Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Baggage Claim

October 30, 2025

Q My friend was flying to the city where my son lives, so I gave him a suitcase to deliver. The airline lost it, and it paid for the lost items plus an additional $500 for the inconvenience. Who should receive the extra $500: my friend, as the airline’s customer, or I, as the owner of the suitcase?

A A monetary question cannot be resolved without the participation of both parties, so consider this as guidance rather than a halachic ruling.

The Gemara (Ksubos 98b) discusses the case of a buyer’s agent who received a bonus from the seller at the closing of a deal. It rules that the bonus is to be divided equally between the agent and his principal, the buyer.

Rashi explains that because it is unclear to whom the seller intended to give the money, it is divided as a compromise. The Rif explains that because both parties contributed to generating the bonus, each deserves a share.

If the seller said that the gift was for the agent, then according to the Rif, the principal would still be entitled to half; according to Rashi, he would not.

The Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 183:6) follows the Rif, while the Rama follows Rashi. In practice, the Sma (ibid. 18, echoed by the Aruch Hashulchan ibid. 8) says that either view may be followed, depending on the specifics of the case and the discretion of the dayan.

Your situation parallels this case, as the airline issued payment directly to your friend, but you contributed to generating the settlement. Had you not sent the suitcase, your friend would not have gotten the money, so according to the Rif, you have a strong claim to half of it. If your friend spent time pursuing the claim, that should be factored into how the money is divided. The best course of action is for you and your friend to reach an agreement on how to divide the money based on the information provided here.