Travel insurer calls for greater transparency around what airlines are doing to reduce the number of bags they lose
Travel insurance claims for lost luggage tops 396,000 in 2008 but could reach 657,000 by 2019
16 June 2009: Leading travel insurer InsureandGo (www.insureandgo.com), is calling on airlines to come clean on what they are doing to reduce the chances of losing their customers’ luggage. It is concerned that, as airlines struggle in the economic downturn, solving the problem of lost luggage will become a lower priority for them.
InsureandGo estimates1 that UK travel insurers receive over 33,000 claims for lost or stolen luggage every month but because global annual aviation passenger numbers are expected to double over the next 10 years, this could rise to 53,000 a month by 2019.
InsureandGo estimates1 that UK travel insurers receive over 33,000 claims for lost or stolen luggage every month but because global annual aviation passenger numbers are expected to double over the next 10 years, this could rise to 53,000 a month by 2019.
Perry Wilson, founder of InsureandGo, said: “Lost luggage is now the second most common travel insurance claim we receive after those for medical treatment abroad. We estimate that UK travel insurers receive 45 claims for lost luggage every hour and just over 1,000 a day1.
“We believe airlines need to do more to reduce the chances of losing their passengers’ luggage and they should be more open about what they are doing in this area. We are concerned that as many airlines announce operational losses or significantly reduced profits in the current global economic downturn, they could look to cut back on their investment into reducing the number of bags they lose, and the problem could get worse.
“In addition to this, we do not feel that many airlines are sufficiently reimbursing passengers for losing their luggage. If they lose it, they should face up to their shortcomings and pay a fair and appropriate level of reimbursement.”
InsureandGo estimates that the UK travel insurance industry paid out £37.9 million on lost luggage claims last year.
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Notes to editors:
Policy prices correct as at 10 March 2009.
1Based on InsureandGo data and its market share and data from the Air Transport Users Council (AUC).
About InsureandGo
InsureandGo (www.insureandgo.com) was established in 2000 and has grown rapidly to become the UK’s largest direct travel insurance specialist. Over two million holidaymakers a year choose to cover their travels with its low cost, high value policies.
All InsureandGo policies cover children under 18 for free and include over 40 adventure sports, while its annual policies include winter sports automatically.