"insurance For Lost Or Delayed Baggage: How Australian Travel Insurance Can Help"

 "insurance For Lost Or Delayed Baggage: How Australian Travel Insurance Can Help" - Anyone already on edge about flying troubles has another reason to pop an antacid or two: the anticipation of delays, lost or damaged luggage.

Especially when an epic winter storm sweeps across the land and an airline completely melts down. Or when the airline insists your luggage is safe at the distribution center but your tracking device shows it was taken to various malls and McDonald's.

"insurance For Lost Or Delayed Baggage: How Australian Travel Insurance Can Help"

In the meantime, you are not completely powerless. There are things and strategies you can take to avoid losing a bag or minimize the impact of delayed, lost, stolen and damaged baggage.

My Advice Regarding Delayed & Lost Luggage

Book nonstop flights: If you're really concerned about your checked luggage, prefer nonstop flights or at least generous time for layovers, says Scott Keyes, founder of flight deals and travel advice site Scott's Cheap Flights (now called going.com).

"Bags are more likely to be lost in transfer between connecting flights, especially if there is a tight connection." And it goes double for international flights with tight connections, he said.

Consider discount airlines: Full-service airlines are more likely to lose your bags than discount airlines, he said, which have more nonstop flights that make it less likely to lose a bag in transit.

Legacy airlines have more connecting flights. Keyes said he wouldn't make a booking decision based on this, but it was "an interesting point to consider."

Lost Luggage? What Are Your Rights?

Take pictures of your luggage and its contents: Joe Hoban, a travel agent in Spanish Fork, Utah, about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City, told CNN Travel that she advises her clients to "take a picture of their bags because of the first thing." Airline offices will ask you what is the brand name of the bag, what is the color of the bag, the size of the bag and what are the contents of the bag.

He said people should take a picture of what they plan to pack on the mattress and that. If the bag is lost, it helps to create a content record.

Use baggage tracking: "Many airlines allow you to see the status of your bags on their apps, which helps give you peace of mind that your bag is on the plane with you — or at least gives you insight into your bag's location should it be delayed," Scott's Cheap Flights said in an emailed news release.

You can set up independent tracking yourself. Paula Twidale, senior vice president of travel for AAA, said one option is called AirTag, and it connects with an Apple device so you can track the tag's location.

Lost Or Delayed Luggage? These Are Your Consumer Rights

Properly mark your suitcases on the inside: Put your information on the inside in case your outer tag is torn, says consumer advocacy group Travelers United. Hoban offers the same advice.

“I took the bag off the carousel at the Salt Lake [City] airport. Fortunately, I knew the person who took my bag, so it was easy to exchange it,” he said. “But then again, what if I don't know those people? What if they are complete strangers and my bag comes home? Hopefully, they're nice, honest, and seeing my name and phone number on the bag they can call me and let me know what's wrong.

The power of carry-ons: Airlines don't lose luggage you never check in. Twidale advises you to pack as light as possible and use carry-ons. You'll save time leaving the airport and have more peace of mind.

Check your credit card coverage: Before you buy additional travel insurance, Keyes suggests checking your credit card policy for travel coverage.

Don't Let Your Worries Take Flight With You!

You can get supplementary compensation (not covered by airlines) for not only lost bags, but also for reimbursement for items you need to buy while you're waiting for your bag.

Check your bags on time: Last-minute baggage check-ins can lead to a higher chance of trouble, says Travelers United.

“Don't push the system. A small delay can have serious consequences when your goods are moving on a conveyor belt and are picked with little time for security screening,” its website says.

Put that phone camera to work again: Before handing in your checked suitcases, open them and take a picture, Keys suggests.

Travel Insurance Coverage For Lost Baggage

"If your bag is lost and you have any valuables in it ... having a photograph of what's in there will strengthen your case for compensation after the fact."

Check your baggage tag's destination: Travelers United recommends double-checking your airline luggage tags and making sure you know where you're going, especially if you're checking-in curbside. And the North Carolina Consumer Council reminds people to hold onto their baggage claim ticket or sticker.

Identify other locations at the airport: If your suitcases aren't on the designated pick-up carousel, the Points Guy travel advice website suggests checking the nearest carousels, and if you don't see them there, try the airline's baggage office. This is a good time to put the aforementioned tracking apps to work.

Report your problem and fill out the forms at the airport: If your bags don't show up, tell the airline.

Steps You Should Take When You've Lost Your Luggage

"Many times, airline staff will explain that the luggage is there but will be delayed until the next flight," says Travelers United. "If you have time, wait. If not, fill out the appropriate lost luggage forms at the airport.

Let the airline deliver your bags: If the airline can locate your suitcases, but it takes hours for them to arrive, Keys said, representatives have your address and use the airline's delivery service.

Keep receipts: “If you buy anything to get you through your luggage-free days — from a new swimsuit to toothpaste — keep the receipts. You may need these to get a refund,” advises Scott's Cheap Flights.

Check your airline's claims and compensation policy: Every airline's website should have information on what to do if your bag is lost. For example, this is the page for Delta Air Lines. This is the American Airlines page. And this is Southwest Airlines' page. And airlines outside the United States have their own systems. What to do if flying on British Airways

Top 5 Myths Of Travel Insurance

If the airline isn't helpful: "If the airline is dragging its feet on compensation ... don't be afraid to complain to the Department of Transportation, Keyes said of US Airlines. You can file a complaint here.

"They have a special office of aviation enforcement where they are very active in protecting consumers and trying to clamp down on airlines when they don't provide the compensation or refunds that consumers need. Do it under federal laws."

For information on claiming for UK flights, click here. And check out the UK's Civil Aviation Authority site here. Get more information about Canadian flights here.

Liability Limits: There is fine print, exemptions and paperwork/documentation hassles, but you can eventually get paid for your lost bags.

Lost And Delayed Luggage: Your Rights As An Air Passenger

For US domestic flights, the maximum liability amount allowed by DOT regulation is $3,800. Airlines are free to pay more than the limit, but are not required to do so. For international flights, that figure is $1,780. Learn more from DOT here.

Damaged bags: If you find your luggage damaged while at the airport, report it there. Airlines don't have to pay for damage to items caused by improper packing, according to the DOT, or are not always responsible for "certain categories of items (eg: fragile items, electronics, cash, perishables...)" When you see your checked baggage coming down the reclaim conveyor belt, you're in for a successful vacation or business trip. Packed with all the essentials. However, your suitcase may not show up in no time, adding to the feeling of dread and prompting an anxious trip to the airline's customer service center.

Fortunately, lost luggage is less common than it used to be - but it doesn't help if you're the one who's missing the luggage.

But don't worry. Airlines have procedures in place to track lost luggage and compensate passengers if their luggage can't be found — or if it's somehow damaged in transit. Additionally, your travel insurer may be able to help you with any losses you may incur.

Compensation For Delayed Baggage? It's More Than You Think

Here are some of the key things you need to know about lost luggage - and tips to prevent it.

Airlines invest millions in making sure you don't lose your luggage, and it's paying dividends. According to Sita, a firm that provides IT services to the international baggage handling industry, "mishandled" baggage has fallen from 46.9 million items in 2007 to 24.8 million items in 2018.

While that figure may seem high, it's worth remembering that 4.36 billion travelers checked in 4.27 billion items in 2018.

Baggage can be lost in a variety of ways, but the most common are a

Claim Time Limits Letter

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