MORE than 8000 Australians will have their travel plans disrupted by lost and delayed baggage this holiday season, a leading Australian online travel insurer has warned.
Travel Insurance Direct said luggage loss, damage and theft represented the biggest single category of travel insurance claims, accounting for around 40 per cent of total claims.
Here are some simple precautions travellers could take to help ensure their luggage arrives intact:
* Tags – Ensure all items have clear, sturdy luggage tags that won’t tear off.
Record your phone numbers for both home and destination.
* Itinerary – Place your contact details and itinerary inside your luggage, so you can still be located if external tags are lost and your luggage is opened for inspection.
* Lock up – Locks and straps provide a deterrent to theft, but remember some destinations like the US only allow TSA-approved locks that can be opened by Customs inspectors.
* Stand out – A brightly coloured bag, luggage tag or strap reduces the risk of your luggage being mistakenly claimed by another passenger on arrival.
* At check-in – Ensure all old destination stickers have been removed from your luggage and that staff affix the correct destination stickers at check-in.