When planning for travel, one of the most overlooked things is insurance. By now, most people know the importance of having travel medical insurance, but many decide to pass on lost baggage coverage. It’s so much more fun to think about eating gelato in Italy than what would happen if I lost my bags.
Just recently when I travelled to Milan, my bags didn’t make it. It was a bit of a dilemma considering that I had to immediately catch a train to Cinque Terre. I panicked since I had spent weeks packing and curating outfits for the trip. But I was relieved to have purchased lost baggage insurance, which kicked in after a delay of 12 hours and covered me up to $500 for necessary toiletries and clothing.
Here’s What To Do If Your Baggage Is Delayed:
Before You Travel
What most people don’t realize is that you might actually already have a lost luggage policy in place. Most travel reward credit cards come with a policy as long as you booked your airfare on that specific credit card. Every policy is different so as tedious as it is, you need to read the fine print.
The confusion with lost luggage insurance is that many people assume it’s tied with travel medical insurance. So even though your employee benefits may include travel insurance, that doesn’t mean you’re automatically covered for lost luggage. Again, read the fine print. Don’t forget to bring a copy of the important emergency phone numbers of your insurance provider and your policy contract number.
Once You Realize Your Bags Are Lost
That little sticker that airlines give you when you check your bags is extremely important since airlines need it to track down lost bags. If your luggage is lost, take this sticker and file a report with the lost baggage counter before departing the airport’s terminal gates. If you exit the terminal, the airline is technically free of any liability.
The good news is that your airline, in most cases, will cover you for some interim expenses. There are limits, of course. So before you plan on buying a designer purse or a new wardrobe you should clarify this with your airline agent. Expenses typically cover basic toiletries and clothing.
Once you’ve been authorized interim expenses, you can leave the terminal gates happy knowing that you’re in for a mini shopping spree! If for whatever reason your airline doesn’t authorize interim expenses (as was my case), you will need to file a claim with your travel insurance. Ask your airline for proof of refusal to submit to your insurance company later.
Moving Forward Without Bags
The airport offered to deliver my bags in 2 days to my hotel in Cinque Terre, but I was on the move and wasn’t fully confident that my luggage would arrive before I departed again. Instead, I requested they hold it at the airport for me to personally pick up, since I was to travel through Milan again.
Delayed luggage isn’t considered essential so I held off calling my insurance company until I arrived at my hotel to explain my situation. I stayed in the tiny city of Vernazza and was unable to purchase reasonable items until I reached the larger city of Siena. I made sure to explain this delay in purchase dates on the claim forms. To leave a paper trail, I purchased everything using a credit card instead of cash.
When I finally retrieved my bags from the airport 5 days later, I requested a confirmation letter of delivery since this would help with my claim later.
Making The Actual Claims
In the insurance world, the airline coverage would kick-in first over any travel insurance coverage. Additional expenses over that limit would be applied to the lost baggage policy. But since I was refused airline interim expenses, I filed my claim directly with my insurance.
As you can see, I had accumulated quite the paper trail so making the claims was relatively easy; it’s the deadlines you need to follow. Airlines have a very tight window so make those claims right away. Your insurance company will usually allow 90 days before you have to submit your claim so at least you can get yourself settled back at home first.
Here’s a run-down of documents you need to submit to support your insurance claim:
- Proof of delay of check baggage provided by the airline
- Receipts of purchases
- Trip invoice
- Airline tickets
- Letter of monetary settlement of the airline or their refusal
- Proof of baggage delivery
Every insurance company is different so read your policy for full details.
Did I miss anything? Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments below or by sharing it using the social media links!
Safe Travels!
xx Deb
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