Lost luggage claims 'set to soar'

UK travellers' lost luggage insurance claims are set to soar from more than 30,000 a month to more than 50,000 by 2019, it was revealed today.

Airlines struggling to cope with the recession could make lost luggage a low priority, said travel insurers InsureandGo, which released the claim figures.

The company said UK travel insurers received around 396,000 claims for lost luggage in 2008, amounting to 33,000 a month.

It said this figure was expected to rise by 2019 to 657,000 a year, or 53,000 a month.

The company said UK insurers paid out around £38 million on lost luggage claims last year.

Perry Wilson, founder of InsureandGo, 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."