Travel insurance Lost luggage

Missing baggage problems

Millions of bags are lost by airlines every year

More than 6.2 million bags went missing across 26 member airlines in 2007, according to the Association of European Airlines.

The worst offender was TAP Portugal, which lost 28 bags per 1,000 passengers. British Airways was second worst, mislaying 27 bags per 1,000 passengers.

Though around 85% of lost bags are traced and returned to passengers within 48 hours, some never get returned at all. 

That's why we recommend you buy travel insurance that covers personal baggage while in the care of an airline.

Airline vs travel insurance payouts

Good travel insurance gives up to £2,500 for lost luggage

If your baggage is lost, you're likely to get a better settlement from your travel insurer than from the airline, even after paying any excesses.

For delayed baggage – less than 21 days – some airlines offer immediate one-off payments of between £50 and £75 to cover emergency purchases such as toiletries or underwear.

Some airlines will pay a set amount per day up to a maximum number of days. Others will reimburse you for essential items on seeing the receipts.

If your bag has still not been returned to you after 21 days, the airline should treat it as permanently lost, and settle your claim on that basis. Under the Montreal Convention, the maximum it will offer you is around £800.

Our research shows that your travel insurance policy will pay out an average of £200 for bags that have been missing for 48 hours. If your luggage is declared permanently lost, you can receive up to a maximum of £2,500, though most travel insurers will pay between £1,500 and £2,000.

For more on baggage and what to do if yours gets lost, read our guides to how to avoid lost luggage and getting compensation for holiday problems.