Baggage Travel Insurance for Canadian Travellers
Learn how travel insurance for baggage may help if your bags are lost, delayed, stolen or damaged
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At a glance
- World Nomads offers single trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance plans for Canadian residents that includes protection for baggage, sporting equipment, and personal items
- Lost, stolen, and delayed bags and sporting equipment may be covered
- If your checked-in bags are delayed by more than 12 hours en route to your destination, your plan may reimburse you for necessary personal effects for essential items such as clothing and toiletries, so you're not left wearing the same thing until you get your bags (up to maximum benefit limits as shown in your policy documents)
- Damaged or stolen passports, baggage, or personal items such as cameras and computers may be covered (up to the depreciated value and subject to per-item and maximum limits)
- Why should you consider travel insurance for stolen, lost or delayed bags?
- What’s Covered by Baggage Insurance
- Important to Know
- Maximum Limits for Baggage and Personal Items
- How to Make a Claim for Lost or Stolen Baggage and Personal Effects
- Travel and Packing Tips
- FAQs
Why should you consider travel insurance for stolen, lost or delayed bags?
We’ve been the ones sitting at the baggage carousel waiting for the bag that never came, and unfortunately, we’re not the only ones. Data reported by TravelPulse Canada showed that almost one in three Canadians have had their luggage misplaced by an airline. Because of that, you may want to consider getting a quote for travel insurance for baggage and personal effects. If your bags are lost by a common carrier, travel insurance may reimburse you for the depreciated value to replace items such as clothing, cameras, computers and more (maximum benefit limits and per-item limits apply).
Sometimes your bags accidentally take a different route to get to your destination. Even though they may eventually get to you, you could find yourself waiting for hours to be reunited with them. If your checked bags are delayed for at least 12 hours by an airline or ground carrier, you may be reimbursed for things such as toiletries or a change of clothes (up to maximum benefit limits shown in your policy).
What’s Covered by Baggage Insurance
- Baggage delays by your airline or other common carrier on the way to your destination
- Bags and sporting equipment lost or damaged by your airline or common carrier
- Stolen baggage or personal items (including your smartphone or camera)
- Stolen sporting equipment
- Sporting equipment delay
- Damaged, lost, or stolen passports and IDs
Important to Know
- Bags left unsupervised or in an unlocked car won’t be covered
- Stolen items must be reported to the local authorities and you must obtain a police report.
- Benefits are payable only after you’ve exhausted reimbursement from your transportation carrier or other responsible parties
- Lost or stolen items are subject to depreciation
- Coverage is subject to per-item and total maximum benefit limit amounts as shown in your policy
Maximum Limits for Baggage and Personal Items
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Baggage Loss: Up to $1,000 CAD total, and up to $500 per item Baggage Delay: Up to $250 Travel Documents Theft or Damage: Up to $250 Get a quote |
Baggage Loss: Up to $2,000 total, and up to $1,000 for each item Baggage Delay: Up to $500 Travel Documents Theft or Damage: Up to $750 Get a quote |
Baggage Loss: Up to $5,000 total, and up to $1,500 per item Baggage Delay: Up to $1,000 Travel Documents Theft or Damage: Up to $1,500 Get a quote |
Baggage Loss: Up to $2,000 total, and up to $1,000 per item Baggage Delay: Up to $500 Travel Documents Theft or Damage: Up to $750 Get a quote |
How to Make a Claim for Lost or Stolen Baggage and Personal Effects
If your baggage or personal effects get stolen or damaged, you must notify us within 24 hours of the loss. You must also report the theft or damage to police, as well as your tour operator representatives, the hotel manager or official transportation representative, and obtain a written report.
When making a claim, you may need to submit documentation such as:
- A letter of coverage or denial from the transportation carrier or other responsible party
- The written report regarding the theft or damage
- Receipts for all lost or stolen articles over $149.99 CAD
Travel and Packing Tips
Nobody wants to deal with things like stolen iPhones or lost luggage, but unexpected things can happen while travelling. These are challenging circumstances, but there are a few essential traveller tips that can help you be proactive, in hopes that you can avoid these situations.
- Consider travelling with a carry-on only. This is the best way to avoid bags getting lost or delayed by your airline.
- If you must check a bag, make sure your medications, glasses, contact lenses and hearing aids are in your carry-on. You won’t want to be without those things and travel insurance for lost or delayed bags won’t cover those items.
- If you need to make a claim for a lost or stolen bag, you’ll need to prove you owned the items you are claiming for, including the clothes in your bag or the electronics in your backpack. The easiest way to do this is to save receipts and take photos of what you are packing prior to leaving on the trip.
- Enable location tracking on your phone, tablet and laptop.
- Leave the flashy jewelry and valuables at home.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for baggage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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Do World Nomads plans include travel insurance for lost or delayed bags?
Yes, all World Nomads plans include travel insurance for lost or delayed bags. When you get a quote, you can compare the coverage and limits in our plans side-by-side to see per-item and maximum limits. You can then see which travel insurance plan is the best for your needs.
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Does travel insurance include coverage for stolen bags?
If your bags are stolen while you’re travelling, and you didn’t leave them unattended, you may be able to be reimbursed for the depreciated value of certain items that you can prove you owned. Make sure you report the theft to local authorities as soon as it happens though and obtain a written report – you’ll need that documentation. Also, per-item and maximum limits apply, so you’ll want to reference your policy to see how much you may be able to claim. If you have any questions about what you may be able to claim, contact our team.
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What do I do if the airline loses my bags?
If your airline loses your checked baggage, you’ll need to get them to provide you with written evidence of the loss. Find out how they will compensate you and make sure you get it in writing. After you’ve exhausted reimbursement benefits from your airline or other responsible party, you can submit a claim; travel insurance may cover the depreciated value of lost items (up to the maximum benefit limits and per- item limits shown in your policy). You’ll also need to keep any relevant tickets, luggage check information, receipts and other documentation related to the issue. You’ll need these items if you plan to make a claim.
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Does travel insurance cover pickpocketing?
Pickpocketing is common in some destinations and is especially prevalent in areas where there are large crowds. While there are things you can do to try to avoid being a victim of pickpocketing, it’s unfortunately happened to some of our nomads. If it happens to you, your travel insurance may cover the cost to replace your stolen items (subject to depreciation). Just make sure you make a report with the local police as soon as it happens and obtain a written report. You will need this documentation if you plan to make a claim.
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What should I do if my passport is stolen?
If your passport is stolen, or accidentally damaged while you’re travelling, your travel insurance may reimburse you for the cost of a replacement (up to maximum limits as shown in your policy documents).
If you’re travelling outside of Canada, you’re going to need your passport to get back home, so you’ll want to reach out to the Government of Canada’s passport office as soon as possible. You can then start the process of getting an emergency passport. You’ll also need to contact the police and get a written police report about the theft of your passport or other travel documents. Make sure you also contact us to let us know about the loss or theft.
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Why do my items get depreciated?
Travel insurance is about replacing what was lost, not helping you update your cameras or wardrobe. You may be eligible for reimbursement of the actual cash value (which is the purchase price less any depreciated value) or the cost of replacement. The policy defines depreciated value, making proper allowances for wear and tear based on the age of the item.
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If my bags are delayed, what may I be reimbursed for?
If your checked-in bags are delayed by your airline or other common carrier for 12 hours or more en route to your destination, your plan may provide reimbursement for necessary personal effects such as essential items like clothing and toiletries, so you're not left wearing the same thing until your bags are found and returned.
Items you can claim reimbursement for if your bags are delayed include things like:
- Underwear
- Socks
- A change of clothes
- Toiletries
If you’re not sure what you can claim, contact our team.
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Are high value items covered by travel insurance?
If a high-value item has been stolen or damaged, you are able to submit a claim up to the maximum benefit limits applicable to the baggage, personal effects and sporting equipment section of the policy.
Keep in mind that there are some things that we don’t cover at all such as antiques and collectibles, furniture and fragile objects. Always read your plan wording carefully to ensure you have adequate coverage for your needs. Still not sure? Get in touch with us and we can help you figure out what’s best for your circumstance.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: $5,000
- Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Explorer Plan: $10 million
- Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Explorer Plan: $3,000
- Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
- Return to Your Trip Destination
- Return of Remains
- Travel Accident
- Flight Accident
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
- LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Adventure Travel Hotline
- 24/7 Security
- Travel Medical Assistance
- Bag Trak
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.