How to Report Lost Luggage via Smartphone in Russia

What’s changed in handling lost luggage?

Before, if your suitcase didn’t appear on the belt, you had to go to the lost‑and‑found desk, wait for instructions and receive updates only by e‑mail or SMS. Now the "BAGS поиск" system, built by Aviakod, includes a mobile app that lets you file a claim without any middlemen.

How to file a claim from your phone

1. Approach the lost‑and‑found desk – once you’re sure your baggage hasn’t arrived, scan the QR code posted nearby.
2. Open the form – the app shows a short questionnaire. Enter your details, upload a photo of your boarding pass and the baggage tag.
3. Provide contact info – pick the way you’d like to be reached (phone call, messenger message, e‑mail, etc.).
4. Send the request – the system instantly creates a missing‑baggage case and forwards it to the desk staff.
5. Track the status – at any moment you can open the app and see which stage the search is in.

What happens next

After the claim lands, the lost‑and‑found team checks it, matches the data against items already logged in the "BAGS поиск" database, and contacts you if there’s a match. The workflow follows a "passenger without baggage – baggage without passenger" logic, which speeds up the matching process.

Why it matters

• Shorter waiting time – filing the claim takes a few minutes and eliminates lengthy conversations with staff.
• Transparency – you see the search status in real time, not just occasional e‑mail notices.
• Higher chance of recovery – more than 400 000 travelers have already got their suitcases back thanks to "BAGS поиск", and the service now links to over 75 airlines and airports.

When you’ll be able to use it

A pilot rollout is planned for November 2026 at several Russian airports. The exact locations haven’t been announced yet, so the service will initially be available only at a limited number of sites. It’s still an experiment, but the expectation is that the feature will become routine within a few months.

How to get ready

• Make sure your smartphone is up‑to‑date and has an internet connection.
• Keep a digital copy of your boarding pass and baggage tag – you’ll need them to upload into the form.
• When you arrive at the airport, look for QR codes near the lost‑and‑found desk; they’ll point you to the app.

Bottom line

The new mobile "BAGS поиск" service promises to simplify reporting lost luggage: everything is done from your phone, without long queues or extra phone calls. Testing starts at the end of 2026, and after a successful pilot the system is slated for nationwide rollout. Frequent flyers should keep an eye on announcements for their home airport – it could save time and nerves if baggage goes missing.

Based on materials from: frequentflyers.ru.