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air travel is got rocky this summer – and luggage issues factor in among many other issues for travelers like Flight cancellations and delays,
About 220,000 bags were “mishandled” by US airlines in April 2022, meaning they were lost, damaged, delayed or stolen, as has been the case more recently. information Published by the US Department of Transportation.
According to the department, the number of mishandled bags in April more than doubled from nearly 94,000 cases of mishandled baggage in April 2021, though slightly lower than the tally in March 2022 and April 2019 levels. information,
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What do those numbers look like for travelers? Consider this: Last week, Delta Air Lines A plane carrying 1,000 pieces of stranded baggage blown up – and zero passengers – to accelerate the movement of delayed bags from London’s Heathrow Airport to Detroit.
Why airlines are struggling to manage baggage
Airlines have struggled Shortage Back at the start of the pandemic, the number of baggage handlers, pilots and other workers has increased, as has the demand for travel. More than 2.4 million Americans went through airport security on Sunday, a 10% increase from a year ago and more than triple the same day in 2020, according For the Transportation Security Administration.
While a lost bag or delay in access to your luggage can spoil an otherwise amazing trip, there is a silver lining: In many circumstances, passengers can receive financial compensation from airlines if their bags are lost. There are a few steps to take even before you fly to make the process easier.
“Travellers have props,” said Sarah Ratner, a travel expert. nerdwallet,
To know if your checked baggage goes MIA or comes back with some dents.
Airlines must compensate passengers for lost bags
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According to US regulations, airlines must compensate passengers for lost, delayed or damaged baggage up to a limit.
- If your bag has been declared lost: The airline must compensate you for the contents of the bag, subject to depreciation, up to a predetermined maximum. The maximum liability is $3,800 for domestic flights and approximately $1,800 for international flights, according to the Department of Transport. (Airlines may pay more but are not required to.) The carrier must also refund any fees paid for checking the bag. Airlines are on the hook for another $20,000 for lost or damaged “accessories” to a passenger’s disability, including crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids or prosthetics, for example.
- If your bag is delayed: Those maximum liability limits also apply to delayed bags. Payments to passengers may include out-of-pocket expenses for additional clothing or other purchases that they make out of necessity due to delays. These are called “reasonable, verifiable and genuine contingencies” when bags are delayed. Airlines are not allowed to set a daily limit for these interim expenses (for example, up to $50 per day).
“Financial compensation is helpful, because that’s not money you would normally have spent,” Ratner said.
Policies may vary from carrier to carrier. For example, airlines have different time standards for when a bag is deemed “lost”; According to the Department of Transportation, most declare a bag as lost after five to 14 days. Airlines may ask for a receipt or other evidence for the item in your bag.
Airlines may also exempt certain items from repayment, Including cash, electronics and fragile items.
Make your lost luggage desk your first port of call
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According to travel experts, if the baggage carousel is empty and you haven’t been found again with your bag, talk to an airline employee before leaving the airport to file a baggage claim.
“For lost luggage, the first port of call for reporting a case should be the airport’s lost luggage desk,” said travel site senior editor Aiden Freeborn. Broke Backpacker,
Airlines are responsible for locating a checked bag as to where and when it should arrive.
“In some cases, they may be able to trace where the item is and arrange to have it forwarded,” Freeborn said. “Unfortunately, this may mean waiting a few days and going back to the airport to pick it up.”
He said airlines differ in accepting liability and in turnaround time for claims.
The same advice applies to delayed bags, damaged bags or bag contents – file a report before you leave the airport. With regard to the damaged bags, the airline may be able to argue the damage occurred after leaving the premises, experts said.
After departing from the airport, passengers should also file a complaint According to Charlie Leocha, president of the Department of Transportation Travelers United, an advocacy group. He added that the agency will forward your complaint to the airline, which will help keep you at the top of the queue.
How to Pack Luggage to Reduce the Chances of an Accident
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According to experts, there are a few things travelers can do before boarding a flight to reduce their chances or lose a bag — or reduce any headaches they may have as a result.
Perhaps the most obvious – yet impressive – tip is to avoid checking bags when possible.
“Right now, if you can always travel with a carry-on, that’s my No. 1 rule for you,” Liocha said.
Of course, this isn’t always possible. If you need to check bags, consider booking a nonstop flight instead of a multi-leg trip (again, if possible) to eliminate any baggage errors that may occur with switching planes. If a layover is necessary, choose a longer option to ensure your bag has enough time to move.
Do not put anything valuable, such as jewelry or camera equipment, in a checked bag: they are unlikely to be covered if lost. better to keep Travel necessities, such as certain clothing or medical prescriptions in your carry-on, if delayed or lost will affect your health or make it impossible to enjoy your trip.
“Travellers would be wise not to put all their eggs in one basket – instead it’s worth spreading the stuff out in bags,” Freeborn said in an e-mail. “Personally I always carry a few days’ worth of clothes and underwear in my cabin bag in case my luggage goes missing.”
Experts recommend taking pictures of what you pack (an easy task with cell-phone cameras) and writing down the value of anything you paid for in cash during the trip. Liocha said these steps will help in case you need to file a baggage claim and list your personal belongings and their cost to the airline.
Additionally, some travel insurance policies may cover costs associated with lost, stolen, damaged or delayed baggage, experts said. Although purchasing an insurance policy may not be necessary; Travel-oriented credit cards used for travel may already have some baggage-related protection.
Leocha said that travelers may consider shipping certain items to the destination ahead of time – although it will almost certainly cost more money and airlines will not pay for it.