Despite Knowing Bag Location, Family Waits Days as Airline Offers No Help

A family on vacation in Spain went viral on Reddit after revealing that they tracked their missing luggage to Madrid Airport using an AirTag—yet were unable to retrieve it for over a week. The viral Reddit post, shared by user u/DarwinF1nch, highlights a growing frustration many travelers face when dealing with lost and found luggage at international airports.

Titled “Lost’ luggage has been in this location for the past week….and there’s nothing we can do about it,” the post quickly gained traction with over 30,000 upvotes and more than 500 comments. The image attached shows a map pinpointing the luggage’s location near Terminal T4 at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, right next to the local bus ticket office. Animated dancing icons—representing AirTag signals—confirmed the exact spot of the missing baggage.

“We’ve called the airline twice a day, and all they keep saying is there’s nothing they can do,” the frustrated traveler wrote.

Despite having precise tracking information, the family spent over €1,000 ($1,167) on replacement clothes and travel necessities while waiting to be reunited with their lost suitcases. “What if you don’t have that kind of money?” the Redditor questioned. “Would you wear the same clothes for two weeks? That’s insane.”

Airport vs Airline: Who’s Responsible for Lost Luggage?
In the Reddit thread, many commenters shared similar experiences with delayed or misplaced luggage. One user, Imdrinkinghibiscusrn, who claimed to have worked for an airline, commented:

“Don’t call the airline. Airline customer service agents have limited authority and cannot contact the airport directly. Call the airport instead.”

Another user, Rollerbase, advised:

“Contact airport customer service or even airport police. Share your AirTag tracking link—it really helps.”

In response, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport told Newsweek that the airlines are fully responsible for lost baggage. Passengers must report and claim their missing items through the airline’s baggage claim service.

What To Do If Your Bag Is Lost at the Airport
If your checked luggage is lost during air travel, here’s what to do:

1.Report it immediately at the airline’s baggage claim desk.

2.Track your bag if you’ve placed an AirTag or similar device inside.

3.Call both the airline and the airport, especially if tracking shows the bag is at a specific location.

4.Keep all receipts for emergency purchases—you may be eligible for reimbursement.

5.Know your rights: U.S. airlines can reimburse up to $3,800 if your baggage isn’t found within 90 days.

Each year, U.S. airlines handle hundreds of millions of checked bags. While only about 0.51% go missing—roughly 2 million bags—most are returned within 24 hours. However, incidents like this family’s story show how important luggage tracking and proactive lost and found claims can be.

This viral case of lost luggage at Madrid Airport serves as a stark reminder to travelers: always tag your bags with a smart tracking device and report lost items immediately. As the family finally reunited with their baggage after a week of uncertainty, they also raised an important issue: what happens to those who can’t afford to replace everything while they wait?