SingaporeAn airline lost my valuable item from checked baggage.
Under Singapore law, airlines are liable for loss of checked baggage up to S$1,780 per passenger unless a higher value is declared and paid for in advance.
What the Law Says
The Carriage by Air Act governs airline liability for lost or damaged checked baggage in Singapore. It incorporates the Montreal Convention, which sets strict limits on compensation unless special arrangements are made.
If your checked baggage is lost or damaged during international air travel, the airline is legally responsible — but only up to a capped amount. Under the law, the maximum liability is S$1,780 per passenger, unless you declared a higher value before check-in and paid any required supplementary fee.
You must report damage to your baggage within 7 days of receiving it. For complete loss, you must report it within 21 days of the date the baggage should have been delivered. If you fail to report within these deadlines, you may lose your right to claim.
Any legal action against the airline must be started within 2 years from the date the aircraft arrived at its destination, or should have arrived, or from the date the carriage stopped.
Statutory TextThe carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of destruction or loss of, or of damage to, any registered baggage or cargo, if the occurrence which caused the damage so sustained took place during the carriage by air.
— Carriage by Air Act, s. 3 — Liability for damage to baggage
What to Do
Immediately report the loss or damage to the airline’s baggage services desk at the airport — get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) number.
Submit a written claim to the airline within 7 days for damaged baggage or 21 days for lost baggage.
Include proof of value (e.g., receipts, photos, valuation reports) — especially if claiming above S$1,780.
If the airline rejects your claim or offers too little, consider filing a claim in the Small Claims Tribunal (if under S$20,000) or the State Courts.
Keep all records — boarding pass, baggage tag, PIR, correspondence, and receipts — for at least 2 years.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.