I want to share an important lesson from a recent trip in Vietnam that may help other travelers avoid losing compensation for damaged checked baggage.
On June 7, 2026, I flew from Hanoi to Da Nang on flight 9G927. When I collected my suitcase, I found the top corner was badly damaged. I took photos near the baggage carousel but couldn’t locate the airline’s desk (Sun PhuQuoc Airways), so I left the airport.
Later, I submitted a claim by email with photos, boarding pass, and luggage tags, but the airline rejected it because I did not complete a report before exiting the arrivals area.
Based on this experience, here is the proper procedure I learned:
Inspect luggage immediately at the baggage carousel
Do not leave the baggage claim area before reporting damage
Find the airline’s Lost & Found or baggage service desk inside arrivals
Request a PIR (Property Irregularity Report), which is required for claims
Take detailed photos with the airport background and keep baggage tags
The key takeaway is that without a PIR issued at the airport, compensation claims are usually denied.
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