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Frequently Asked Questions

Claims Management Office

How can I tell if TSA or my air carrier is responsible for my damaged or missing property?

If you have experienced a problem at a TSA passenger screening checkpoint, then your airline is not responsible.

However, if you have experienced a problem with damaged or missing property in your checked baggage, it could be due to either TSA or your airline. TSA electronically screens and in some cases opens your baggage if it alarms. Most of the screening takes place in the public view and under the watch of security cameras. Nonetheless, sometimes TSA may forget to place a personal item back into your baggage or may damage an item while repacking your baggage. Most of the time, there is no way of determining fault.

TSA recommends that you protect yourself by not packing jewelry, cash, electronics, or fragile items in your checked baggage.