How to make a travel insurance claim for delayed baggage
Losing your luggage when travelling is definitely inconvenient. Arriving at your destination is exciting, but finding out that your bags are not there with you can put a big wrench in your travel plans. It's always a good idea to keep a pair of underwear and socks in your carry-on just in case your bags are delayed.
Having your luggage be lost or delayed is a huge inconvenience and someone should compensate you for that. That's why it's a good idea to purchase travel insurance before you leave and check with your credit card provider or employer group benefits to see if you're covered.
Here are the steps you need to take to file a travel insurance claim for delayed baggage:
Go directly to the baggage counter
If you waited at the carousel only to find out that your bags didn't make the flight, the first thing you should do is go directly to the baggage counter for your airline to start a delayed baggage claim. They will hopefully be able to track your luggage, tell you where it is, and when it's expected to arrive. This is why it's very important to keep your barcodes when you check your luggage – just in case your bags get lost and you need to find them.
Keep in touch with the airline
Filing a baggage claim takes about 15 minutes and the airline representative will give you a case reference number for your claim. Keep that handy because when you call to check on your missing luggage you'll need that reference number to get updates.
It's a good idea to keep all your contact information up to date with the airline, including your cell phone number and the hotel's address with your room number. If you change hotels (or even rooms), update the airline so they always have a way to reach you and a place to deliver your luggage when it arrives.
Contact the airline when your luggage arrives
Once your luggage actually arrives at your home or the hotel, you can contact the airline to complete your claim. If your bags were delayed for several days and you incurred expenses, keep all your receipts so you can submit them to the airline for reimbursement. Some airlines also offer a daily inconvenience fee and provide compensation (usually in the form of an airline credit) for each day that you were without your bags.
File an additional claim with your travel insurance
If the airline doesn't cover some of your expenses, file a claim with your travel insurance provider. Contact your insurer when your bags are initially delayed to start the claim and when you receive your bags to finish the claim. Like most insurance claims, travel insurance claims need to be filed and assessed before they are paid out to the client. Just be patient: you waited for your bags so it's no big deal to wait for the claim to be processed.