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When checking in for a flight, you may want to arrive two to three hours before your flight if you’re checking luggage, as it gives the baggage handlers enough time to load all luggage onto the flight. If you arrive late and they’re unable to take your checked bag, you may be able to change your flight to a later time to fly with your luggage, or you can fill out a form acknowledging your luggage is flying separately from you. In this case, your luggage would be sent on a later flight to the same destination, and you would need to arrange pickup from your destination airport. Because of the many moving parts in these situations, it’s more likely that your luggage could be lost.
What to Do If an Airline Loses Your Luggage
When you need to check luggage for a flight, there’s a chance your luggage could get misplaced during your travels. While it can put a damper on your vacation plans, you can get your plans back on track if you know what to do. In this article, we’ll go over the typical causes for lost luggage and the options you have if it happens to you.
How does luggage get lost?
Lost luggage isn’t as common as you may think. This is because airlines use baggage tracking systems to help them locate your luggage. In most cases, airlines lose luggage between connections, especially if there is not much time between connecting flights. In these scenarios, it’s more likely your baggage will be misplaced during this part of your trip. You can lower your chances of losing luggage even more by taking a direct flight if available.
Other ways your luggage can be lost include:
Being late for your flight
Booking flights with short turnarounds
When you have a short turnaround time between flights, it can be stressful to get from your first flight to your next. It can be just as difficult for your checked luggage to make that tight turnaround. Depending on how tight the connection is, your luggage could end up on a later flight if it’s not able to get loaded in time. This could result in your luggage being delayed depending on when there is space on a flight to add your bag.
Missing or damaged luggage tags
Having a tag on your luggage can help make it easier to identify for both you and the airline. If your luggage tag gets damaged during the flight, it can be harder to locate, especially if it looks like another passenger’s bag. Additionally, having clear identifiers on your luggage can help it stand out from the same or similar looking bags.
How often do airports or airlines lose luggage?
Lost luggage isn’t as common as you may think. This is because after your luggage is checked and sorted, airlines use a wireless tracking system to help them locate your bags, and passengers can keep tabs on where their bags are heading and when they’ve been loaded on the airplane. By having a tracking system, passengers stay a step ahead of mishaps.
What happens if your suitcase gets lost?
Each airline is likely to have a different policy regarding lost baggage. Some airlines may not declare your luggage as lost for up to two weeks.
If your luggage is lost, the airline you are using may compensate you, which will look different depending on the airline, and if you were flying domestic or international. You may be able to get reimbursed for expensive items that were lost, as well as reimbursed for the cost of luggage transportation fees. If you have a Travel Guard travel insurance plan, you’ll have access to assistance for help with replacing essential items like clothing and toiletries until you’re reunited with your baggage.
Travel tip: Always keep your essentials (medication, toiletries, change of clothes and chargers) in your carry-on in case your bag goes astray.
How likely is it to get lost luggage back?
If your luggage is lost, there is a high chance you’ll be reunited with your luggage. In fact, 85%2 of travelers get reunited with their luggage. Depending on distance and weather conditions, it may take some time, but most travelers get their baggage back within 361 hours.
If your luggage isn’t found, the airline may be responsible for providing you with compensation to cover a portion of the price of your lost items. If you have a travel insurance plan, you can file a claim to seek reimbursement for certain items.
How much compensation can you get for lost luggage?
When your luggage is lost, the airline is responsible for providing compensation to cover the contents of your bag, though you will need to review the maximum liability limits allowed in your airline’s policy. The amount of compensation can vary between airlines and travel types. For instance, domestic flights tend to have less compensation than international flights, since you’re not leaving the country.
While lost luggage is never fun, being prepared can make all the difference. Choosing the right travel insurance plan can help you recover from luggage mishaps, so you can focus on your trip instead of worrying about your suitcase!
Travel Guard can provide you with certain coverage to help reimburse the value of certain lost, stolen, delayed and damaged baggage. The amount of coverage will depend on the plan you choose, but for the most comprehensive coverage, the Deluxe Plan may be the best choice. Plus, you’ll get access to our assistance services team who is available to help 24/7, so you don’t have to track down your luggage alone.
When looking at the coverage you need for your trip, it’s important to consider that on the Essential and Preferred Travel Guard plans there is a limit of $500 for the first covered item and $250 for each subsequent covered item when filing a claim. On the Deluxe plan, the limit is $1,000 for the first covered item and $500 for each subsequent covered item. Take this into consideration when choosing a travel insurance plan for your trip.
Lost luggage and travel insurance plans
Losing your baggage means you’re stuck with just the items you packed in your carry-on. Depending on how you packed, you may not have the essentials you need for your trip. With a travel insurance plan, you can get certain coverage for certain lost and stolen baggage and baggage delays. Here are some of the ways Travel Guard can help with lost luggage on your trip:
The Baggage Delay coverage can provide reimbursements to help you replace necessary personal items you need for your trip. Plus, you’ll have 24/7 access to our assistance services team who can help you out with locating your baggage.
In the event your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged during your trip, Baggage Coverage can provide reimbursement for replacing covered personal items.
If you’re not traveling light, you may want to consider getting even more coverage for your belongings. The Preferred Plan offers an optional add-on Baggage Bundle that increases the benefit limits for Baggage Delay and Baggage Coverage to add even more protection to your base travel insurance plan. Or purchase the Deluxe Plan for the highest Baggage Coverage benefit limits among our base plans!
Whether you’re traveling abroad or flying across the country, a travel insurance plan may provide the coverage you need for your trip. Aside from baggage related coverages, a travel insurance plan also includes coverages such as Trip Delay, Medical Expense Coverage, Trip Interruption and others.
Choose the right plan, pack smart and let your travel insurance plan help you stay on track.
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