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A survey by insurance firm RACV has revealed that 60 per cent of travellers have experienced delays or damage to their luggage.
The poll of more than 1,200 respondents showed that 61 per cent have seen luggage damaged or delayed but returned; 26 per cent lost their luggage; and 13 per cent had their luggage stolen and never recovered.
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The survey result comes after 1,942 Australian passports were reported stolen overseas and 2,678 reported lost in FY2023–24, according to data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“RACV recommends travellers keep valuables in carry-on luggage whenever possible,” said RACV executive general manager leisure, Craig Peachey.
“Importantly, passports, credit and debit cards, medications and smartphones should remain on your person to avoid potential fraud or identity theft.
“Before you leave, take photos of your luggage items and create a detailed list of what you’ve packed. This simple step can make the claims process significantly easier if something goes wrong.”
According to Peachey, travel insurance can cover “reasonable repair or replacement costs” for lost luggage, as well as essential items that need to be purchased if luggage is lost or delayed.
“The difference between getting reimbursed and being out of pocket often comes down to understanding your policy and keeping proper documentation, so it’s important that you understand the coverage details, limitations, conditions and exclusions of your travel insurance policy – make sure you review your product disclosure statement,” he said.
Melbourne Airport last month began testing on a new international baggage system, slated to be up and running in early 2026, which will use totes, electronic sorting, and an early bag store capable of holding around 1,400 pieces of luggage at a time to increase capacity and enable real-time bag tracking from the moment of check-in.
According to Melbourne Airport’s chief of aviation, Jim Parashos, the system will more than double the airport’s baggage handling capacity when it comes online next March, from around 1,800 to 4,000 bags per hour.
“Installing 3.6 kilometres of new baggage tracks while maintaining 24/7 operations has been challenging – it’s like doing open heart surgery while running a marathon,” he said.
“The new system will mean fewer lost bags, with airlines able to track every bag in real-time from check-in to the aircraft, giving peace of mind to passengers while supporting on time performance.
“Having an automated bag store will allow us to let passengers check-in much earlier for their flights and in the future will enable true anytime check-in, which is exciting for both airlines and travellers.”
