Insurer launches hi-tech tracker to combat £14bn* baggage loss

 

Lost UK holiday baggage adds up to over £14bn every year reveals a travel survey released today**.  One in four British holidaymakers have lost their luggage whilst travelling abroad and Churchill Travel Insurance declares that on average, each claim is worth £855.

To combat this major headache for holidaymakers, the insurer has launched a Hi-tech suitcase tracking system named i-TRAK.  The new label gives passengers a unique code to display on their luggage.  If lost, items can be reported as found, via a 24-hour phone, web or email link to the i-TRAK database, on which the bag owner’s details are permanently stored.

The insurer’s report says that whilst one in four of the 16.5m lost suitcases are returned to their owners the next day, nearly three million travellers never track down their luggage.

Julie Owens, Head of Churchill Travel Insurance said, “It's a common belief that when luggage is lost, it's been stolen – in fact the reality is that it's been found but there is no tag to identify the owner.

“When an i-TRAK customer’s luggage is located, they will receive a text or email to confirm that their belongings have been found.  The owner can then relax and enjoy their holiday knowing that their baggage will be safely returned.”

Churchill teamed up with i-TRAK to trial the new device as lost luggage accounts for a third of Churchill’s travel insurance claims.  i-TRAK’s Managing Director, Adam Dalby said, “Missing baggage is one of the industry’s biggest issues as suitcases go astray in airports all too often.  As well as our contact centre, these   labels have a unique airline communication link, so cases lost in the terminal or aircraft can be reunited with the holidaymaker much quicker.”

Churchill’s survey also highlights that holidaymakers throw caution to the wind when packing – nearly a third do not bother to lock their suitcase and over three million travellers pack valuables including money and jewellery in their suitcase rather than hand luggage.

Julie Owens said, “The i-TRAK system should make it easier for travellers to find lost luggage but we still recommend that people pack sensibly and lock their suitcase when travelling. We certainly wouldn’t advise storing anything of great value in a suitcase – those items should be kept in hand luggage.

“Although nobody wants to start their holiday with missing luggage, our travel policy does cover the cost of replacing holiday essentials in such circumstances,” said Julie.

Churchill covers the purchase of essential items following the temporary loss or delay of luggage by the airline for more than 12 hours.  If the luggage is lost, the policy offers up to £2,000 of cover.

 

*£14bn = 16.5m cases (26% of the 63.6 million people that travelled abroad in 2003, according to the Office of National Statistics) X (Churchill’s average lost baggage claim) £855.53
**Survey conducted amongst 3000 UK adults by 72 Point Ltd in March 2005

For more information please contact:
Frances Browning
Churchill Insurance
020 8313 5965
pressoffice@churchill.com

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