Baggage Delay Coverage

Baggage Delay Coverage

There have been times when your baggage doesn't get lost so much as rerouted to another location. It's at these times when we realize that not having the basics can make things tougher than they need to be. The loss here is not having those travel necessities during the time that you arrive at your destination and your baggage does not.

Will the Airline cover Baggage Delay?

According to The US Department of Transportation Airlines are required to compensate passengers if their baggage is delayed:

While the vast majority of airline passengers’ checked bags arrive at their destination on time and in the condition received, a passengers’ bag may occasionally become damaged, delayed, or lost in transit.  Under DOT regulations (for domestic travel) and international treaties (for international travel), airlines are required to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed, or lost.

What is Baggage Delay?

Baggage Delay provides coverage for delayed baggage while it's being transported by a common carrier. The benefit reimburses you for those necessary items you need to get by until your delayed baggage arrives. This is the second type of Delay coverage that most trip cancellation/interruption plans offer (the first being Travel Delay).

There are two numbers to be concerned with in regard to Baggage Delay - the benefit dollar amount and the time required expressed in hours (think time trigger).

How does Baggage Delay work?

As mentioned above, there are two numbers that you want to look at with Baggage Delay - how much it reimburses you and how long your baggage has to be delayed before the benefit is triggered.

Reimbursement ranges from $200 - $500 depending on the policy.

The time required for the delay can be anywhere from a minimum of 12 hours to a maximum of 24. Again, the shorter amount of time the better.

Benefit Highlights:

• Benefit amount varies from $200-$500
• Time of delay ranges from 12 - 24 hours

What does Baggage Delay cover?

It is important to know that Baggage Delay coverage helps reimburse you for those necessary items you need until your baggage arrives, it does not provide coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage- that's what Baggage Coverage is for.

While none of the policies have specific items that are eligible for reimbursement, nearly all will state that it must be either necessary and/or reasonable. So, things like a shirt, pants, toothbrush, shampoo and toothpaste would make the list, while items like jewelry would not.

Some plans will even help locate and return your baggage and can even cover laundering expenses. Be sure to look at your policy to know what you are getting covered for.

As always, keep all receipts you incur so you can submit those with your claim.

Coverage Highlights:

• Covers necessary items (ex. shirt, pants, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo);
• Does not cover lost, stolen or damaged baggage (see Baggage Coverage).

Baggage Delay Claims

The following items are usually required when submitting a claim:

1. Proof from the common carrier that your bags were delayed at least the required number of hours that your plan specifies;  
2. Purchase receipts for essential personal items that you bought as the direct result of the delay. 

As with all claims, the burden of proof is on you, the insured person, so the more information you have and the closer you follow the insurance company's instructions the faster they will be able to handle you claim and the more accurate they will be able to pay you.

Related links/coverages

• Baggage Coverage
• Travel Delay
• Trip Interruption