Lost Luggage, Found Resolution: ADR Mechanisms for Aviation Baggage Claims

Session Overview

This program will examine how airline baggage disputes are uniquely well-suited for alternative dispute resolution due to their high frequency, standardized liability frameworks, and documentation-driven nature. Unlike many aviation injury matters (such as injury, death and cargo claims) baggage claims are often governed by predictable compensation limits under the Montreal Convention and domestic regulatory caps, making them particularly appropriate for efficient resolution through structured ADR mechanisms rather than prolonged litigation.

The presentation will survey the dispute-resolution pathways that currently exist for baggage claims, including airline internal claims systems, regulatory complaint processes, consumer aviation ADR models used in the United Kingdom and European Union, and fast-track mediation approaches tailored to treaty-based disputes. The session will also briefly address how technology and AI-assisted tools are increasingly supporting claim intake, documentation review, and online dispute resolution models in this high-volume area of aviation law.