Baggage Loss Major Fear Among SA Travelers

November 5 - The loss of baggage is one of the biggest problems facing world travellers, and South Africans in particular.

With around ten thousand personal baggage items lost or stolen in South Africa each year, it comes as no surprise that a recent online survey showed that baggage loss was a top fear among travellers.

In fact, more people were afraid of having their baggage lost or stolen than they were of contracting swine flu, it was learned.

"Although ACSA and the airlines have worked hard over the last year to curb theft and misplaced luggage, it is clear that this is still a big fear for both South African and global travellers," said Stephan Ekbergh, Chief Executive Officer of Travelstart, the company that ran the online survey.

"In South Africa, around 10,000 personal items were reported lost or stolen in 2008, and this does not include damaged and stolen luggage," said Ekbergh. "Few passengers seem to know that if their luggage is lost, damaged or merely delayed for more than four hours, they are entitled to compensation."

Industry standards place the amount of compensation offered at around $20 per kilogram for lost or delayed baggage, although many airlines offer much more.

Ekbergh stressed the importance of ensuring that all baggage is well protected.

"Protecting your valuables is especially important with personal items that are impossible to replace, like the photographs of your holiday should you lose your camera, jewellery and valuable company and personal information in the event of a lost laptop," he said.

He also explained that travel insurance was absolutely essential to anybody voyaging inside or outside of South African borders. "With travel insurance, you can claim up to R25,000 for theft or damage to your baggage, depending on the amount of cover you opted for," said Ekbergh.