How often do the airlines really lose luggage?

Question

Is there some kind of luggage insurance one can purchase?

Answer 1

I'm not aware of any statistics - I know it happened to my family once - and once was enough!

I don't believe it is necessary to purchase insurance unless you are transporting major items. When your luggage is lost the airlines has allowances to cover & purchase new items for you. If you travel as I do with a suitcase packed to the brim - I'm sure the reimbursment amount wouldn't cover the items though!

Did you know there is a place in Alabama that actually sells the contents of suitcases, etc. As well as the suitcases themselves! The "store" is huge. Larger than a lot of department stores - and items are in their proper departments.

If you've not been there & are interested in going - you can do a search for "lost luggage contents".

Answer 2

If you count up all the bags and all the flights, it's really only about 6% of bags that end up going missing, and almost all of those are located and returned to the owner within 24 hours. It does happen more when you are connecting through, and more when the airports are at peak travel season, but it's really not all that common. I've had 49 flights this year and the only situation I had with baggage was having to wait an hour for a thunderstorm to pass, because they won't allow airport workers out on the ramps while there is lightening out.

I think luggage insurance is a total scam. If you read the fine print, they only pay out after your bag is missing for 72 hours or more, and even then it's limited to a small amount per bag, usually around $250, and any amount the airline pays is taken out of that sum. If the airline loses your bag, they'll pay you $200-250 per bag... so your baggage insurance pays you nothing. Read the fine print very carefully but I'd say it's better to pocket the money you're tempted to spend on insurance each time you fly; fly enough and you can pay for your own lost bags.

Answer 3

Quite often. But because it doesn't happen to each one of us every time we fly, it does not seem like it happens that often.
But - I can tell you, airlines lose luggage all the time. My family has lost a bag going from Bangkok to Hong Kong - it turned up three days later.

The worst experience I had - happened to me and my travelling companion. He uses an electric wheelchair for his mobility. We were travelling from Sydney to Bangkok. The airline - who shall remain nameless - left his electric wheelchair in Sydney for two days. I had to push him in a manual chair in the heat of Bangkok while waiting for it to arrive! (I am not going to name the airline - they have been punished enough and they also made it up to us upon our return) What do you think? Is it one of the worst experience with lose luggage or what?

Not sure about luggage insurance but your regular travel insurance policy that you should always have when you travel - ought to cover that anyway. Or else the airline should be able to compensate you in some way.

There is a saying " If you can not afford travel insurance, you can not afford to travel"

Cheers

Answer 4

Too often. I had luggage missing, but, they got it to me on the following flight.

Your household insurance should cover any lose. Check with your agent. Take pictures of things for a record.

Answer 5

Much more than you think,mainly when the flight has some connection or more and certainly there is a insurance if want to put it in some statement.

Answer 6

According to people who work at the airports, very often. 20% at least.

Answer 7

it depends if it happens to you once -not often
if it happens to you twice or more=--all the time