Travel Insurance for Delayed Baggage
Learn how travel insurance could help if your luggage misses your flight.
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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 may help you when your plans for your bag go awry.
- Why travel insurance is your best bet when your bags go AWOL
- What is not covered?
- 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 precious items, like your journal, your favorite hiking boots and that new something you bought just for this trip. Sometimes all your worldly processions are in those bags! That’s why baggage coverage is your best bet in case your bags go AWOL.
Whether you choose our Standard or Explorer plan, here’s how World Nomads travel insurance may be able to help if your bags go missing or are delayed, lost, or stolen. We offer coverage in case of:
- Baggage delays by the common carrier
- Stolen baggage or items (including tech items like computers and camera)
- Bags that have been lost in transit by the common carrier
- Stolen passports
- Damage caused by a carrier
It’s important to read over your policy wording to become familiar with what is and isn’t covered, so there are no surprises should you need to make a claim.
What is not covered?
While World Nomads travel insurance is designed to cover your baggage and personal effects that you take on your trip, the baggage, personal effects and sporting equipment coverage of your travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Travel insurance doesn’t cover certain situations and circumstances, including but not limited to:
- Accidentally leaving your baggage or personal belongings behind.
- Stolen bags that were left unattended or unwatched.
- Electronics that were kept in checked-in baggage.
- Bicycles and some sporting equipment, particularly while in use.
- 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. It helps to know how to pick yourself back up again if you find yourself without your stuff while on the road.
If your luggage has been stolen or is lost by your common carrier 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 travelling. And remember, the first rule of thumb is always to report it.
In addition, if your luggage is delayed more than 12 hours, you may be entitled to reimbursement of the 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 travelling (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 travellers on how to keep your belongings safe while you travel.
Get a quote
Ready to pack your bags? When you get a quote you can compare our Standard and Explorer plans and decide which one might best suit your needs.
Still not sure? Get in touch and we can help you decide which travel insurance is best for your next snow adventure.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions, just ask us.
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 immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible.
- If you’ve got a handset or tablet that can be blocked, block it.
- You can claim at home or on the road.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for baggage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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What if I don’t have receipts for my baggage and personal effects?
You can still file a claim. However, the claims team might depreciate your items or be unable to process your claim.
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If the airline loses my baggage, what do I need?
You’ll need documentation from the carrier confirming the loss and any compensation they provided to you, or offered to you, your original receipts, and a copy of your itinerary.
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Do my baggage and personal affects get depreciated?
Yes, they do. We cover the depreciated value of the item up to the limit shown in the policy.
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I'm on a gap year. Can I claim for my baggage while I'm away?
You can claim whenever you like, while travelling or when you return home.
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Am I covered if I lose my passport?
Our travel insurance policies may reimburse the costs associated with getting a replacement passport if yours has been stolen. Check out our article on stolen passports for more information.
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I have a high-value camera. Does your travel insurance cover it?
Always make sure you get the right level of coverage for your needs. Our policies have per-item and overall coverage limits. When you get a quote, you can compare coverage offered by our Standard and Explorer plans side by side, and as always, reach out if you have any questions.
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.Netanel. U.S Nomad in India.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Are you, your family sick, injured or deceased?
- Strike at your departure or arrival point?
- Official travel advisory warning not to travel?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
- Need prescription meds?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- You or a family member deceased?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or gear stolen?
- Tech trashed?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team 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?
Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
Contact the team
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.