. You’ll find an overview of routes and practical details in our guide to Ryanair at Košice Airport, which also covers the basics of its baggage policy.

A similar process applies with Wizz Air — the PIR alone doesn’t count as a written claim, so you need to follow up with the form on the carrier’s website within the same 7- or 21-day deadlines. In both cases, keep your PIR reference number, boarding pass and proof that you submitted the online claim. If you’d like to stay up to date on which airlines currently fly from Košice and where, keep an eye on the airport’s current flight schedule.

Baggage insurance and how to avoid problems

Travel insurance with baggage cover can make up for what the Montreal Convention doesn’t fully cover — for example, losses that exceed the set limit — or speed up your payout without having to wait for the carrier to process your claim. It’s worth arranging cover when you buy your ticket: if you’re choosing from the current promotional fares, check whether the price already includes basic travel insurance, or arrange it separately if it doesn’t.

Always keep valuables, medication and important documents in your hand luggage.
Label your suitcase clearly, both on the outside and inside — the tag on the handle can tear off.
Photograph your baggage and its contents before you fly; it will help you prove any damage later.
Hold on to your baggage tag from check-in until you’ve safely got your suitcase back.
Check the scheduled arrival time in the flight schedule and allow extra time to file a claim before leaving the airport, if needed.

The airport itself publishes the official procedure and contact details for the baggage claims desk on its lost and found page. You’ll find answers to most other questions about check-in, individual airlines’ baggage policies and other practical details in our FAQ.

The bottom line is simple: deal with the problem at the airport straight away, never once you’re home, meet the 7- and 21-day deadlines, and keep your PIR reference number handy. If the carrier rejects your claim or doesn’t respond, you have two years to pursue it in court.

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