How To Avoid Holiday Headaches

Planning a holiday? Here are some top tips on how toof currency that fluctuates. 1,000 SDRs is worth
make your trip as pleasurable as possible:approximately £809(US$1542)
1) Make sure you get two photocopies of your10) When individual items are missing from baggage it
passport before you travel. Leave one with a friendis very difficult to get any compensation from an
or a relative and take the other with you on holiday,airline because it is hard to prove you packed them in
keeping the copy separate from the original.the first place. Most airlines have a clause saying that
2) Report a lost or stolen passport to the Identity &they do not accept responsibility for valuable items
Passport Office as soon as you can so it can besuch as cameras, camcorders, mobile phones or
cancelled. Contact the local police and report thejewellery. Always have travel insurance to cover you
passport to the nearest British Embassy, Consulatefor this instance and always carry valuables in hand
or High Commission, who can help you arrange aluggage.
replacement.11) If you need to make a baggage claim, report it to
3) Keep your passport with you at all times whenthe service desk in the baggage hall before you leave
travelling to your destination.the airport. They should make out a Property
4) Photocopy your travel insurance details, ticketsIrregularity Report (PIR) and give you a copy. Your
and travel itinerary before you travel and leave aairline will want to see the PIR when making a claim.
copy with a friend or relative.12) You have seven days from receipt of the
5) Make a note of any emergency numbers for lostbaggage to make a claim for damage, 21 days from
or stolen credit cards and take this with you.delivery for delayed baggage and lost baggage has
6) If you're taking anything valuable or any electricalno time limit but you should make the complaint as
equipment, take photographs of it before you travel.soon as possible.
If you need to make a claim, you will be able to13) Always pack medicines, valuables, passports,
provide accurate descriptions. Make sure you haveinsurance documents and itineraries in your hand
the receipts also as many insurance companiesluggage. If you have to check in your baggage
request proof you owned the item in the first place.because it is too big or heavy, make sure you
7) If baggage does not always arrive at itsremove these items.
destination, or it may be damaged or something14) If travelling with someone, it's a good idea to
might be missing. If this happens, the airline is liablepack some of your clothes in your companion's case
under the Montreal Convention. But be aware thatand vice versa just in case one bag is delayed but
airlines impose maximum claim limits, regardless ofnot the other.
what your luggage and contents are worth. You also15) Make sure that your travel insurance includes
have a set time limit to claim.cover whilst your bags are in the care of an airline
8) A bag is classed as delayed if it arrives within 21(not all policies do). And look for policies that have
days. If a bag has still not turned up after 21 days, itcover that is higher than the Montreal Convention
is classed as lost.limit of 1,000 Special Drawing Rights per person.
9) If you make a claim, an airline may ask for a list of16) Try to use traveller's cheques instead of cash
items that were in the missing baggage, and possiblywhen on holiday. They offer much more security.
for original receipts. Be aware that any offer will beBefore you travel photocopy your cheques or write
unlikely to match a claim in full because they will takedown the serial numbers and keep in a separate
into account depreciation. An airline's maximum liabilityplace. If lost or stolen you can arrange replacements,
is 1,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). This is a unitusually within 24 hours.