Travel Insurance for Stolen or Damaged Baggage
If your gear has been stolen or damaged, here's how we can help.
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If you’ve ever been the last one standing at the baggage carousel at an airport, waiting in vain as the empty belt went round and round, you know the sinking feeling that comes with losing your luggage.
While this is one of the most common ways your baggage can become a dearly departed companion other issues with your baggage can arise too, like baggage delay, damage, and theft.
Our travel insurance plans may help you when things don’t go according to plan, even when those plans go awry for your luggage.
- Why travel insurance is your best bet when your bags go awol
- When your travel insurance doesn’t cover your baggage
- What to do if your bag gets lost or stolen while you’re overseas
- Keep your luggage safe
- FAQs
Why travel insurance is your best bet when your bags go AWOL
We know how much your bag means to you while you’re overseas. They often hold all your most previous items, like passports, medical prescriptions, and your knickers - sometimes all your worldly processions. Here’s how our travel insurance may be able to help if your bags go missing, are delayed, lost, or stolen. Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you’ve chosen we may cover:
- Baggage delays by the carrier
- Stolen baggage or items (including tech items like computers and camera)
- Bags that have been lost in transit
- Stolen passports
- Damage caused by a carrier
- Accidental damage to your bags
It’s important to read over your policy wording to become familiar with that is and isn’t covered, so there are no surprises should you need to make a claim while you’re overseas.
When your travel insurance doesn’t cover your baggage
While World Nomads travel insurance is designed to cover your trip essentials, travel insurance simply isn’t designed to cover everything. Certain situations and circumstances may mean your baggage is not covered by your travel insurance. Claims we’ve seen where travel insurance does not cover you include:
- Leaving your baggage behind
- Electronics that were kept in checked-in baggage
- Bicycles and some sporting equipment, particularly while in use
- Stolen bags that were left unattended or unwatched
- Baggage that has been left in an unlocked vehicle (or left overnight, even when the car is locked)
- Business equipment
- Items that have not been reported to a local authority (police, airline, etc.).
What to do if your bag gets lost or stolen while you’re overseas
Had your bag stolen while on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? Or perhaps it got lost in transit en route to Peru? Bags can lose their way for a variety of reasons (check out these travel mishaps for some first-hand accounts of when things have gone awry for our Nomads). It helps to know how to pick yourself back up again if you find yourself without your stuff while overseas.
If your luggage has been stolen or is lost along the way, there are a few things you need to do to increase the likelihood of your travel insurance covering you. Take a look at this easy-to-follow guide for what to do if your luggage is stolen while overseas. And remember, the first rule of thumb is always to report it.
In addition, if your luggage is delayed more than 24 hours (more than 12 hours for US residents), you may be entitled to replacement costs for essential clothing and toiletries. Check your policy wording carefully as terms and conditions apply.
Keep your luggage safe
While stealthy snatches and misadventuring bags can happen there are a few simple tips and tricks you can keep in mind while overseas (and even before you go) to help reduce the risk of losing your most valued processions.
From always packing and carrying your own bags and wearing the right gear, to safeguarding your bags with zip ties, follow these essential tips from travelers on how to keep your belongings safe while you travel.
FAQs
Am I covered if I lose my passport?
Depending on your Country of Residence, our travel insurance policies may be able to help you with getting an emergency passport. If this happens, get in touch with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible. There are times when your travel insurance may not cover you, like if you leave your passport behind. Read through your policy wording carefully to become familiar with how your policy can and cannot help in these situations, and find out more in our guide for stolen passports.
I have a high-value camera. Does your travel insurance cover it?
Always make sure you get the right level of cover for your needs. There are limits with some policies on the value of cover offered for technical equipment, such as high-value cameras, and on how your travel insurance can help if you have expensive equipment. Always read your policy wording carefully to ensure you have adequate cover for your needs. Still not sure? Get in touch with us and we can help you figure out what’s best for your circumstance.
About World Nomads
World Nomads polices are designed by travelers for travelers to provide simple and flexible travel insurance – and it’s often cheaper than you might think. Featuring coverage for more than 150 activities, quotes are fast and can be done online at www.worldnomads.com. All the information we provide about travel insurance is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states, or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.
Travel Insurance Baggage Tips:
- Find and scan your receipts before your leave
- If an airline loses your gear, tell them straight away and get it in writing.
- Theft? Report it to the police within 24 hours.
- If you’ve got a handset or tablet that can be blocked, block it.
- You can claim at home or on the road.
Get a quote
World Nomads can help when your bags go wandering while overseas. Fill out the form below and get a quote for travel insurance today. Your bag will thank you for it.
Baggage Delay in a Delhi Winter.
I arrived in Delhi from Rome. Baggage claim help desk informed me that my bag had been delayed in transit. I was without my bag for almost a week before it was finally delivered to me. It was cold in Delhi (being winter, December) and my warm jacket was in my bag, requiring that I purchase a jacket and other items of warm clothing that I had not taken in my carry-on.
S.N. U.S Nomad in India.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the team
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance for baggage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Can I claim for my baggage while I'm traveling?
You can claim whenever you like, while traveling or when you return home.
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What if I don’t have receipts?
You can still lodge a claim. However, the team might be unable to process your claim if you cannot prove it's yours.
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If the airline loses my gear, what do I need?
You’ll need a Property Irregularity Report (‘PIR’) from the carrier confirming the delay and any compensation they provided to you or offered to you, your receipts and a copy of your itinerary.
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Do my items get depreciated?
Yes, generally they do. However, some policies let you pay an additional premium per item so you can insure them for the value you bought them (if it's under the limits).
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.