Does travel insurance cover your lost luggage?

What's the difference between baggage loss and baggage delay?

Lost baggage is generally considered permanently lost, while delayed baggage is temporarily missing. Airlines have different waiting periods until a bag is considered lost, usually between 5 and 14 days after the flight, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The bag is considered delayed before a certain amount of time passes, and most travelers are reunited with their delayed luggage within a few days.

For example, your suitcase arrives at your destination two days after you do. It's an inconvenience, but the airline resolves the delay and returns your bag unharmed. This is considered delayed baggage.

If the airline can't locate your suitcase and it's permanently missing, it's declared lost baggage.

Some travel insurers may provide coverage for damaged and/or stolen baggage. Lost baggage insurance and personal effects coverage may reimburse you for eligible repair or replacement costs. If your baggage is stolen, you may need to provide a police or carrier report when you file a claim.

What should I do when I lose my luggage?

If your luggage is missing, communicate with the airline first, and consider following these steps:

1. Check the baggage claim area

   Sometimes bags are late or get placed on another carousel. Scan the whole area before assuming it's lost or delayed.

2. Visit the airline's baggage office

   Go to the baggage service desk. They may know where your bag is and whether it was pulled aside for special handling.

3. Keep your baggage tag number and boarding pass handy

   Airlines use your baggage tag number to locate your bag in their system.

4. Provide a detailed description of your bag

   Provide the color, size, type of bag (hard or soft), and other identifying features.

5. Find out where the airline last scanned your bag

   The airline may be able to tell you if your bag never left your departing airport, if it missed a connection, or if it arrived on a different flight.

6. Get a reference or tracking number

   Try to obtain a way to track your bag. Get contact information from the airline's service desk representatives.

Will an airline compensate me for lost luggage?

Know that airlines are legally required to offer compensation for luggage contents when they lose your bag, and they must refund any baggage fees you paid. The airline may require receipts for valuable items when you file a claim. Airlines may use your items' actual value rather than their replacement value when calculating your reimbursement.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) says domestic travelers are eligible for up to $4,700 after losing luggage. Airlines can pay out more than this liability limit, but they aren't required to. For most international flights, the liability limit is around $2,175 USD. This amount is reviewed every five years for inflation adjustments. Note that these are the maximum amounts the airline is required to cover, but the amount could be lower if the value of your belongings is less.

Once the amount you're eligible for is calculated, you can receive that amount in cash. Some airlines may allow you to choose travel credits instead, which may be worth significantly more than the cash amount.