Holiday Troubles? What to do if Your Bags Are Delayed

It's every holiday maker's nightmare come true—you excitedly wait at the baggage carousel to collect your luggage, leave the airport and properly start your holiday. But as the other passengers depart with their bags, and you watch the now-empty carousel go around and around with no sign of your luggage, you realize your bags haven't made it.

• What does Delayed Personal Baggage Cover?
• What do you need for a Travel Insurance Delayed Baggage Claim?
• Which Travel Insurance Policies Cover Delayed Baggage?

Not all travel insurance plans cover delayed baggage—but many do. If you have delayed baggage cover through travel insurance, it's important to know the next steps if you want to be reimbursed for your troubles. While the terms and conditions differ from policy to policy (and we wholeheartedly recommend reading yours in depth), here is a high-level overview of common requirements you'll need to satisfy in order to make a valid Delayed Baggage claim in 2026.

How Delayed Personal Baggage Cover Works

If your bags are delayed on your outward journey for more than 12 hours from the time you arrive at your trip destination (e.g., you made the flight but your luggage didn't), then Delayed Personal Baggage cover pays for some essentials like toiletries, medication, and clothing—up to a specific limit. Sometimes this feature is called Delayed Personal Belongings instead.

Typically, the reimbursement is structured so that you'll get a fixed amount (e.g., £50 to £75) for every full 12 or 24 hours of delay, up to a maximum overall limit (e.g., £150 to £500).

If your missing items are not found and you claim under lost Baggage, then any amounts paid under Delayed Baggage will be deducted from the final claim settlement under (lost) Baggage cover.

What to Do Immediately When Your Bags Are Delayed

If you arrive at your destination and your bags don't, take action straight away to protect your rights and make claiming easier later.

First, report the delay to your airline or carrier before leaving the airport. They should give you a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). In 2026, many airlines will issue a digital e-PIR via their mobile app or email, but a physical desk copy works just as well. Get the reference number and keep this document safe along with your baggage tags and boarding passes. (Pro Tip: Even if you know exactly where your bag is because you packed a smart tracker like an AirTag, you still legally need the airline's official PIR to file an insurance claim).

Ask the airline about their compensation policy for delayed bags, as many will provide an allowance for emergency purchases while you wait.

Take photos of the baggage carousel and the airline desk if helpful for your records.

Then contact your travel insurer's emergency helpline as soon as possible to notify them and confirm what you can buy. Most policies will reimburse essential items like toiletries, medication, underwear and basic clothing, but luxury items or excessive purchases typically won't be covered. Keep all receipts, no matter how small, and try to buy reasonably priced essentials rather than splurging, as insurers will only reimburse necessary purchases.

How to Claim for Delayed Personal Belongings

In order to make a successful claim for Delayed Baggage, you'll need to meet some requirements. These will vary from policy to policy, so please check the fine print of yours to make sure you comply. The following is a recap of some common requirements needed to successfully claim for delayed luggage.

When Personal Belonging Delays Aren't Covered

Delayed Baggage cover will typically only reimburse for delayed luggage on your outward journey—that is, when you're heading to your holiday destination. If your luggage is delayed on the return journey home, you won't be able to claim. This makes sense, really, as once you're home you have access to other clothing and personal items to tide you over until your bags are returned to you.

There may be other exclusions for Delayed Baggage, such as failing to report the delay within 24 hours, which you can find in your specific policy wording.

How much compensation can I get for delayed bags?

If your bags are delayed, you might be able to get compensation from your airline and/or your travel insurance. Airlines might give you money for bare essentials like shampoo and fresh underwear if your luggage is delayed, plus they may reimburse you for travel costs if you need to return to the airport to collect your luggage.

In addition, your travel insurance might offer compensation for delayed baggage—there may be a requirement that your luggage has been delayed for 12 hours before you can claim. There will likely be a maximum amount you can claim. And more premium plans typically offer higher compensation for lost baggage.

For example, CoverForYou offers £50 per 12 hours up to £250 on their entry-level Emerald plan, and £150 per 12 hours up to £450 on their premium Diamond plan (both available from comparison sites).

Travel Insurance Policies with Delayed Baggage

If you haven't travelled yet, it's worth looking into travel insurance to provide some protection for delayed baggage (and other mishaps). You'll need to buy cover before you leave the UK—in fact it's best to buy cover as soon as you've booked a trip, to get the most out of cancellation cover.

If you want travel insurance with Baggage Delay cover, note that the feature may only be offered on some (more premium) plans from a given provider, not all plans.