What is a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)?

If your baggage gets delayed, damaged or lost, you may be asked to complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the airport.

… But what exactly is a Property Irregularity Report, and is it important?

Nobody wants to get stuck filling out forms during such a stressful situation… But what if we told you that a PIR is actually required by some airlines before you can submit your baggage complaint, or baggage compensation claim?

Read on for everything you need to know!

If you’ve hit a wall with an airline or airport, AviationADR offers a FREE, independent route to a resolution – approved by the Civil Aviation Authority to settle disputes between passengers and Participating Member airlines and airports across the UK and EU.

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What is a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)?

Despite the formal-sounding name, a Property Irregularity Report is essentially a report documenting what went wrong with your baggage, and when – whether it got damaged, lost, delayed, or if there were any other issues.

You’ll usually be given a PIR to fill out upon reporting the issue to the relevant baggage desk at your destination airport.

It’s best to do this as soon as you notice the issue, as you normally only get a 7-day window to submit a formal baggage claim to the airline (or 21 days from receiving your bags for delayed baggage).

The Property Irregularity Report acts as an official record of what happened, and helps to strengthen your case if you do choose to file a formal complaint.

A Property Irregularity Report normally contains the following:

A reference number
Your flight details
Baggage information
Your contact details
A description of the problem

Why is a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) important?

A Property Irregularity Report acts as evidence that you reported a baggage problem to the airline, and many airlines require you to have one before you can actually file a formal baggage claim with them – such as Ryanair.

If your baggage does not arrive at your destination, for example, reporting the issue promptly allows the airline to begin tracing it. Your PIR reference may then be used when communicating with the airline about the whereabouts of your baggage.

… So make sure to keep your PIR reference number and any documents provided to you when you complete it!

REMEMBER:

A Property Irregularity Report is NOT the same thing as filing a compensation claim! Completing a PIR does not automatically mean that you have submitted a claim for reimbursement or compensation.

Depending on the circumstances, you may still need to make a separate claim to the airline for compensation – which is where the aforementioned set timeframes for submitting baggage claims become important.

How do I get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)?

If your baggage has not arrived, or has arrived damaged, you should report the problem to the airline or its baggage-handling agent as soon as possible.

At many airports, this can be done at the airline’s baggage services desk or another designated baggage assistance point.

You’ll usually need to provide information such as:

Your boarding pass or flight details
Your baggage tag
Your contact details
Information about the missing or damaged baggage

Once the report has been created, you should receive a PIR reference number. Keep this somewhere safe, as you may need it when contacting the airline or checking the progress of your baggage report.

Does a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) mean my baggage is officially lost?

Not necessarily. Remember – a Property Irregularity Report is just a record that your baggage hasn’t shown up or been found yet!

If your baggage has not arrived or been found at the airport by the time you fill out your report, it may still initially be classified as delayed baggage rather than lost baggage. Airlines will normally attempt to locate and return delayed baggage. If the baggage still cannot be located after a certain period, it may subsequently be treated as lost.

The exact process and timescales can vary, so it is important to follow the airline’s instructions and keep records of your communications and expenses.

Can I claim compensation without a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)?

A Property Irregularity Report can be very useful evidence that you reported a baggage problem and, though many airlines require you to have filled one out before you can actually file a formal baggage claim with them (such as Ryanair), this doesn’t mean that ALL airlines require a PIR for you to claim compensation.

You should always check the baggage claim rules & regulations of the specific airline you’re flying with and see what they say!

No matter what, always keep any evidence you have (including your boarding pass, baggage tag, photographs, receipts and correspondence with the airline), and get in contact with the airline directly if in doubt.

Again, make sure you remember those key specific time limits for filing baggage claims, and don’t miss out!:

For lost or damaged baggage: 7 days
For delayed baggage: 21 days (from receiving the delayed baggage)

What should I do after receiving a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)?

This depends on what you want to do!

If you’re looking to secure compensation for your baggage, filling out a PIR is only the first step.

Once you’ve filled one out, it’s worth considering these next steps:

Keep your PIR reference number.
You’ll likely need this when complaining to the airline.
Keep receipts for reasonable expenses.
If you have to purchase essential items because your baggage is delayed or lost, retain your receipts to prove the financial impact of the loss!
File a direct complaint with the airline.
A PIR does not necessarily constitute a complete claim for reimbursement or compensation – make sure to follow up, and submit a formal complaint separately to ensure the airline definitely acknowledges the issue!
Consider escalating your complaint after 8 weeks if things go nowhere!
If the airline leaves things unresolved even 8 weeks after you submitted your complaint, you can still:
> Escalate your complaint with an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme
(such as AviationADR, which is FREE to use!)
> Go to court

Not sure what Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is? Check out our dedicated article on the topic:

> What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?

How can AviationADR help with baggage claims?

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provides a straightforward alternative to court proceedings. It can offer passengers and airlines a fair, efficient way to resolve disputes without unnecessary time or expense.

AviationADR provides a FREE independent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service for eligible complaints between passengers and Participating Member airlines or airports.

This includes (but is not limited to) disputes relating to matters such as:

Flight delays
Flight cancellations
Denied boarding
Baggage issues
Customer service complaints

How it works:

You bring your complaint to us (after giving the airline/airport in question 8 weeks to respond to your complaint directly), and we take a look at all the information and evidence available from both sides. We then reach a decision on who’s owed what (such as compensation)… all within 60 days of declaring a Complete Complaint File!

For more in-depth information, please see our Complaints Process Guide!

REMEMBER: We are far from being the only ADR provider covering air-travel. If you explore our site and discover that the airline/airport you travelled with are not Participating Members of our scheme, you can always go to a different ADR provider and see if they’re a Member of their scheme instead.