Baggage Insurance
Cover For The Bags You Travel With
Airline compensation for lost luggage is limited and slow, and standard travel plans often cap baggage cover well below what your bags are worth. Baggage insurance pays for checked-in luggage that is lost, damaged or stolen, and for essentials while a delayed bag catches up. MILES Insurance Brokers reviews what you carry, checks per-item and valuables limits, and combines baggage protection with the right travel or all-risk policy so there are no surprises at claim time.
What Baggage Cover Pays For
Lost Checked Baggage
Compensation when the airline permanently loses checked-in luggage, over and above what the carrier pays under its own rules.
Baggage Delay Allowance
Reimburses clothes and toiletries you must buy when checked bags are delayed beyond the hours set in the policy.
Theft And Damage
Cover for bags and contents stolen or damaged during the journey, subject to police and carrier reports.
Travel Gear And Laptops
Higher limits for cameras, laptops or sports kit can be arranged through add-ons or a portable all-risk policy.
Valuables Protection
Jewellery and watches can be covered separately under an all-risk policy rather than a thin baggage limit.
Clear Claim Paperwork
We tell you exactly which reports and receipts are needed so claims are not rejected on documentation.
What is baggage insurance?
Baggage insurance pays you when your luggage and personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged while travelling, and gives an allowance for essentials if checked-in bags are delayed. In India it is usually bought as a section of an overseas travel policy, with higher protection for valuable items arranged through an add-on or a separate all-risk policy.
It forms part of our travel insurance range. Very few insurers sell baggage cover as a completely standalone product for a single trip, so the practical question is how to make sure your baggage protection is actually enough. Buying it within a full travel plan also brings medical evacuation, trip delay and passport loss cover, and a certificate that can meet the minimum medical cover set by the Schengen rules for a Schengen visa.
Why airline compensation is not enough
Airlines pay for lost or damaged checked baggage under international conventions and their own conditions of carriage. That compensation is capped, is often calculated on weight or a fixed limit rather than real value, and can take weeks. It rarely pays for electronics or jewellery packed in checked bags. Baggage insurance fills the gap between what the airline pays and what you actually lost.
What it covers
- Total loss of checked-in baggage by the airline, usually after the carrier confirms the bag cannot be traced.
- Baggage delay: purchase of emergency clothing, medicines and toiletries when bags arrive late, beyond a waiting period set in the policy.
- Theft of baggage during the trip, supported by a police report.
- Damage to suitcases and contents in transit, in some plans.
- Loss of passport and travel documents, normally a separate section of the same travel policy.
What is not covered
Cash, credit cards and tickets are usually excluded or tightly limited. Valuables such as jewellery, watches, cameras and laptops placed in checked baggage are commonly excluded or capped per item. Bags left unattended in public places, losses not reported to the airline or police within the time allowed, wear and tear, and confiscation by customs are not covered. Many policies also apply a per-item limit and a limit for any pair or set, and pay on depreciated value.
Options for stronger baggage protection
| Option | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Higher-tier travel plan | Larger baggage and delay limits within the travel policy | Most families on holiday |
| Baggage add-on | Extra limit for checked baggage, sometimes cabin baggage too | Travellers with expensive luggage |
| Portable equipment or all-risk cover | Named laptops, cameras and devices covered anywhere | Photographers, professionals, content creators |
| Jewellery and valuables all-risk | Named high-value items covered at home and abroad | Travellers carrying jewellery or watches |
If you regularly travel with jewellery, a jewellery and valuables all risk policy is usually more reliable than any baggage section. Some home insurance policies can also be extended to cover portable items outside the home; the wording varies by insurer.
How a claim works
- At the airport, file a Property Irregularity Report with the airline before leaving the baggage hall, and keep the reference number.
- For theft, report to the local police within 24 hours and get a written report.
- Keep receipts for anything you buy during a baggage delay, and your boarding pass and baggage tag.
- Collect the airline’s final letter confirming loss or its settlement offer.
- Submit the claim with purchase bills or proof of ownership for lost items. MILES checks the file before submission and follows up with the insurer through our claims team.
How MILES helps
- We ask what you actually carry and compare it against the per-item and valuables limits of each plan.
- We recommend whether to raise the travel plan tier, add an add-on or insure valuables separately.
- We compare several insurers so baggage limits are not sacrificed for a lower premium.
- We guide you through airline and police reporting so the claim is complete first time.
Simple habits that protect a claim
Photograph your bags and key contents before you leave. Carry jewellery, electronics, medicines and documents in your cabin bag. Keep bills for expensive items in your email. These small steps make a large difference when you need to prove ownership and value.
Cover, exclusions and premiums depend on the insurer’s policy wording and underwriting. MILES Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. is an IRDAI-licensed direct broker (Life & General, Reg. No. 954); the insurance is issued by the insurer. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.