Declaring Excess Valuation (since it's not
legally insurance) with DL (or any US airline) makes less sense domestically because their liability for loss is relatively high ($3,300).
INTERNATIONALLY (including
domestic portions of an international itinerary) is COMPLETELY a different story. There the buck stops at $640…& that’s for a fully loaded 70 lb. bag. Lost luggage compensation for international travelers is done BY WEIGHT. That means your valuable, but light, 22 lb. bag for your vacation to some beautiful beach will get you less than $200 if it takes longer to find it than DL is willing to look.
Originally Posted by
houserulz77
To me this type of policy would only really help if the luggage was lost. While I do not recall seeing any policy on the compensation for lost items, these cases are reported to the FBI. I'm sure it happens, but seldom do you hear of someone outright losing a bag.
The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama receives 7,000 new items everyday…so it happens…& when it happens to you it can be a nightmare. It’s 40,000 sqft of
other people’s stuff that got “
lost”.
Originally Posted by
houserulz77
And even if you did, unless you have a case full of Versace, I would think the reimbursement from the airline would cover it. Of course if you have a case full of designer clothing, you can probably afford the insurance without caring about the value.
Strange value judgment. It implies that people who lose expensive items don’t feel it as much. Let’s not marginalize those who just happen to dress better or require higher-end clothes for work/leisure. FYI: The $640 limit on an international itinerary (& even the domestic limit of $3,3K) won't go far in a Versace store...or even Nordstrom for that matter.
Originally Posted by
thesaints
Insurance is never worth it, unless you cannot absorb the loss.
I agree, but most people don't think about "absorbing" the loss...until it's lost…& just like with computer data…if everything is truly “lost” then it’s never an “oh well-life happens-just shrug your shoulders and walk away” moment. While losing a bag won’t bankrupt most people, you don’t often realize the value of what you have until it’s gone…& if what you had was not otherwise insured or exceeded the liability limits (&
most travelers are unaware of what those are), then the loss becomes magnified.
PPP