| Figures released by the Association of European | | | | having a 22,000 item backlog and that it was flying |
| Airlines (AEA) have shown that over two thousand | | | | airplanes full of delayed bags across the Atlantic as |
| claims for lost luggage were made during the first six | | | | well as using a convoy of vans to take luggage |
| months of last year alone. This was an 85% increase | | | | across Europe. |
| on the same period of time for the previous year, | | | | Aviation watchdogs have asked for the European |
| with the average claim being made for over £200. | | | | Commission to introduce a league table showing the |
| Lost luggage is now top of the list for travel | | | | best and worst performing airline companies. It is not |
| insurance claims with airlines losing a record amount | | | | currently compulsory for airlines to release their |
| of baggage daily. Insurance experts only expect | | | | annual records and this saw Virgin Atlantic and Aer |
| these figures to rise, as managing director of | | | | Lingus failing to provide their figures for last year. |
| Insureandgo, Perry Wilson warns, “We have | | | | The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) has partly |
| seen an enormous rise in claims for lost luggage and | | | | attributed the climb in lost luggage to the increased |
| can unfortunately expect more families’ holidays | | | | levels of hold luggage seen in UK airports such as |
| to be ruined by lost baggage.” | | | | Heathrow, as a result of the one-bag rule brought in |
| British Airways came in for particular criticism after it | | | | to operation following the recent terror attacks. |
| was announced that the airline was responsible for | | | | AUC chairman Tina Tietien said, “Whatever the |
| the loss of over one million bags last year, the | | | | extenuating circumstances, when passengers hand |
| second worst airline in Europe for lost belongings | | | | their bag in at check-in, they should expect to see |
| behind TAP Air Portugal. | | | | their bag at the other end.” |
| AEA revealed that BA had lost 26.5 bags for every | | | | Despite the obvious inconvenience and stress that |
| 1,000 passengers that had flown with them. This is a | | | | missing baggage can have on travellers, adequate |
| rise on the previous year of 23 bags for every 1000 | | | | insurance should offer a certain amount of |
| passengers. | | | | confidence if the worst should happen. However, a |
| Ryanair, the budget airline claimed to have losses of | | | | survey carried out by Legal and General showed that |
| only 0.4 bags per 1000 passengers, although many of | | | | the average value of luggage and contents for a |
| their customers decide not to check in their bags | | | | family of four off on holiday is over £2,500, and |
| because of the charge for each item. | | | | that many home contents insurance policies should |
| Peter Sherrard, a Ryanair spokesman says their | | | | provide necessary cover for families and individuals |
| passengers should be given lower insurance premiums | | | | holidaying away from home. |
| as a result, “For years the car insurance industry | | | | Head of GI products at Legal and General, Andy |
| has provided discounts for lower-risk categories such | | | | Dellbridge confirmed, “We automatically think of |
| as women drivers and the over-thirties. The time has | | | | claiming under a travel policy but customers may be |
| come for passengers flying with airlines that deliver | | | | covered under the personal possessions section of |
| the best customer service to enjoy the same | | | | their home insurance policy. It seems more important |
| discounts.” | | | | than ever that holidaymakers check they do have |
| Britain’s biggest airline, BA, had admitted to | | | | insurance cover in place. |