Baggage and Luggage

Author: Sara B.

Published: September 15th, 2021 | Updated: September 13th, 2022
Read time: 5 mins

Being left without your luggage when you arrive at your destination can really put a crimp in your travel plans. A travel insurance plan that includes coverage for baggage loss or delay can help you recover from the unexpected should your bags not appear when you expect them.

What is baggage insurance?

Baggage insurance is the general term for two specific coverages – baggage loss and baggage delay.

“Baggage loss coverage” provides reimbursement for luggage as well as for covered items of yours that are lost or stolen while you’re travelling. Also known as “baggage and personal effects coverage,” baggage loss is typically secondary coverage, which means that it will act to supplement any reimbursements offered by a common carrier (such as an airline that loses your bags) or by your homeowner’s insurance.

This coverage usually includes three types of limits:

• The overall plan limit, which states the total maximum amount of coverage you can receive.
• The per-item limit, which sets the maximum amount of reimbursement you can seek per individual item.
• The specific-item limit, which is listed in some plans and may exclude particular special items like laptops and camera equipment.

“Baggage delay coverage” allows you to purchase essential items, up to a certain amount, you need for your personal comfort if your bags are delayed while en route to your destination. As with baggage loss coverage, it is typically a secondary payor to any benefits your airline, common carrier, or homeowner’s policy may provide to you. Baggage delay coverage generally becomes active after your belongings have been delayed for a specified period of time. Depending on the policy you’ve purchased, it can be anywhere from 6-24 hours. Until that period of time has passed, you are not eligible for reimbursement. One other note: Baggage delay coverage is typically only available on the outbound part of your trip and may not apply for your return trip to Canada.

This coverage usually includes two types of limits:

• A per-person coverage limit
• A per-day limit

Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay are benefits most commonly found within All-Inclusive and Trip Cancellation plans, but some Emergency Medical plans may also offer this coverage as well.

What does travel luggage insurance cover?

Travel luggage insurance is another term for baggage coverage. This includes coverage for baggage loss and baggage delay.

Does travel insurance cover delayed baggage?

Most all-inclusive and trip cancellation plan, as well as some emergency medical plans, do include coverage for baggage delay. Be sure to review the plan details carefully to ensure this coverage is included if you are concerned with baggage delay insurance.

Does travel insurance cover lost luggage?

Most all-inclusive and trip cancellation plans, as well as some emergency medical plans, do include coverage for lost baggage. Be sure to review the plan details carefully to ensure this coverage is included if you are concerned with baggage loss insurance.

Can I insure baggage against theft?

Most all-inclusive and trip cancellation plans, as well as some emergency medical plans, do include coverage for lost baggage, which includes theft. Be sure to review the plan details carefully to ensure this coverage is included if you are concerned with stolen luggage insurance.

How much is baggage protection insurance?

Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all as it is unique to each traveller. Baggage loss and delay are included coverages in most all-inclusive and trip cancellation plans, and some emergency medical plans.

Can you buy just baggage insurance?

We do not currently offer and stand-alone luggage insurance policies.

Is airline baggage insurance sufficient?

Baggage insurance for personal effects is typically secondary coverage, which means that it will act to supplement any reimbursements offered by a common carrier, such as your airline. Our advice is to check your airline’s baggage loss and delay policies before booking to ensure you understand what level of coverage you would receive if your bags were lost or damaged.

Is baggage insurance worth it?

This depends entirely on what you are comfortable with. If the loss of your bags or belongings means that you would spend your vacation borrowing clothes or wearing whatever you could find at the gift shop, you may want to consider baggage protection insurance.

If you are travelling with high-value items you could not afford to lose, you may want to also look into the airline and your homeowner policies to ensure you would have the best coverage for you to comfortably check your luggage.

No matter what your comfort level is at the idea of losing your baggage, be sure to carefully review and compare available plans to find the right coverage for your trip.

What do I need to file a baggage loss or baggage delay claim?

Travel insurance companies will always want documentation of the value of the items for any lost baggage to determine the amount of reimbursement to which you’re entitled.

Generally speaking, for baggage loss, you may have to provide the original receipt to receive reimbursement for higher-value items. Some insurance providers will provide the actual cash value if you can’t provide a receipt.

For baggage delay, you’ll need to show that anything you have purchased is a reasonable expense and fits within the coverage limits defined by your policy. Keeping receipts of anything you are buying while your bags are delayed is strongly recommended.