Millionaire Mark Tilbury has shared his golden advice on how to safeguard your finances if your luggage goes missing at the airport. The entrepreneur and YouTube star, with a whopping 6.29 million subscribers, recently posted a video titled airport travel hacks you need to know, revealing essential pre-flight rituals including snapping a photo of your suitcase pre-check-in.
In what could be a financially lifesaving move, he advises travellers: “First, I take a picture of my luggage just before check-in so I can claim up to $3,800 (around £2,763) if it gets lost or stolen.”
This savvy tip may help you recoup cash should your belongings disappear or be pilfered. According to Travel and Leisure Magazine, the practice of photographing your luggage plays a crucial role, potentially bolstering your bid for compensation in the unfortunate event that your bag is damaged or never reappears.
In the US, airlines are required to compensate if bags are “damaged, delayed, or lost”, writes the Department of Transportation. It adds that this refers to “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses”.
However, it also states that any compensation is “subject to the maximum liability limits” – $3,800 (nearly £2,800) for domestic and $1,780 (roughly £1,300) for international flights. These are the highest amounts airlines are obliged to pay out.
This is a similar situation in the UK. Citizens Advice mentions on its website that passengers have the legal right to claim compensation from an airline if their luggage is delayed, lost or damaged.
However, it emphasised that airlines often won’t pay more than approximately £1,000 in total compensation.
It also pointed out that you only have the right to make a claim over cabin baggage if the airline is at fault. It further noted that if you happen to have travel or home contents insurance that covers luggage, it may be easier and you might secure more money this way.
This follows a recent report advising passengers not to pack certain items in their suitcases to ensure they don’t face any problems when they reach airport security.
The report underscored restrictions covering food and powders, frozen items, lighters, chargers, batteries and electronics. Meanwhile, a travel expert has offered some advice about the airport liquids rule.
Cody Candee, CEO and founder of luggage storage company Bounce.com, stated: “Many travellers are caught out by having their items seized without realising they count as liquids, such as cosmetics like lip gloss and liquid eyeliner, or foods like sauces and jams.”
Cody further explained that if you can “spread, smear, or squirt the item”, it’s most likely a liquid. If you’re unsure, it’s best to pack it in your checked-in luggage or “leave it behind”.
For more information on claiming compensation, visit the Citizens Advice website here.