Lost luggage compensation set to be increased

The compensation passengers receive for their luggage being lost while flying is set to be increased by 13.1 per cent next year, the first time it has seen an increase since 2004. Pre this date lost luggage reimbursement was worked out on the weight of the bag which meant travellers with an expensive camera only got a few pounds in return.

Passengers from 2010 will now be able to claim for a maximum payout of £1,068.48 up from the previous of £972.80. The new figures published by the UN’s Civil Aviation Organisation have come shortly after it was learnt that more than 32 million bags went missing last year in the world.

They say that 98 per cent of bags do find their way back to their rightful owners but many people are still left out of pocket because of the added expense of buying new items when away from home. For these types of circumstances passengers are still able to claim for expenses even if they do eventually receive their luggage.

The consumer watchdog, the Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) has welcomed the price increase and change in compensation rules.

“It is something we welcome, although in our experience few people do actually get the full amount of compensation. While a lot of people do have insurance, we still get hundreds of complaints a year,” said a spokesperson for the ATUC.