Lost Luggage Insurance

Lost baggage insurance reimburses you for the depreciated value of your baggage and contents when a common carrier (airline, cruise, train) permanently loses your bags. This is secondary coverage—you must file with the airline first, and your credit card covers the gap between what the airline pays and your actual loss, up to the card's limit (typically $3,000).

What's Covered

• •Checked baggage permanently lost by airline or other common carrier
• •Carry-on bags lost, stolen, or damaged during covered trip
• •Clothing and personal items inside lost baggage
• •Toiletries and essential items packed in lost bags
• •Sports equipment in checked bags (subject to per-item limits)
• •Books, travel guides, and reading materials
• •Medications (with documentation)

What's NOT Covered

• •Cash, traveler's checks, tickets, and documents
• •Jewelry, watches, and precious metals (often capped at $500-$1,000)
• •Laptops, cameras, and electronics (typically capped at $500 total)
• •Musical instruments and audio equipment
• •Perishable items, plants, and animals
• •Bags lost in rental cars, taxis, or ride-shares (not common carriers)
• •Items that exceeded airline weight/size limits
• •Baggage left unattended or in unlocked areas

Lost baggage coverage is always secondary—you must file a claim with the airline first and receive their settlement or denial before your credit card will process a claim. Airlines have liability limits: $3,800 for domestic U.S. flights and roughly $2,175 for international flights.

Your credit card covers the gap between airline compensation and your actual loss. If the airline pays $1,500 and you lost $3,000 worth of items, your card can reimburse the remaining $1,500 (subject to depreciation and sublimits).

• •Didn't file with airline first—must have PIR and settlement/denial letter
• •Trip wasn't paid with covered card (at least taxes/fees must be on card)
• •Missed claim deadline (Chase: 20 days, Amex: 30 days from loss)
• •Insufficient proof of ownership—need receipts for items over $100-$150
• •Items near $100 each without receipts raise fraud flags
• •Claimed excluded items (cash, electronics beyond $500 sublimit)
• •Bag wasn't in carrier's custody (lost in rental car, hotel, etc.)
• •Depreciation dispute—claimed full price instead of depreciated value

• •File Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at airport immediately—before leaving
• •Wait for airline to declare bag permanently lost (typically 5-21 days)
• •File with card's benefit administrator within deadline with all documentation

Exact claim steps and portals vary by issuer. Check your card's benefits guide for specific instructions.

• •Property Irregularity Report (PIR) from airline with tracking number
• •Baggage claim tickets from checked bags
• •Boarding passes for all flight segments
• •Credit card statement showing payment for trip
• •Airline's written settlement or denial letter
• •Itemized list of all contents in lost bag with values
• •Receipts for items over $100-$150 (credit card statements as backup)
• •Photos of luggage contents taken before trip (if available)