My Norwegian friend's luggage didn't arrive in Beijing. The airline said 'check back in 3 days.' She got it back in 6 hours.

Kurokun

My friend Ingrid from Oslo flew Oslo → Frankfurt → Beijing. Her luggage stayed in Frankfurt.

She arrived at Beijing Capital with just her carry-on. No checked bags on the carousel.

The airline desk said:

"Your bag is in Frankfurt. We'll put it on the next flight. Check back tomorrow. Or the day after."

Ingrid had no clothes. No toiletries. She was starting a 2-week trip.

What she did (and what you should do):

Step 1: File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) immediately.
At the baggage service desk before you leave the airport. Get the reference number. Take a photo of it.

Step 2: Ask for immediate essentials compensation.
Most airlines are required to give you an allowance for emergency purchases (toiletries, underwear, basic clothing). Ingrid got ¥300 from Air China.

Step 3: Buy essentials and keep receipts.
She went to Uniqlo and bought 2 pairs of underwear, a t-shirt, and socks. Total: ¥180. The airline reimbursed her later.

Step 4: Use the airline's online tracking.
Air China has a baggage tracking website. She checked it every 2 hours.

Step 5: Call the airline baggage hotline every 6 hours.
Polite persistence works. "Hi, I'm following up on PIR number PEK-12345. Has my bag arrived yet?"

The result:

Her bag arrived on the next flight — 6 hours later. Air China delivered it to her hotel by 10 PM.

The "3 days" estimate was the worst-case scenario. In reality, Beijing-Frankfurt has multiple daily flights.

If your bag is truly lost (not just delayed):

International airlines are liable up to approximately ¥10,000 under the Montreal Convention.

You need to:
• File a formal claim within 21 days
• Provide receipts for everything in the bag (photos help)
• Be persistent. Airlines don't volunteer compensation.

What to pack in carry-on (learned from Ingrid):

• 1 change of clothes
• Underwear
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Phone charger
• Any medication
• Valuables (electronics, jewelry, documents)

Ingrid: "I used to laugh at people who packed a change of clothes in carry-on. I'm not laughing anymore."

Pro tip for Beijing Capital: The baggage claim area has a 24-hour service desk. If your bag doesn't arrive, deal with it immediately before leaving the airport. Don't assume it'll show up tomorrow.

Anyone else had luggage issues flying into China? How did you handle it?