Advice on how to make a lost baggage compensation claim

Pay a visit to any airport in the world and the chances are that you'll see a tourist wandering around bewildered and confused as they search in desperation for their missing luggage.

More often than not the offending item will turn up on a different carousel or, if it's been accidentally put on the wrong flight, will be couriered to your hotel the next day.

But unfortunately it's not always that simple and every year tens of thousands of items of baggage go missing, never to be seen again.

There's nothing worse than being stranded thousands of miles from home with nothing more than the clothes on your back and just enough local currency to buy yourself a cup of cold coffee and a piece of dry airport cake. Probably the worst possible start to a holiday imaginable.

Ok, it might not be as bad as suffering a personal injury for which you have to make a holiday accident compensation claim, but it is hardly an ideal beginning.

Reporting your lost luggage
It is to the airline that flew you to your destination that you entrusted the safe passage of your luggage and so if it has disappeared it is they who are responsible. Always report your missing items to the airline before leaving the airport and present your luggage receipt as proof of what you checked in. Asking to fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is also advisable as it will help with any future compensation claim that may be necessary.

Whilst at the airline desk reporting your missing suitcase you may receive some money to fund emergency purchases but be aware that this sum of money often varies between carriers. It's also likely that you'll then be advised to continue with your holiday with the promise that your luggage will catch up with you in due course.

Making a lost baggage compensation claim
If your baggage never does arrive and it's pretty certain that it's been lost there are a number of things you can do to make a holiday compensation claim for lost baggage.

Firstly, write to your airline explaining the issue and ensure you keep a copy of the letter for yourself. Tell them the circumstances surrounding the lost luggage and also supply an inventory of everything that was in your case, providing proof of purchase where possible. Until recently payouts were limited to just £14 per kilogram of lost luggage but new legislation now means that holidaymakers can now claim up to £850 in compensation.

If you've got your own travel insurance then it may be better to claim on that as it's possible that you could get a bigger payout. Check all the small print before you do contact your insurance provider, however, as there are sometimes limits on the amount of money that you can get for certain items. Remember that there might also be an excess of as much as several hundred pounds on an insurance policy.

Don't be afraid to complain
If you feel that your insurance company have treated you unfairly or their estimation of the value of your claim is too low, then help is available. All insurers are obliged to operate by the rules of the financial watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and so if you have a grievance you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service to complain. More information about how they can help can be found at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

If you don't have insurance and are not satisfied with the airline's actions following your lost baggage compensation claim you can get in touch with the Air Transport User's Council who should be able to offer advice and chase up the complaint. Their contact details can be found at www.auc.org.uk.

Further tips, advice and information about what to do after losing your luggage can also obtained from the Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk).

Have you been involved in a holiday accident?
You may not have lost your luggage but you might have been involved in a holiday accident whilst abroad. If this is the case then YouClaim are here to help.

We're the personal injury experts and can help you pursue a no win, no fee compensation claim if you've been hurt in a non-fault holiday accident. We don't charge a single penny for our services and our personal injury solicitors are among the best in the country.

To make a no win, no fee claim, to find out more information or simply to discover why we've got a fantastic success rate, just pick up the phone today and give us a call on 0800 10 757 95. We're available 24/7 and we're waiting to help you pursue that holiday accident claim for compensation.