Question: Dear FlightGuru,

I have lost my check-in baggage during my journey from Colombo Katunayake, Sri Lanka to Delhi, India, on Jetlite.

I was coming from Colombo to Delhi from Jetlite airways. During the journey I had to change the flight from Chennai i.e. I have to take one flight from Colombo to Chennai & another flight from Chennai to Delhi .

I booked my baggage directly from Colombo to Delhi after getting it cleared from customs (luggage number:- 0705 S27*****). When I reached Delhi I did not find my baggage at the airport. I talked to the person on the Jetlite Airlines enquiry counter. The person told me that my baggage is lying with the customs at Chennai, Madras International airport. Further the person told me that in order to get the luggage back from the customs I have to provide an affidavit on a stamp paper to the customs department stating that the luggage belongs to me & the customs department shall handover the luggage to the Jetlite airways. Please suggest what I need to do to get my baggage back.

Kindly help me for the same as I need my luggage back as soon as possible.

Thanks & Regards
Pardeep

Answer: Dear Pardeep,

I am sorry to know about your undelivered baggage. It is good that your baggage is with customs and not lost. Here is what you need to do:

Go to your nearest district court and make an affidavit on a Rs.100/- stamp paper stating the exact same facts that you have mentioned in your message below:

Proforma Affidavit for Claiming Undelivered Baggage from Customs

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“This is to state that I have lost my luggage during my journey from Colombo Katunayake(Srilanka) to Delhi ( India ).

I was coming from Colombo to Delhi from Jetlite Airlines. During the journey I have to change the flight from Chennai i.e. I have to take one flight from Colombo to Chennai & another flight from Chennai to Delhi .

I booked my luggage directly from Colombo to Delhi after getting it cleared from customs(luggage number:- 0705 S2739469) . When I reached Delhi I did not found my luggage at the airport. I talked to the person on the JET Lite Airways enquiry. The person told me that my luggage is lying with the customs at Chennai Madras International airport. Further the person told me that in order to get the luggage back from the customs I have to provide an affidavit on a stamp paper to the customs writing that the luggage belongs to me & the customs department shall handover the luggage to the JET Lite Airways.

Details are as follows:-

Name: – Pardeep
Passport Number:- E48****
Airways:- Jetlite Airlines
Flight Date & Time:-
29 November 20** , 3:20AM IST ( Colombo Katunayake to Chennai Madras International Airport )
29 November 20** , 6:25AM IST ( Chennai Madras International Airport to Delhi Gandhi Terminal 1)
Flight Number:- S2 – JetLite REF: FHD**
Baggage Tag Number:- 0705 S27****
Airline Ticket Number :- 705*******

I hereby state that the above mentioned luggage belongs to me and should be returned to me at the earliest.”

-/sign your name

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Keep a copy of the affidavit with you, and handover the original to Jetlite. Take an acknowledgment from Jetlite on the copy. Jetlite will then deliver the baggage to your home. The whole process may take up to a week.

Tip: In the future, never “Through check-in” your baggage from a connecting domestic location to an international destination or vice-versa. You are required by law to identify your baggage to customs at your last port of departure and first port of arrival. This means you have to re-check in your baggage when you arrive in India. Airlines do offer to through check-in your baggage, but they cannot guarantee that it will be cleared by customs. If the customs officer has any questions about your baggage, the airline cannot answer them for you, and therefore your baggage was stuck at customs in Chennai.

I hope you find this information useful and get back your baggage as soon as possible. Do let us know your experience with Jetlite after your baggage is returned. Your feedback is very useful to other travelers in a similar situation. If you need any other information about Jetlite or customs, please write to us.

Best Regards,
FlightGuru