Lost Luggage

Lost luggage and baggage is one nightmare scenario that all holidaymakers have to consider before taking a holiday. Will my travel insurance cover it? How long will it take to replace my lost luggage and baggage? The fear that your holiday has stopped before it has started is very real.

Your holiday travel insurance policy should cover you for lost luggage and baggage. However, you will need to check with your travel agent or with whomever you buy your holiday travel insurance exactly what you are covered for because all Insurance policies provide different benefits and features to the policy holder.

"Did you know that you could ask the airline for immediate cash assistance to buy personal items if they lose your luggage?"

 

What you may think is an automatic feature may not be with another insurance provider so check what you are and are not entitled to claim for in the event of needing to lodge an insurance claim for lost luggage.

Some tips that can help you avoid experiencing lost luggage:

• Book direct flights whenever possible. The more connecting flights you are on, the more times your luggage can be misplaced.
• Check in Early. The more time that you give airline staff to process your luggage the less chance there is of human error. Check in late and your bags can be misplaced in the rush to get your bags on the plane.
• If you’re a frequent flyer make sure that you remove any old stickers from previous flights.
• Put your name and address clearly on your bags, both inside and outside.
• Try to buy a bag that stands out in a crowd or put bright coloured labels on it so that it isn’t mistaken by someone else as being “their” bag.
• Valuables should always be with you in a carry on bag.

 

What to do if your luggage goes missing

You’ll need to visit the lost luggage desk of your airline and report your lost luggage.

Do not lose any paperwork that you fill out. It’s only going to give you more grief when you’re trying to track down your luggage.

If your insurance policy doesn’t cover the loss of your luggage then you will need to ask the airline what documentation is required to make a claim against the airline and baggage handlers. They will be able to give you the forms to make a claim for compensation. Again, don’t lose your copy.

Finally, if you do have a holiday travel insurance policy that covers lost luggage, contact your insurance company as soon as possible.