Stolen luggage

cookie89

My husband and I have recently returned from our honeymoon, to find that between checking-in our luggage and reclaiming at the airport, our camera had been taken from our suitcase. Within 24 hours of the incident we contacted our travel insurance company, to be told that our "comprehensive" policy doesn't cover luggage that is in hold (in the possession of the airline). We sought advise from our travel agent, who have directed us to claim through the airline. I wonder if anyone has had a similar issue, and has any additional advise of the steps we could take for the best result?
Thanks in advance

Caz3121

which airline? the majority of them will have a disclaimer saying that valuables should not be packed in the hold luggage and will take no responsibility

cookie89

It was British airways

Caz3121

they don't mention cameras specifically but the conditions of carriage state
You must not include in your checked baggage fragile or perishable items or items of special value such as:

money
jewellery
precious metals
computers
personal electronic devices
share certificates, bonds and other valuable documents
business documents or
passports and other identification documents.

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/legal/british-airways/general-conditions-of-carriage

not sure how they will treat this but they are likely to ask for a Police report

cookie89

Ok thank you.
Any experience with other avenues we could try? Perhaps through the airports themselves. Ours were London, Gatwick and Male, Maldives.

stoneman

I would have a good look at your insurance policy, to exclude luggage that's in the hold seems strange.
But you would be better going for the airline, as there would be no excess to pay.
And as for those that say you shouldn't put valuables in checked luggage, well sometimes you have to or you would have hand luggage overweight and bulky. Cameras, jewellery,video equipment, laptops etc.

InsideInsurance

It can be excluded from the travel insurance either because the airline has liability and travel insurance is always written as the last line of defense (exc inconvenience for delay) and also for breaching the airlines terms of carriage/ packing rules

knightstyle

We had similar and although we reported it before leaving the airport, calling the police and getting a crime number we got nothing.
Airline is basically responsible but they will wriggle out of it, we were told days later that our claim was rejected as we didn't fill in the airline form at the time to report it!
But it was the airline who phoned the police and passed the phone to us to give details! AAARRRGGGHHH