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Baggage Delay Coverage

When your bags are delayed, it can cause loads of problems. Here’s what you need to know about baggage delay coverage.

10 March 2011
Baggage Delay Coverage

This travel insurance coverage provides a certain amount (from $100 to $500 depending on the plan) to purchase the essential personal items necessary to get you through until your luggage arrives.

Contents (click to jump down)
What the airlines owe you when a Baggage Delay occurs
What does Baggage Delay cover?
Important notes about this coverage
What type of policy covers this?
How much coverage does each company provide?
Summary

Let us tell you a story

Samantha’s special day had finally arrived – a destination wedding surrounded by family and friends at a beach-side resort. Her mother’s wedding dress and the rings were packed carefully into a carry-on and the rest of her things were checked in. Her plan was to get some much-needed beauty sleep on the plane ride.

When she arrived, however, her checked luggage was missing. The airline service agent was apologetic, but Samantha’s luggage had been placed on the wrong plane and it would take days to get it back. Sure, she had the dress and the rings for the ceremony, but what was she supposed to wear on her vacation?

What the airlines owe you when a Baggage Delay occurs

Airline compensation for delayed baggage is very limited and usually isolated to locating your bag. The airlines are not even required to bring your bag to you when it’s found, although some will.

Most airlines have guidelines that allow some monetary funds to be distributed for emergency purposes, but this is not required and it’s defined on a carrier by carrier basis. Plus, the amount depends on how long it takes the airline to track down your bags. In some cases, the reimbursement is in the form of future travel vouchers, which isn’t very useful when you really need your clothes and shampoo.

Most airlines won’t even consider paying out until the bag is missing for at least 24 hours, and each carrier has a long list of items they won’t reimburse you for as well.

What does Baggage Delay cover?

This coverage is intended to provide for the essentials until your bags can be located and returned to you. This coverage starts when your bags have been delayed a certain number of hours (usually between 12 and 24).

With this coverage on her travel insurance plan, Samantha would have the cash she needed to purchase some clothing (a swimsuit is at the top of the list!) and other necessary items to get her through until her bags could arrive.

Important notes about this coverage

  • This coverage is considered secondary to coverage provided by a common carrier, such as an airline.
  • Airline coverage for delayed baggage is extremely limited – usually isolated to locating your bags and bringing them to you when it’s convenient.
  • Airlines do not provide compensation for delayed baggage unless it’s been missing for at least 24 hours, and their ‘compensation’ may be in the form of future travel vouchers.
  • The items you purchase must be reasonable essential items. Incurred expenses must be verifiable, so keep your receipts and take pictures of the items you buy to carry you over until your luggage arrives.
  • Baggage delay coverage doesn’t provide protection when you reach your final destination or place of residence.

What type of policy covers this?

Baggage delay protection is not usually available in travel medical plans or in annual travel plans, but a few providers have have it some plans. You’ll get the best protection for delayed bags with a travel insurance package plan.

How much coverage does each company provide?

POLICYCOMPANYPER-PERSON LIMITDAILY LIMITCOVERED AFTER
BasicAllianz$10024 hours
Quick Trip ProtectorAllianz$20024 hours
DeluxeAllianz$50024 hours
Annual Travel ProtectionAllianz$20024 hours
Annual Business Travel ProtectionAllianz$1,00024 hours
ClassicAllianz$30024 hours
Custom ComprehensiveCSA$20024 hours
Custom Luxe ComprehensiveCSA$50024 hours
Global Alert EssentialsGlobal Alert$25012 hours
Global Alert PreferredGlobal Alert$400$20012 hours
Global Alert Preferred PlusGlobal Alert$400$20012 hours
TripProtector PreferredHTH Worldwide$20024 hours
TripProtectorHTH Worldwide$20024 hours
Advantage AssetMH Ross$200$10012 hours
Advantage CompleteMH Ross$1,000$25012 hours
Advantage BridgeMH Ross$200$10012 hours
RoundTripSeven Corners$20024 hours
RoundTrip ChoiceSeven Corners$40024 hours
Flight Insure PackageTravelex$50012 hours
Travel SelectTravelex$25012 hours
Travel PlusTravelex$60012 hours
Travel Select AdvantageTravelex$25012 hours
Flight Insure PlusTravelex$50024 hours
Travel MaxTravelex$60012 hours
Travel LiteTravelex$25012 hours
Business TravelerTravelex$60012 hours
Travel BasicTravelex$10012 hours
BasicTravel Guard$10012 hours
Tee, Tour, & TravelTravel Guard$75012 hours
Business Travel GuardTravel Guard$1,000$20012 hours
Sportsman’s TravelTravel Guard$75012 hours
GoldTravel Guard$30012 hours
Adventure Travel ProtectionTravel Guard$75012 hours
PlatinumTravel Guard$50012 hours
SilverTravel Guard$20024 hours
Select BasicTravel Insurance Services$5024 hours
Select EliteTravel Insurance Services$10024 hours
Select PlusTravel Insurance Services$20024 hours
Worldwide Trip Protector GoldTravel Insured$50012 hours
Worldwide Trip ProtectorTravel Insured$30012 hours
Trip Protector Lite ExpandedTravel Insured$20024 hours
Trip Protector LiteTravel Insured$20024 hours
Vacation ClassicTravelSafe$150$75012 hours
VacationTravelSafe$10012 hours

Summary

  • Airlines do not provide much compensation for delayed baggage – and even then it may be in the form of travel vouchers.
  • Provides a certain amount of reimbursement for essential personal items until your luggage arrives
  • Starts when your bags are delayed a certain number of hours (as defined by the policy)
  • Compensation received from the airline will be deducted from this benefit
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Damian Tysdal
Author
DamianTysdal

Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.

Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.