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“If hold luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged in transit it is the airline that is liable.”
“If you are travelling abroad by plane this summer it is possible that you may have your hand luggage taken off you and put into the hold, as many aircrafts today simply do not have the capacity to carry all hand luggage in the cabin,” said Barry Smith, underwriting manager for Allianz Global Assistance in the UK. “If this happens to you, you must ensure you remove all valuables, such as wallets, keys, laptops, and mobile phones, before they take the case away and put it in the hold.
“Typically travel insurance policies will not cover an individual for valuables that unexpectedly go missing from hold-stored luggage.”
Another tip from Allianz is to label luggage on the inside in case tags are lost.
Meanwhile Smith stressed that liability falls on the airline if something happens to hold luggage while in transit, so it’s important to raise any issue as soon as possible. He said all claims to the carrier must be made in writing and within a specific period – one week for lost, stolen, or damaged items; three weeks for delayed luggage.
If the airline has a dedicated baggage desk within the baggage claims area, the Allianz executive recommends visiting the desk before leaving the airport. A property irregularity report completed by airline staff should be secured by the passenger.
“People automatically assume that their travel insurance policy will provide cover in the event of their luggage being lost, damaged, or stolen while in the care of an airline, but this is not necessarily the case,” noted Smith. “To ensure holidaymakers are reimbursed or reunited with their belongings they need to be aware of the right action to take, and take it as quickly as possible.”
