Tips to avoid losing things on planes
When flight attendants hand out food and drinks or when customers leave the restroom are prime times for thieves to steal things.
Most passengers carry valuables with them when flying, such as wallets, phones, passports, laptops or cameras. Jonathan Frankham, CEO of Nomads World Travel Insurance in the UK, warns that these valuables can become "prey" for thieves.
“It’s important to be vigilant and take steps to secure important items,” Frankham says. Here are some tips from experts to help travelers avoid losing valuables.
Times when things are easy to lose
Frank said thieves are very calculating when taking advantage of passengers' sense of security when they are comfortably seated on the plane. However, it is during noisy meal times, when the lights are dimmed or when passengers go to the toilets that thieves strike.
Things that are easily lost
In a theft arrest in Tokyo, Japan, the 51-year-old suspect pretended to check his luggage in the overhead compartment. In reality, he stole US dollars, euros and Japanese yen from his companion’s bag. The cash was exchanged for small denominations of Cambodian riel or lower-value Indonesian rupiah to maintain the weight and size of the wallet.
Passports are also a valuable item that many thieves target. The more powerful a passport is on the world rankings (allowing travel to more countries without a visa), the more valuable it is on the black market.
Smart packaging
“This is your first line of defense,” says Frankham. Packing smart is important. Choose sturdy backpacks, preferably ones that can be securely locked and marked with colorful straps for easy identification. If a strap is missing or damaged, passengers should notify a flight attendant immediately. In the overhead bin, keep important but low-value items such as a phone charger, a change of clothes, snacks, personal items such as cleanser, moisturizer, books, and comics.
Valuables like passports, money and phones are best kept in a small belt pouch, Frankham says, and kept with you at all times. "Avoid leaving valuables unattended or out of sight," Frankham says.
What to do if something is lost?
Immediately notify the airline representative or flight attendant when discovering lost items according to the Montreal Convention. Currently, more than 130 countries and organizations have joined this convention. The provisions of the convention aim at many goals, including protecting the interests of consumers in international air transport and the need for fair compensation based on the principle of indemnity.
Frankham added that this international treaty requires airlines to compensate for lost or damaged luggage on international flights. "It is important to notify the airline as soon as possible," said the British expert.
Passengers should report the theft to the local police. Filing a police report is an important step because it provides you with evidence of the theft. This documentation is essential to receive compensation from your insurance company.
Steps to claim insurance compensation
After notifying the airline and police, the next step is to carefully review the travel insurance contract. Then, the passenger needs to collect the necessary evidence, including ownership, value of the stolen items, airline tickets, luggage tags, and receipts for the purchase of the lost items. Frankham considers these items "very important" and "an essential part of the insurance requirement to provide".
The next thing to note is that you must confirm your responsibility for looking after your belongings. You must prove that valuables were carefully stored and that your luggage was supervised instead of being left unattended. Your negligence can affect your ability and level of compensation.