Weather delays, flight cancellations and a lot of lost luggage for Southwest customers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on Dec. 28, 2022.

If you're traveling for the holidays this year and you check a bag, most likely your bag will make it to your destination with you. But if it doesn't, or if it gets delayed on the way, it's a good idea to know your rights.

The Department of Transportation has specific requirements for how airlines need to respond if a bag gets damaged, delayed or goes missing, and part of that process typically involves passengers filing a claim with the airline.

The short version is that if your bag is truly lost, you'll be entitled to at least some compensation for the items it contains, as well as a refund for any bag fees you may have paid.

Read on for the fine print.

What you're entitled to if your luggage is damaged

Airlines are not responsible for normal wear and tear to your bags, but if your luggage is destroyed or items within are damaged, you may be entitled to some compensation.

Airlines are allowed to cap their damage liability to $4,700 for domestic flights or about $2,175 for international itineraries. Carriers are allowed to exclude some things from their liability responsibility on domestic itineraries, including fragile or perishable items, electronics, cash and other valuables, so long as those exceptions are disclosed in the airline's contract of carriage.

The Transportation Department recommends purchasing extra insurance if you're traveling with any such items.

What you're entitled to if your luggage is delayed

Airlines are responsible for finding your bag if it gets delayed, although the Transportation Department recommends filing a claim with the carrier as soon as possible if your luggage is not offloaded from your flight.

The Transportation Department requires airlines to compensate passengers whose baggage is delayed for "reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses" as a result of delayed luggage, which can include things like needing to purchase new underwear or toiletries.

The guidance does not allow airlines to set an arbitrary limit for daily compensation for delayed baggage.

Some airlines also offer frequent flyer miles for delayed baggage or even slow unloading.

What you're entitled to if your luggage is lost

The Transportation Department notes that airlines may have different policies for when a bag is officially considered lost, but most carriers make that determination within five to 14 days of a flight's arrival.

If your bag is declared lost, an airline is responsible for compensating you for the depreciated value of the bag's contents. An airline may require proof of purchase or other supporting documentation for the value of items in lost luggage. The carriers are generally not required to pay for replacement of those items; rather, they have to compensate for the current used value of what was in your bags.

The Transportation Department also requires airlines to refund any bag fees associated with luggage that did not make it to your destination.

What you're entitled to if your mobility device is lost or damaged

If an airline damages or destroys a mobility device like a wheelchair, it is required to pay for repair or replacement up to the original value of the device on domestic flights. On international flights, assistive devices are subject to maximum liability limits.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luggage damaged, lost or delayed? What you're entitled to.

Reporting by Zach Wichter, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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