Baggage issues

Despite our best efforts, baggage sometimes gets delayed or damaged. We apologize for this inconvenience. If you're having issues with your checked baggage, or forgot something onboard your flight, we can help.

Our 20 minute baggage guarantee

We know that instead of waiting at baggage claim you'd rather be out enjoying your destination, or settling in back at home. That's why we are committed to getting you on your way faster, and we've been making that commitment for years.

Since 2010 we have put a guarantee behind our baggage delivery. If your bags are not at baggage claim within 20 minutes of your plane’s arrival at the gate, we’ll offer you a $25 discount code for use on a future Alaska Airlines flight, or 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ bonus miles.

In the rare instance that we don't meet our 20 minute guarantee, just get ahold of us at the baggage office within 2 hours of your flight's arrival for your discount code or miles. You can simply speak with one of our customer service agents at the airport.

Terms and conditions: Baggage service guarantee is valid on flights operated by Alaska Airlines (flights 0001- 1999), Horizon Air (flights 2000 - 2999), and SkyWest (flights 3000 - 3499), with the exception of international flights requiring customs clearance, and flights between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor. Baggage service guarantee must be claimed in-person from a customer service agent at the arrival airport within 2 hours of arrival. Offer is not valid for checked items delivered to the oddsize/oversize baggage claim area (e.g. checked pets, golf clubs, skis, surfboards, assistive devices, firearms). Offer is not valid for non-revenue space available travelers, including Alaska Airlines employees and dependents, guest pass travelers and employees of other airlines traveling on industry discounted tickets. Alaska Airlines reserves the right to suspend the baggage service guarantee in the event of airport baggage system malfunction, severe weather, or other conditions out of the airlines' control that prohibit timely baggage delivery. One baggage service guarantee voucher per qualified passenger, per flight, for one or more checked bags. Baggage service guarantee voucher must be redeemed at alaskaair.com by the date provided on the voucher. Baggage service guarantee vouchers are not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash, bartered, or sold. If you elect to redeem your baggage service guarantee voucher for Mileage Plan™ Miles, your miles will post to your Mileage Plan™ account within 3 days. $25 discount code must be applied at alaskaair.com toward purchase of a ticket on Alaska Airlines by the date provided within the terms and conditions printed on the voucher. Not redeemable at ticket counters or through travel agent. Additional terms & conditions apply if you elect to redeem your baggage service guarantee voucher for a discount code. Please visit our about discount codes page at alaskaair.com for additional information.

Helpful links

Review our Checked baggage policy.

Redeem your Baggage service guarantee voucher.

Report baggage issues immediately

We cannot award compensation for damaged or missing items without a report on file. Hold on to your ticket receipts and baggage claim checks until your file is closed.

Most bags are located within 48 hours.

We'll deliver your recovered bags to your home or hotel — unless you checked your baggage in late, or you chose to take a flight other than the one your bags were tagged for.

Get reimbursed on essentials

If you need to purchase any travel essentials (such as toiletries and clothing) while your bag is missing, we’ve got you covered. Speak to an agent at the airport baggage service office where you filed your report for reimbursement options.

Find out more about reimbursement coverage on our Limitations of liability page.

If your bag is still delayed after 5 days

  • Your filed report automatically transfers to Alaska’s Central Baggage Service office. They’ll do a comprehensive computer search of airlines worldwide.
  • The Central Baggage Service office will email a statement of mishandling form within one week.

If you have any further questions, you can contact the Central Baggage Service Office number: 1-877-815-8253 (6:00 am – 10:00 pm PT) or contact us with the online Central Baggage Service contact form.

We’ll make every effort to locate your bags for up to 6 weeks from your date of travel.

Leave something behind?

Left on board items: Complete the form at alaskaair.com/leftonboard "This indicates a link to an external site that may not meet accessibility guidelines." and we'll contact you if we locate your item.

At a security checkpoint:
Visit tsa.gov "This indicates a link to an external site that may not meet accessibility guidelines."

Elsewhere at the airport:
Call that airport's lost and found.

Place an identification tag inside your bag.

In the rare event that your bag is misplaced, this free downloadable tag will make the identification and return process quicker. Simply complete the form and place it inside your bag.

Download a baggage ID tag. (PDF File is 343K)