What Details Should I Photograph Before Checking In Luggage?

Why do photos matter for a baggage claim?

Because the burden of proof sits with you. Air India's lost and damaged baggage page says lost-baggage claims must be substantiated with an itemised list of contents, description, age, and proof of purchase or ownership of all items. IndiGo's lost baggage page adds the timing pressure: it asks you to report lost or damaged baggage to its representative before exiting the delivery area, and considers baggage delivered correctly and in good condition when no complaint is issued against it. Photos taken before check-in support your side of that report - they show what the bag looked like and what was inside it, but keep purchase receipts and other ownership records separately, because photos back a claim rather than guaranteeing it.

What photos should I take of the bag itself?

Photograph the closed bag from every side: front, back, both ends, wheels, handles and zips, plus close-ups of any scratches or dents it already has. This is your baseline for condition. It matters because airlines separate new damage from wear - Air India lists minor cuts, scratches, scuffs, stains and dents as normal wear and tear it is not responsible for, so a dated photo showing a pristine shell at check-in supports your report that a cracked corner or broken wheel happened in the airline's custody.

Should I photograph the contents too?

Yes - this is the photo people skip and later regret. Lay out or open your packed bag and photograph what is inside before zipping up. If the bag is lost, Air India's claim process asks for an itemised list of contents with description, age and proof of purchase or ownership; a contents photo rebuilds that list from memory-proof evidence instead of guesswork. For anything expensive, keep the purchase receipts too - the photo shows possession, the receipt shows ownership and age. An airline can still ask for the originals, so treat photos as supporting evidence, not a substitute - and not a promise of payment.

What should I capture at the check-in counter?

Two small things. First, the destination tag once the agent attaches it: the US Department of Transportation's baggage tips advise verifying the agent tags each bag and that the tag shows the correct three-letter code for your destination airport - and removing tags from previous trips to avoid confusion. A photo records both. Second, the baggage claim-check the agent hands you - the stub carrying your tag number, which you quote when filing a report or tracing a bag. Photograph it as a backup in case the paper stub goes missing, and keep it until your bag is back in your hands.

What about valuables?

Photograph them, then do not check them. Air India states it is not liable for loss, damage or delayed delivery of valuables in checked baggage - its list covers jewellery, cameras, electronics, computers, negotiable papers, business documents and similar items - and recommends insurance. The DOT's advice is blunter about why: do not rely on suitcase locks, they are easily defeated. Valuables belong in your cabin bag, where they stay with you.

And once I land?

Check the bag before you leave the airport. The DOT advises checking immediately if a bag arrives open, unlocked or visibly damaged, and reporting damage or pilferage straight away - noting the date, time and name of the person you spoke to. Air India files a Property Irregularity Report at the arrival hall and tracks delayed bags on WorldTracer, declaring luggage lost if it is not traced within 21 days of the report; IndiGo wants the report before you exit the delivery area. Your pre-check-in photos are the reference every one of those reports gets compared against.

Quick questions

Why should I photograph my luggage before checking it in? Because the photos become your evidence if something goes wrong. Air India requires lost-baggage claims to be substantiated with an itemised list of contents, description, age, and proof of purchase or ownership, and IndiGo considers baggage delivered correctly and in good condition when no complaint is issued against it. A dated photo of the bag's exterior and its packed contents supports your side of the claim - but photos back a claim, they do not replace purchase receipts or ownership records, and they do not guarantee it is paid, so keep those documents separately.

What exactly should I photograph before check-in? Four things: the closed bag from all sides, including wheels, handles and existing scratches; the packed contents laid out or open before you zip up; the destination tag once the agent attaches it - the US DOT advises verifying it shows the correct three-letter airport code; and the baggage claim-check stub carrying your tag number, which you need for tracking and for filing a report.

What do airlines ask for when a bag is lost? Air India asks you to file a Property Irregularity Report with its staff in the arrival hall, tracks the bag on WorldTracer, and declares luggage lost after 21 days from the PIR date - claims then need an itemised list of contents with description, age and proof of purchase or ownership. IndiGo asks you to file a formal complaint at the destination airport as soon as you realise the loss.

What should I do if my bag arrives damaged? Report it before you leave the baggage area. IndiGo asks you to exit the delivery area only after reporting lost or damaged baggage to its representative, and considers baggage delivered correctly and in good condition when no complaint is issued against it; Air India asks you to report damaged or pilfered baggage to its arrival-hall personnel. Note that airlines exclude normal wear - Air India lists minor cuts, scratches, scuffs and dents as not its responsibility - so fresh damage photos from before check-in help separate new damage from old.

Should valuables go in checked luggage at all? No - photograph them, then keep them in the cabin. Air India says it is not liable for loss, damage or delay of items of value in checked bags, listing jewellery, cameras, electronics, computers, negotiable papers, business documents and similar valuables, and recommends insurance; the US DOT likewise warns against relying on suitcase locks for valuables.