Anyone know of a way to insure a checked bag?

Most airlines' terms of transportation include a clause regarding purchase of "excess valuation" coverage for baggage; Here's USAirways': Also note that if you're flying multiple carriers or codeshares the excess valuation purchased for one airline does not apply when the baggage is transported by another airline.

This is my dilemma. I want to check a bag with tools that I am buying for someone in Europe. I want to protect against theft or lost. I am going to put them in a box and check that box instead of checking them in my suitacse. Maybe what I am after is not possible, just looking for some guidance from the folks here on FT.

Some airlines won't let you check a box as passenger baggage. You need to check. A good investment might be an ugly, strong suitcase purchased at Goodwill. The uglier the better.

I buy annual travel insurance in the UK, it costs around GBP�50/US$90 a year and covers all my baggage against loss/theft worldwide. More importantly it covers medical/legal bills worldwide, up to GBP�10million.

On a cautionary note, my (American) girlfriend never takes out insurance when she comes to the UK. I have warned her many times, but if she (God forbid) was seriously injured in the UK and ended up in ER she would be in for a medical bill comparable to the <b>full</b> bill at a US hospital.

Young (<26) people can, I believe, take out such insurance at very reasonable prices at statravel.com if you are over 26 I am fairly sure AMEX offers insurance for baggage/foregn medical bills. If you are business traveller, I reccomend your carefully check your company's insurance policies.

I don't want to be handing out a lecture, or preaching to the converted, but a lot of my american (college age) friends neglect insurance of any sort when they travel to europe and as we all know **** happens, so it pays be prepared, no matter how many trips you take/ have taken.

I speak from the experience of having my passport stolen in Pittsburgh. Luckily I was able to drive to DC and get an emergency british passport issued and still make it back to PIT for my flight. In any case insurance covered the cost of the travel and replacment passport in DC, if I had missed the flight I would have been covered for getting a later flight. Uninsured? I'd probably be stung for the full Y fare the next day.

With regards to the medical bill. We had a friend from the USA visiting and when out doing touristy things he stepped out from behind the coach, looked the wrong way for UK roads and was clobbered by a van.

1 month of UK hospital, a flight back to the USA involving taking two ROWS of seats out of an aircraft to get his stretcher in there and a further month or so in hospital back home plus outpatients left a HUGE bill. He was insured, but even the insurance assessor who came out to visit him blanched at the expense.

I tend to relate this to American friends or family visiting us to impress the value of that couple of hundred dollars at most of insurance money.

Thanks for your responses. Agreed on the health insurance.