Are airlines responsible for lost items?
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China Eastern Airlines may be responsible for lost items, but their liability depends on where and how the item was lost:
🎒 1. Personal Items (in cabin, left onboard)
Not strictly liable: Airlines generally do not accept full legal responsibility for items passengers leave behind (e.g., phones, wallets, headphones).
However, if the item is found, they try to return it as a courtesy, not an obligation.
You must file a lost item report immediately for any chance of recovery.
China Eastern’s position:
“Items left behind on aircraft will be delivered to the Lost & Found desk of the airport for temporary safekeeping. The airline is not liable for items left unattended by passengers.”
(Source: airlineshq.com)
🧳 2. Checked Baggage (lost/delayed/damaged)
Yes, China Eastern is responsible for:
Delayed baggage
Lost baggage
Damaged baggage
📜 Their legal obligations follow:
Montreal Convention (for international flights) or domestic aviation laws.
Liability limit is typically around:
~₹1,45,000 (USD $1,800) per passenger (as per SDR valuation).
👉 You must:
File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airport or immediately after loss.
Submit a written claim within 21 days of receiving delayed baggage.
Claim damage within 7 days.
Take legal action within 2 years if unresolved.
(Source: ceair.com, click2refund.com)
Exceptions to Liability
China Eastern is not responsible if:
The item was left behind by the passenger.
The baggage was damaged due to pre-existing flaws or improper packing.
The lost item was a valuable (e.g., jewelry, electronics) packed inside checked baggage (these must go in cabin luggage per policy).
