Airlines must ‘come clean’ over lost bags
Sunday, 15 Jun, 2009
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Airlines need to come clean on what they are doing to reduce the chances of losing passengers’ luggage, according to a travel insurance company.
InsureandGo says it is concerned that solving the problem of lost luggage will become a lower priority for airlines as they struggle in the economic downturn.
Airlines are not reimbursing customers well enough for their lost luggage and that travel insurers are expected to fill this gap, the company added.
InsureandGo estimates that the UK travel insurance industry paid out almost £38 million on lost luggage claims last year.
UK travel insurers receive more than 33,000 claims for lost or stolen luggage every month, the company calculated.
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.
Founder Perry Wilson 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 day.
“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.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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