You never know when a travel emergency will strike, and if your luggage is stolen, lost, or delayed, it can put a serious crimp in your plans, especially if you need to replace essentials during your trip.
The good news is that it’s possible to get help covering the costs for missing items or even replacing your luggage altogether. And your bag doesn’t need to be totally lost — you can still get coverage if it’s only delayed.
Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for baggage and how to choose the best insurer for your trip.
Erika Recommends
- Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
- Best for custom coverage: Travel Guard
- Best for expensive gear: World Nomads
- Best for generous coverage limits: AXA Assistance USA
Why Baggage Coverage Is Important
First, know that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to take responsibility for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage.
However, liability limits are a maximum of $4,700 per passenger for domestic flights. For international flights, the Montreal Convention allows for about $1,700 in coverage per passenger.
Depending on your situation, those limits might not be enough — and it can be difficult to get your claim from the airline. Baggage insurance offers an extra layer of protection.
For example, let’s say you’re traveling to your brother’s wedding in the Caribbean. You’ve got your brand-new suitcase, packed with your designer dress and shoes, jewellery and make-up, several other new outfits, and the wedding gift. And then your luggage goes missing.
Not only do you need to replace all those items, but you now also need to buy a new dress for the wedding, plus other clothes and toiletries for the week.
A loss like that could cost more than the $4,700 maximum. But if you also have travel insurance that covers, say, $2,000 for lost luggage, you’ll hopefully have enough to replace your lost money and find something to wear.
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Best Travel Insurance Providers for Baggage Coverage
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include coverage for both lost luggage and delayed baggage as part of the package, although you could also buy a standalone baggage policy if that’s all you need.
Compare three to five carriers to decide what works best for you.
Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz Travel Insurance is well-known for its generous reimbursement limits under its premium plans, as well as a simple claims process.
Its OneTrip Premier policy covers up to $2,000 per insured traveler for lost/damaged baggage and up to $600 when your baggage has been delayed for 12 hours or more. Or if you get the multi-trip AllTrips Premier, delayed baggage coverage jumps to $2,000.
In addition to baggage coverage, you have access to evacuation, trip delay, and other helpful coverages, all with generous limits.
If you want a comprehensive, solid overall policy, Allianz can be a reasonable choice to provide peace of mind and handle your needs.
Best for custom coverage: Travel Guard by AIG
Travel Guard offers different plans that make it easy to customize the level of baggage coverage you want.
Under the Deluxe Plan, you can get up to $2,500 in lost baggage coverage, plus up to $500 for delayed baggage. These aren't the highest limits out there, but what makes Travel Guard stand out is they also offer the option to purchase add-on coverage that’s more customizable with higher limits.
If you don't want to fork out for a high-cost comprehensive plan, but want extra coverage just on your baggage, Travel Guard could be an option.
Best for expensive gear: World Nomads
Regular baggage insurance doesn’t always include high-tech items or adventure gear. As a result, if your bags are lost and you’re carrying things like pricey ski equipment or cameras, you might run into coverage limits when seeking reimbursement.
With World Nomads, you can get coverage for more expensive items — including your adventure gear. Under the Epic Plan, they cover up to $3,000 for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
If you regularly travel with specialized gear for extreme sports, this might be a good choice.
Best for generous coverage limits: AXA Assistance USA
If you’re concerned about theft and delays, AXA offers some of the best coverage for higher limits. You can get up to $3,000 in coverage under the Platinum Plan, plus an additional $600 for delayed baggage.
If you’re traveling with expensive luggage and personal items, or are particularly concerned about your personal effects getting lost or stolen, this might be a good choice.
Tips for Choosing the Best Baggage Insurance
Choosing the right baggage insurance is about understanding your needs.
If you’re a light packer, you may not need a huge coverage limit, whereas if you’re traveling with lots of expensive items or equipment, you’ll want to make sure those are sufficiently covered.
Note coverage limits and exclusions
Read the fine print. Not everything is covered when you buy baggage insurance.
First, there are usually limits on the dollar amounts you can claim. High-value items like jewelry might fall outside the limits.
If you have expensive adventure gear, a policy that specifically has higher limits or focuses on adventure gear might make sense.
If you are traveling with expensive items, save the receipts from their purchase. You might need to provide proof of ownership for reimbursement.
Even some non-expensive items might also be excluded. Not all policies cover passport replacement, for example. You might need to purchase additional coverage or choose an insurer that specializes in certain items.
RELATED: How To Secure Important Documents While Traveling
Look for flexible plans
Don’t underestimate flexibility. Some insurers offer add-ons that allow you to create a plan tailored to your specific needs.
Perhaps you’re less concerned about trip delay and more worried about covering your exotic gear. Look for a plan that allows you to add a little more coverage for your bags so you get what you need.
Check the claim filing process
Review how the insurer handles claims. Some insurers offer an online process that just requires you to upload receipts and prove ownership.
Also, check for time limits. Some companies will only cover lost baggage after 20 or 30 days.
Realize, too, that sometimes you might not be reimbursed until after you meet the requirements of the airlines. Find out whether you need to wait to file your claim until after the airline’s baggage liability kicks in.
RELATED: How To File a Travel Insurance Claim for Lost Valuables
Compare policies across providers
Don’t assume that one company offers the best baggage policy even when its other coverages are good. Often, baggage insurance is part of comprehensive trip insurance, so you might need to compare the entire policy.
A good rule of thumb is to compare three to five companies to get a good idea of what will work best for you.
Consider using a site like SquareMouth or VisitorsCoverage to get an idea of what’s covered with trip insurance and what baggage limits and coverages you can expect.
What About Credit Card Baggage Insurance?
Some credit cards offer baggage insurance among their travel perks.
If you pay for your trip using a premium credit card, they might offer reimbursement for lost or delayed baggage, so you don’t need separate insurance.
However, before you rely entirely on credit card baggage coverage, realize that some of the reimbursement caps are comparatively low. Additionally, theft or damage of high-value items might not be covered.
When to use travel insurance instead
While travel coverage through a credit card can be helpful, there are times when it makes sense to pay for extra insurance. Check the limits on your coverage and, if you’re bringing high-value items that exceed the limits, consider buying additional insurance.
Another consideration is the length of your trip. If you’re going to be gone for a substantial period of time, or if you’re traveling internationally, extra coverage might make sense. The longer you’re away from home, the greater the chances that something will go awry — and in a more expensive way.
Plus, in addition to potentially higher limits, a good travel insurance policy also includes medical coverage, trip cancellation, and other coverages.
READ MORE: When to Use Credit Card Coverage vs. Separate Travel Insurance
FAQs About Baggage Coverage
What’s the average reimbursement limit for lost luggage?
The Department of Transportation allows up to $4,700 per passenger for domestic travel. For travel insurance policies, it’s not uncommon to see between $1,000 and $3,000 in coverage for lost luggage. Check your insurance policy for your limits.
Does travel insurance cover electronics like laptops and cameras?
Some travel policies cover electronics, but not all do. You might need a special policy or add-on coverage to cover more expensive items like laptops and cameras.
How do I document and file a claim for stolen items?
Keep receipts for items like clothes and toiletries that you buy due to lost/stolen luggage. If you were carrying anything valuable, have those receipts so you can prove ownership and value. Get written statements from airlines, hotels, and other venues as necessary.
Is baggage insurance included in every travel insurance plan?
Most comprehensive travel insurance plans include baggage coverage. However, limits might vary. Review the coverage when you purchase a plan to make sure it’s enough.
TL;DR: Do I Need Baggage Insurance?
While airlines owe you compensation if they lose, damage, or delay your baggage, getting extra insurance coverage could give you some added peace of mind — especially if you’re traveling with expensive gear or internationally.
Thankfully, most comprehensive travel insurance policies include baggage coverage. Compare a few different policies to make sure you get the right protections. Don’t just consider baggage, but also look at medical, trip cancellation/delay, emergency evacuation, and other coverages.
Before you buy, be sure to review limits, exclusions, and claim processes so you’ll know exactly what to expect if the worst happens to your belongings.
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