Luggage lost, damaged or delayed this holiday season? Here’s what you’re entitled to.

If you’re traveling for the holidays this year and you check a bag, most likely, your bag will make it to your destination with you. But if it doesn’t, or if it gets delayed on the way, it’s a good idea to know your rights.

The Department of Transportation has specific requirements for how airlines need to respond if a bag gets damaged, delayed or goes missing, and part of that process typically involves passengers filing a claim with their airline.

The short version is that if your bag is well and truly lost, you’ll be entitled to at least some compensation for the items it contains, as well as a refund for any bag fees you may have paid.

Read on for the fine print.

What you’re entitled to if your luggage is damaged

Airlines are not responsible for normal wear and tear to your bags, but if your luggage gets destroyed or items within get damaged, you may be entitled to some compensation.

Airlines are allowed to cap their damage liability to $3,800 for domestic flights or about $1,700 for international itineraries. Carriers are allowed to exclude some things from their liability responsibility on domestic itineraries, including fragile or perishable items, electronics, cash and other valuables, so long as those exceptions are disclosed in the airline’s contract of carriage.

The DOT recommends purchasing extra insurance if you’re traveling with any such items.

What you’re entitled to if your luggage is delayed

Airlines are responsible for finding your bag if it gets delayed, although the DOT recommends filing a claim with the carrier as soon as possible if your luggage is not offloaded from your flight.

The DOT requires airlines to compensate passengers whose baggage is delayed for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses” that occur as a result of delayed luggage, which can include things like needing to purchase new underwear or toiletries.

DOT guidance does not allow airlines to set an arbitrary limit for daily compensation for delayed baggage.

Some airlines also offer frequent flyer miles for delayed baggage or even slow unloading.

What you’re entitled to if your luggage is lost

The DOT notes that airlines may have different policies for when a bag is officially considered lost, but most carriers make that determination within five to 14 days of a flight’s arrival.

If your bag is declared lost, an airline is responsible for compensating you for the depreciated value of the bag’s contents up to $3,800 for domestic flights or about $1,700 for international itineraries.

An airline may require proof of purchase or other supporting documentation for the value of items in lost luggage. The carriers are generally not required to pay for replacement of those items, rather they have to compensate for the current used value of what was in your bags.

The DOT also requires airlines to refund any bag fees associated with luggage that did not make it to your destination.

What you’re entitled to if your mobility device is lost or damaged

If an airline damages or destroys a mobility device like a wheelchair, it is required to pay for repair or replacement up to the original value of the device.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What you’re owed if an airline delays or loses your luggage