Lost Baggage. Legal Advice

- Baggage is considered lost if it is not located within 21 days of the search.

The loss of baggage constitutes a breach of the carriage contract when, after the set delivery period and the search period for undelivered baggage, the carrier is unable to deliver the accepted baggage to the rightful recipient—regardless of whether the loss was due to actual loss, misrouting, or mistaken delivery at an intermediate airport.

Upon arrival, if your baggage does not arrive, is damaged, or its contents are missing, you must contact the airport’s Lost & Found office, located near the Lost & Found counter.

- Who is responsible for lost baggage?

- The carrier is responsible for the safety of checked baggage from the moment it is accepted for carriage until it is handed over to the recipient.

The Civil Code and the Air Code establish the carrier’s liability for the loss or damage of baggage from the moment it is accepted until it is delivered to the recipient or transferred to another authorized person.

For example, Article 721 of the Civil Code of Uzbekistan establishes the carrier’s liability for damage and loss unless the carrier proves it was not their fault. The Air Code, in Articles 114–127, establishes the carrier’s responsibility for the loss, shortage, and damage of cargo, baggage, or items accompanying the passenger. Carrier liability is also regulated by the Order of the Chief Inspectorate of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Flight Safety Oversight, “On the Approval of the Rules for Air Transportation of Passengers and Baggage” dated June 29, 2011, reg. No. 2238 (hereinafter referred to as the Order).

- What should a passenger do in case of baggage damage/loss?

1) Contact the staff at the Lost and Found counter.

The Lost & Found office at Tashkent Airport is located in the international terminal (T-2) and serves passengers arriving on both international and domestic flights (according to the rules for lost/delayed/damaged or missing baggage contents).

2) In case of loss, the authorized staff member must conduct a local search for the missing baggage upon presentation of identification documents. This can be a boarding pass, airline ticket, baggage tag stub, or an excess baggage payment receipt (according to the rules for lost/delayed/damaged or missing baggage contents).

3) If the baggage is not found after the local search, the staff member must complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), which certifies the loss of baggage, and provide the passenger with a copy. Further baggage tracing then continues for 21 days. The report includes the IATA baggage type identification chart, listing bag and suitcase types by two-digit code and colors by two-letter code (according to the rules for lost/delayed/damaged or missing baggage contents and Article 121 of the Air Code of Uzbekistan).

4) In case of damage to baggage, the staff member must complete an act of breach of the air carriage contract, which certifies the damage, and give the passenger a copy (in accordance with Article 121 of the Air Code and Paragraph 134 of the Order).

5) If the search does not yield results or after the act of breach of the air carriage contract has been issued, the passenger has the right to file a claim with the carrier at the point of departure or arrival at their discretion (in accordance with Articles 122 and 123 of the Air Code of Uzbekistan).

6) Claims against the carrier for domestic flights can be submitted within six months (Article 124 of the Air Code of Uzbekistan).

The claim period is calculated as follows:

- For claims regarding shortage or damage, as well as delayed baggage, from the date of delivery;
- For claims regarding loss of baggage, from the expiration date of the delivery period;
- In all other cases, from the date of the event that gave rise to the claim.

The carrier may accept claims after the deadline if the reason for missing the deadline is deemed valid (Article 124 of the Air Code of Uzbekistan).

7) Claims against the carrier for international flights must be made immediately, but no later than seven days from the date of receipt of the baggage in case of damage, or within two years from the date the aircraft arrived at the destination or the date carriage ended in case of loss (Article 125 of the Air Code of Uzbekistan).

8) The carrier is obligated to review the claim within three months. After receiving a response, the passenger may file a lawsuit in the court of the transport organization’s state registration location to which the claim was submitted (Article 35 of the Civil Procedure Code of Uzbekistan).

- What is the compensation amount for lost baggage?

- According to the Warsaw Convention, the mandatory minimum compensation is $22 per kilogram regardless of the value of the items lost with the baggage.

It is not recommended to carry jewelry, electronics, or other valuables in checked baggage. If valuables are lost with the baggage, the passenger can present receipts to the airline for partial or full compensation depending on the airline’s internal rules and lost baggage compensation policy.

- What should you do if your baggage is damaged in transit?

- Upon receiving damaged baggage, immediately contact the airline’s office to assess the damage and obtain compensation.

In case of a baggage break-in and loss of valuables, the passenger has the right to contact the airline, presenting the ticket and baggage claim tag. A description of the items and the damaged baggage with signs of tampering (broken locks, cut body) must be provided. The airline will draft a theft report and conduct an investigation. A special commission will determine the compensation amount to be paid to the passenger for stolen items.

- What should you do if baggage was swapped?

- If the passenger accidentally took someone else’s baggage and wants to retrieve their own, they must bring the other bag to the airline office that handled the transportation.

The airline office must arrange for the search of the correct baggage and the person to whom the found baggage belongs. The passenger provides their address and phone number to facilitate the return of the correct baggage.

- Airline contacts in case of baggage loss/damage

- If the baggage is not found within 21 days, it is considered lost. The passenger must submit a claim for compensation.

Claims for baggage carriage contract violations may be submitted:

1) To Centrum Air offices, whose contact information and email addresses are available at: centrum-air.com/ru/contacts
2) To the Centrum Air head office at: 38 Oybek Street, Tashkent
3) Via email: info@centrum-air.com

The airline is obligated to review the claim and notify the claimant of the decision within three months of submission, or within six months if the flight was operated by multiple airlines.

Contact numbers for Lost & Found departments and airport information: