Luggage gone missing? Here are seven ways to make sure it doesn’t ruin your holiday.

As the summer season gets seriously into gear, the latest problem to plague Brits going abroad is lost and delayed luggage on top of all the cancellations, delays and long queues that have dominated the headlines.

There have been horror stories of luggage with vital medication or valuables going missing and some travellers even taking matters into their own hands searching piles of lost luggage for their bags.

Here Sarah Page, brand manager at Holidaysafe, explains the steps travellers should take if their luggage does not reach their holiday destination, and offers advice on the cover to look out for if they need to submit a claim. 

1. Safeguard your belongings

Holidaymakers are urged not to pack valuable items or medication in their checked-in luggage in case their belongings do not arrive at their holiday destination. Valuables that are checked in the hold remain out of sight for long periods and so naturally have an increased risk of going missing, being stolen, or becoming damaged.

Most travel insurance policies exclude cover for valuables, electronic items and money that have gone missing or been stolen while left unattended or packed in hold luggage checked in with the airline. It can also be difficult to get lost medication replaced at short notice. So, it’s recommended that travellers always carry items of high value or important medication either on them or secured in their hand luggage.

1. Check the definition of a ‘valuable’ in the policy

It’s important to read the definition of a valuable when looking at a policy wording, as your definition may differ from your insurer’s. For example, Holidaysafe define rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, as valuables. Whereas mobile phones and laptops are classed as gadgets, which have a separate cover limit. When you know which items your insurer consider to be valuable or are defined as gadgets, take a look at what the policy says about when these will and won’t be covered. 

1. Check your cover limits

Travellers should also check the cover limits beforehand to ensure they have adequate cover if the item was to get lost or go missing. Some policies detail this limit as per item, while others will display the total amount.

It’s also worth being aware that any lost or stolen valuables that are insured elsewhere, for example a ring under a home or contents insurance policy, will need to be claimed under the other insurers’ policy in the first instance before a claim is submitted under the travel policy. This can work in the traveller’s favour as there are often lower cover limits on valuable items in a travel insurance policy because of this very reason.

1. Prepare to share evidence of ownership

When travelling with valuables, it is wise to have evidence of ownership for the belongings being taken. This is because, should holidaymakers need to submit a claim, they could be asked to prove the value or age of the item. Evidence could include a copy of the receipt, a gift receipt, a bank or credit card statement, email confirmation, or insurance valuation certificates.

1. Complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) form if your luggage goes missing

If the luggage does not arrive at a holiday destination, travellers must report the loss to the airline and obtain a ‘Property Irregularity Report’ form before they leave the airport. Travellers should keep a copy of this record as it is required by travel insurers to support any claim submitted for lost luggage.

1. Report any stolen or missing property

If property is missing from checked-in luggage, then travellers should immediately notify the loss or theft to the police, as well as the transport provider or tour operator where applicable. It’s important to get a written report of the loss, specifying the date and time that the incident took place as insurers will ask for this as evidence. This also applies should belongings go missing or be stolen during the holiday itself. 

Travellers should submit a claim to their insurer, along with all the necessary evidence of proof of ownership, details of how the loss took place, and the official incident report.

1. Other tips to consider 

Most travellers secure their luggage with an approved and sturdy lock. Many also use brightly-coloured pieces of ribbons and identification tags to make suitcases more identifiable. But what many don’t do is future-proof in the event of a claim.

Take a picture of your luggage contents: When packing checked-in luggage, it’s always worth taking a picture of the contents, as well as inserting a note of your name and contact details before closing the case. That way, travellers have evidence of their belongings should their case go missing as well as an easy way for individuals to be contacted, should their case be picked up by mistake.

Split clothing and toiletries between bags: If travellers are holidaying with others, it’s also worth splitting clothing and toiletries between two or more cases. That way, should one case go missing, travellers can get by until they are reunited with their luggage.

Put vital items in your hand luggage: Lastly, it’s always worth packing essentials in both the hand and checked-in luggage to prevent any mishaps, especially when travelling with young people. For example, extra baby formula. Of course, travellers must check what items are permitted in their luggage when boarding a plane.

This information can be found on the UK government website and directly on the airline’s website.