Imagine arriving at your destination and finding that your luggage is nowhere to be seen. Disaster, right? Even if there were no valuables in your lost luggage it would be bad enough, but what if your expensive Rolex watch was in that same suitcase, or your designer handbag? This is obviously a situation that we would all like to avoid, especially as unattended valuables are uninsured.
Valuables, cash, passports and visas that you have with you on an airplane will not be covered by your travel insurance policy if they are left unattended, i.e. not in the cabin where you are sitting.
So…
- Any valuables in baggage that has been checked-in to the aircraft’s hold
- Any valuables in hand luggage which has been moved to the hold due to space restrictions.
…are not insured.
How can I avoid having my hand luggage checked-in to the hold?
If you arrive late then there is a chance that your hand luggage will be put in the airplane hold if there is no more space in the cabin lockers. There are a number of ways to avoid this happening:
- Make sure you arrive to the gate as soon as possible, and that you are near the front of the queue to board. None of us enjoy queuing, but this will mean that you most likely won’t have to part with your bag at the gate.
- As it’s only locker space in the cabin that is restricted, try and take a bag which will fit underneath the seat in front of you.
- Make sure you are familiar with your airline’s baggage policy before you take your bag to the airport. If your bag is too big, then you’ll have to check it in and potentially have to pay a fine at the gate.
Airlines such as Ryanair are now no longer allowing small suitcases to be carried into the cabin (unless you pay extra for priority boarding!) and will only allow small carry-on bags that will fit under the seat.
What if I do get told that my hand luggage has to be put in the hold?
- Remember to take out your passport – this tip speaks for itself!
- Remove all valuables from your bag - as already mentioned, these will not be covered by your travel insurance policy if checked-in to the hold.
- Secure your bag as best you can - ideally with a padlock if possible.
What do I do if my luggage gets lost?
Ask for help – find the airline’s representatives at the airport. They will ask you to complete a lost baggage form and hopefully you will end up reunited with your bag ASAP.
Contact your travel insurance company – as soon as possible! After a certain period of time, you will be able to claim for replacement items of clothing etc.
Every travel insurance policy is different, so consult your policy booklet for more information. For any questions, or to arrange a travel insurance policy, call us now on 01243 784 000.
