Lost-bags compensation requires persistence

Mosely said the DOT has a hands-off approach on reimbursement rates. “How they arrive at their figure, we do not stipulate,” he said.

And even though passengers are entitled to recoup funds, don’t expect the airlines to fork over cash easily, said Anna Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. Passenger confusion and frustration often work in the airlines’ favor. When customers don’t follow up claims, airlines benefit.

There’s also no guarantee airlines will accept your claim.

On a recent flight from Los Angeles to New York City, my carry-on bag was checked at the gate last-minute and was then left at the connecting airport, Philadelphia.

By the time my luggage was delivered to me two nights later, I had bought a shirt to wear to work. I submitted a receipt but my carrier refused to compensate me for two reasons. One, I was an inbound flight passenger, and the airline said in a letter that passengers on the home leg of a round trip presumably have clothes at home; and two, my receipt for the shirt was time-stamped several hours after the airline logged in the delivery of my bags. I was not home to receive the bag on that first delivery attempt, however, so I am challenging the denial of the claim.

“Everything is extremely difficult for the consumer,” Banas said. “It’s up to the consumer to do all the legwork. They have to jump through a million hoops.”

In the event an airline denies a claim, Mosely suggests filing a claim with the Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Office.

“If there are a pattern of complaints that indicate an airline might be violating DOT consumer rules, the department would investigate,” he said. “If we found there was a violation, they would take enforcement action.”

You can avoid these hassles altogether by not checking luggage at all. “If you’re traveling domestically, go to Kinko’s and send it ahead of time,” Hobica said. “It’s usually cheaper and easier to track.”

You can also reduce the likelihood of lost baggage by arriving early so there’s ample time for your luggage to be screened and sent to the correct gate, according to Susan Foster, author of “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler.”

“Allow two hours,” Foster said. “Maybe have lunch in a real restaurant rather than taking some crappy food on a plane.”

Foster always packs a survival kit in her carry-on, including phone charger, medication, clean shirt and underwear, everything she needs to “hit the ground and do what I need to do.”

“I don’t want to miss a day,” she said.