Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is one of China's major international aviation hubs, connecting passengers across Asia and the world. Terminal 1 (T1) ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation and upgrading, and airlines previously operating there have been reassigned. When checked luggage fails to arrive, passengers must contact the airline handling their flight at the currently assigned terminal. This guide explains how to report delayed baggage, obtain a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), track your suitcase, understand passenger rights, and arrange baggage delivery in Guangzhou and the surrounding Pearl River Delta region.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport terminal

Critical Recovery Services at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

PIR Filing

Report missing checked baggage to the responsible airline and obtain an official baggage reference number.

Baggage Tracking

Follow the airline's tracing process using your PIR reference and baggage tag number.

Expense Claims

Keep receipts for reasonable essential purchases and submit a claim under the applicable airline policy and passenger rights framework.

Baggage Delivery

Coordinate baggage return or delivery directly with the responsible airline and its local handling team.

Overview

Understanding Baggage Operations at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is a major gateway to southern China and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The airport operates multiple passenger terminals. Terminal 1 (T1) ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation and upgrading. All 11 airlines remaining at T1 were transferred to Terminal 3 (T3), while Terminal 2 (T2) continues to serve its assigned airlines.

If your suitcase does not appear on the baggage carousel, first confirm that you are waiting at the correct carousel. Check the airport information screens and your airline's arrival information. If the luggage remains unaccounted for, contact the baggage service desk for your operating airline. Do not travel to the former T1 baggage counters based on outdated airport guides.

T1 Closed; T2 and T3 Operating

Terminal 1 closed to passenger operations on May 7, 2026. Airlines previously operating there were reassigned, including 11 domestic airlines transferred to T3. Check your flight status, booking, and airline notifications before travelling. Your terminal assignment depends on the operating airline and flight.

The PIR Is Your Key Document

The Property Irregularity Report (PIR), or the equivalent official baggage reference issued by your airline, records the details of the missing suitcase and allows the airline to investigate. Keep the reference number, baggage tag receipt, boarding pass, and written instructions together.

Step 1

File a Baggage Delay Report Before Leaving the Airport

1

Report at the Airport

Report missing checked baggage to the airline responsible for your arriving flight as soon as possible. Use its baggage service office in the arrivals area, where available. If you cannot locate the desk, ask airport information staff to direct you to the correct counter at your currently assigned terminal.

2

Provide Full Details

Provide your baggage tag number, flight number, travel date, identification details as requested, and a reliable contact number. Describe the suitcase accurately, including its colour, size, brand, distinctive markings, and any identification attached to the handle.

3

Get Written Confirmation

Obtain written confirmation of the report and ask how to follow up. The airline may provide a PIR or another baggage reference. Keep it until the case is resolved. A general airport lost-property report does not necessarily open a delayed checked-baggage claim with your airline.

Terminal Guide

Where to Report Delayed Baggage at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Terminal 1 ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation. The 11 airlines remaining at T1 were transferred to T3. If your checked baggage does not arrive, contact the baggage service team of your operating airline at its currently assigned terminal.

T1

Terminal 1 — Closed

T1 ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation and upgrading. All 11 airlines remaining at T1 were transferred to T3. Do not use older guides that direct passengers to T1 check-in or baggage desks.

Important travel notice

Do not travel to T1 for passenger check-in, arrivals, or baggage assistance. Check your airline's current flight information before leaving for the airport. T1-associated Airport South metro and intercity rail stations are also reported as non-stopping stations from May 7, 2026. Verify current transport arrangements.

T2

Terminal 2

T2 continues to serve its assigned airlines. Airline assignments can change, so verify the terminal shown on your latest booking or flight notification.

Where to report

Contact your operating airline's baggage service counter in the arrivals baggage reclaim area. If you cannot locate the desk, ask airport staff. The airport's published contact directory lists +86 20 8612 2921 for China Southern domestic baggage enquiries. Confirm current contact details directly with the airline.

T3

Terminal 3

T3 handles the 11 airlines transferred from T1: Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Capital Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, West Air, Urumqi Air, and Lucky Air. These carriers' flights were transferred to T3 from May 7, 2026.

Where to report

Contact the baggage service counter for your operating airline in the arrivals baggage reclaim area. Ask airport staff for directions if needed. Obtain a PIR or equivalent baggage reference and retain your baggage tag receipt.

Getting to T3 after the T1 closure

Published guidance describes a connection from Guangzhou Metro Line 3 or Line 9 at Gaozeng Station, Exit B, to Terminal 3 by airport shuttle bus. Reported journey time is approximately 15 minutes. Services and schedules may change, so verify the latest transport information before travelling. Do not rely on the former Airport South (T1) station as your destination.

Guangzhou Baggage Recovery Checklist

Report missing baggage to your airline as soon as possible.
Keep your baggage tag receipt and boarding pass.
Obtain a PIR or the airline's official baggage reference.
Confirm your currently assigned terminal: T2 or T3. Do not visit closed T1.
Provide a working telephone number and complete delivery address.
Keep itemised receipts and submit claims within applicable deadlines.
Passenger Rights

International Baggage Liability and the Montreal Convention

1,519 SDR

Baggage liability limit for applicable international journeys under the Montreal Convention, effective December 28, 2024.

21 Days

General written-complaint deadline for delayed baggage under the Montreal Convention.

Keep All Receipts. Document reasonable essential expenses and follow the airline's claim instructions.

Articles 19 and 22

Passenger rights depend on the route, airline, applicable conventions, and conditions of carriage. For international journeys covered by the Montreal Convention of 1999, Article 19 addresses damage caused by delay in air transportation, while Article 22 establishes liability limits for baggage loss, damage, or delay.

The Liability Limit

Since December 28, 2024, the revised Montreal Convention baggage liability limit has been 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger. This is a maximum liability limit, not an automatic fixed payment. Recoverable compensation depends on the proven loss, applicable law, and circumstances of the claim.

Reasonable Expenses

Retain itemised receipts for reasonable essential purchases caused by the delay. Explain why each purchase was necessary. Airlines may assess expenses according to the delay, location, and applicable procedures. Reimbursement is not guaranteed for every purchase.

The 21-Day Window

For international baggage claims under the Montreal Convention, a written complaint concerning delay should generally be made no later than 21 days after the baggage is placed at your disposal. If baggage has not arrived within 21 days after it should have arrived, you may generally exercise the rights arising from the contract of carriage under the Convention. Contact the airline promptly rather than waiting.

Technical Insight: Digital Baggage Tracking

Airline baggage systems may use the bag-tag number, flight information, routing records, and the official case reference to locate delayed luggage. Some carriers provide online baggage inquiry portals. China Southern Airlines, for example, offers an online baggage inquiry service. Use the airline's official website and the reference details requested by its system. A personal tracker such as an AirTag can provide supplementary clues, but it does not replace a formal baggage report. If your tracker indicates that the suitcase is at another terminal or airport, share this information with the airline handling your case.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport guide
International Arrivals

Customs Clearance and International Arrivals

Later-Flight Checks

International baggage recovery may involve additional checks when a suitcase arrives on a later flight. Depending on the itinerary and baggage status, the airline may need to coordinate with airport handling personnel and customs authorities before release or delivery.

Arrived Is Not Always Ready

A tracking update showing that a bag has arrived in Guangzhou does not necessarily mean it is ready for collection or delivery. Ask the airline whether the bag has been located, whether any clearance remains outstanding, and whether you need to take further action.

Connecting Through Guangzhou

If your journey includes a connection through Guangzhou, explain the complete itinerary and identify the airline that issued your baggage receipt and the airline that operated the relevant flight. Reporting arrangements depend on the ticket, itinerary, applicable rules, and carriers involved.

Delivery

Baggage Delivery Across Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area

Collection or Delivery

Once the suitcase has been located, ask the responsible airline whether collection at the airport or delivery to your accommodation is available. Delivery arrangements, charges, geographic coverage, and estimated timing depend on the airline and the individual case.

A Complete Address

If delivery is offered, provide a complete address, including the hotel or building name, district, room number where appropriate, and a reachable telephone number. Confirm whether hotel reception can accept the suitcase on your behalf.

Onward in the Pearl River Delta

If you are travelling onward to Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, or another destination in the Pearl River Delta, confirm the delivery destination and any additional transport arrangements directly with the airline. A bag located at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport may require separate arrangements before it reaches another city.

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Baggage Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

Check the arrival screens and confirm that you are at the correct carousel. If your suitcase is still missing, contact the baggage service desk for your operating airline at its currently assigned terminal. File an official baggage delay report, obtain a PIR or equivalent reference, and keep your baggage tag receipt and boarding pass. Report the issue before leaving the airport whenever possible.

A Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is an official record of a baggage irregularity. Your airline will provide a reference when it registers your missing bag. Reference formats vary by carrier. Keep the number for online tracking, follow-up enquiries, and any applicable reimbursement claim.

Terminal 1 ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation. The 11 airlines remaining at T1 were transferred to T3. Terminal 2 continues to serve its assigned airlines. Check your booking and the operating airline's latest notification before travelling. Contact the baggage service counter for your flight at the currently assigned terminal. Do not visit T1 for baggage assistance.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport lists +86 20 96158 as its 24-hour customer service hotline. You can use it for general airport enquiries and assistance identifying airport services. For checked baggage that did not arrive, also contact the airline responsible for your flight. You can verify the contact details on the official Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport website.

The airport's published contact directory lists +86 20 8612 2921 for China Southern domestic baggage enquiries. The airline's general customer service number and dedicated international baggage contact details should be confirmed directly with China Southern, as telephone numbers and operating hours may change. Use the airline's official website to find its current baggage inquiry service.

You may be able to claim reasonable essential expenses caused by a baggage delay, depending on the applicable law, itinerary, and airline procedures. Retain itemised receipts and submit your claim with the baggage reference and supporting documents. Approval and reimbursement amounts depend on the individual case.

For international journeys covered by the Montreal Convention, the baggage liability limit has been 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger since December 28, 2024. This is a maximum liability limit, not an automatic payout. The actual amount depends on the proven loss, applicable rules, and circumstances of the claim.

There is no universal recovery time. The process depends on where the suitcase was last scanned, whether it must travel on another flight, airline handling arrangements, and any applicable clearance procedures. Ask the airline for the latest tracing status and an updated delivery estimate once the bag has been located.

Some airlines provide online baggage tracking or inquiry services. Use the official portal of the airline handling your case and enter the requested reference details. Personal GPS trackers can provide supplementary information but do not replace an official baggage report.

Inspect the suitcase as soon as it is returned. If it is damaged or items are missing, report the issue to the airline immediately. Ask for it to be added to your existing baggage file or recorded in a new report. For international journeys covered by the Montreal Convention, a written complaint about baggage damage should generally be made within seven days of receipt. Take photographs and retain your baggage tag, PIR reference, and any repair or replacement documents.

Terminal 1 ceased passenger operations on May 7, 2026, for renovation. The Airport South metro station and Baiyun Airport South intercity rail station associated with T1 are reported as non-stopping stations from that date. Published guidance describes travelling on Metro Line 3 or Line 9 to Gaozeng Station, exiting at Exit B, and transferring to the airport shuttle bus to T3. The reported journey takes around 15 minutes. Check current routes and schedules before departure.