60% of all baggage losses are related to damaged baggage, followed by delayed baggage and only then by thefts. Do you know who to turn to in the event of baggage problems?

“While on a trip, baggage is your personal wardrobe and safe, the value of which may reach up to several thousands of euros depending on the duration and nature of the trip. When encountering an unpleasant situation, people unfortunately do not often know with which concern, when and whom to turn to,” Marit Raag, Travel Insurance Product Manager at Seesam, said.

In order to find a solution faster when tackling a baggage problem, the insurer mapped the most common baggage-related losses and explains where to turn to and whose assistance to rely on in various situations.

Baggage taken from the conveyor belt is damaged or broken

If you detect damage to your baggage at the airport, you should immediately find the baggage service (baggage claim) and register the loss. If you detect damage to your baggage after you have arrived home or at a hotel and your baggage is insured, please take photos of the damaged item and fill in the loss adjustment form. Documents with photos must be submitted to the insurance company as soon as possible, but no later than within 7 days. In addition, it is also advisable to consult the airline because some airlines compensate for damaged baggage.

Delayed baggage arriving later than on the first day of the trip

In the event of delayed baggage, please immediately turn to the baggage service (baggage claim) at the local airport and register delayed baggage. It is worthwhile to explore whether the airline offers compensation for purchasing essential items. If not, the insurance will indemnify clothes, washing supplies and other essential items. If the purpose of the trip is a competition, training camp or event which requires special clothes or sports equipment, the insurance will indemnify the rental or purchase of new clothes to the extent of up to 30% of the insured sum of baggage.

In order to certify the expenses incurred, it is important to retain all purchase receipts.

Your suitcase is not on the conveyor belt when you arrive at the destination and remains lost

If your baggage gets lost, you should also turn to the airport baggage service (baggage claim) desk and ask for a corresponding certificate. If the baggage is not found within 21 days, it is deemed lost and you have the right to ask for compensation from the airline or insurance. In order to receive compensation, the client must submit a list of the items in the baggage and, if possible, also purchase documents. If no such documents exist, the indemnity limits set out in the terms and conditions of the insurance company will apply.

When choosing the sum insured before the trip, the insurer recommends that it be based on the value of the baggage in its entirety, which should include, in addition to the clothes, footwear, hygiene articles and equipment in the suitcase, also the cost of the suitcase or bag. It should, however, be taken into account that the insurance need not cover all the items that you carry with you, such as jewellery, cash, etc.

When going on a trip, the insurer recommends that you place your photo and video equipment, telephone, computer and identity documents in your hand baggage and keep them under your watchful eye.

If thieves steal your personal belongings from a rental car or your handbag with documents

In the event of a theft, the first thing to do is to turn to the police, register the theft and then turn to the insurance company. The insurer also recommends that you examine storage requirements before the trip. For example, when travelling by car, you may not leave your baggage and other valuables in a visible place and must take things to your hotel room overnight.

According to the representative of Seesam, until today thefts have only accounted for a minor share of all the baggage losses, but the global economic situation has also made thieves active and increased the theft rate. For example, the number of purse thefts has increased and the favourite places of thieves for hunting their victims are various means of transport where they quietly open a backpack or even take a purse from a shoulder bag. Car break-ins and thefts of things have also become more frequent.