Lost luggage makes grown men weep
誰說女人愛哭? 男人一樣愛哭!
(from news.com.au)
Lost luggage makes grown men weep
April 04, 2008 09:58am
- One third of Australians travel without insurance
- Guide: How to make an insurance claim
PEOPLE mill around the baggage carousel at their destination’s airport eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their luggage.
As the crowd begins to thin out and bags are piled high on to trolleys, the grim thought that yours may not appear is sure to creep into your mind.
Of the three billion bags that are checked in at airports around the world each year, about 1 per cent disappears, a new survey has revealed.
When it comes to lost luggage in Australia, a spokesman for online financial services company ARTOG.com.au, Kevin Sherman, says such statistics are not something airlines are keen to boast about.
And when baggage does go AWOL, it’s the women who keep their cool, the study has found.
According to the online survey of 2328 Australians, 49 per cent of women react in a practical way to this harrowing situation by borrowing clothes and keeping fuss to a minimum.
On the other hand, 51 per cent of male respondents admit they are likely to make a scene and shout at staff before leaving hastily to buy a replacement wardrobe.
The study, conducted by ARTOG.com.au, has also found that one in three Australians, despite the dire consequences, travel without insurance.
A spokeswoman for ARTOG.com.au, Edith Fink, says people are confused about what insurance costs and what it will cover them for.
“Consumers obviously believe lost luggage happens only to the other guy,” Ms Fink says.
Mr Sherman agrees the facts are plain and simple.
“Scenario one: you travel with no insurance. It’s at the discretion of the airline whether they say `sorry’ or just go, `Look, here’s 50 bucks’.
“Your chance of getting any kind of compensation is minimal.
“Travelling with insurance, you should get some sort of meaningful contribution toward replacing your things, provided that when you bought the insurance, you were honest with yourself in terms of how much cover you thought you needed.”
A traveller backpacking through India doesn’t need to insure his goods for $5000, but a high-powered businesswoman may need to if she’s travelling with a case full of designer suits, Mr Sherman says.
Tips for minimising the chance of losing your luggage:
BOOKING direct flights, because connections increase the chance your luggage will be misplaced.
REMOVING old airline stickers from your luggage.
CHECKING your luggage in early rather than at the last minute.
ENSURING your handler attaches the correct destination sticker to every bag.
MAKING your luggage stand out. Distinctive ribbons, stickers, patches and colours ensure your bag isn’t just another black suitcase.
PUTTING your name and contact details on the outside and inside of every bag.
PACKING your valuables in your carry-on bag.
ENSURING you have adequate travel insurance.
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