Posting this because there’s surprisingly little real info out there on this. I flew Asia to California with a layover in Europe and my bags never made the connection. Didn’t find out until I landed in the US.
The airline reimbursed basics but refused any compensation under DOT or Montreal Convention. Months of emails went nowhere, so I finally filed in California small claims.
Honestly, the process was pretty straightforward. Filing fee was around $30–50, process server was another $50–100. California has a step by step guide that makes it pretty hard to mess up.
The airline showed up with a massive law firm, which kind of says it all. They clearly didn’t want to waste time on small claims and settled fairly quickly. Had a check mailed out not long after.
For reference, under DOT / Montreal Convention you’re usually looking at around $1,500–2,000 depending on conversion rates.
One thing to be aware of: airlines can try to move the case to federal court since this falls under federal rules. That didn’t happen in my case, probably because it’s expensive and not worth it for them.
Not saying this is for everyone, but if you’re getting stonewalled and the amount is meaningful to you, small claims is absolutely an option.
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