How to Turn a Baggage Delay into a Shopping Spree

You’ve just landed at your dream destination, ready to explore the sights and sounds of a new city. You head to the baggage claim, eager to grab your suitcase and hit the road. But as the minutes tick by, you realize that your bag is nowhere to be seen. You check with the airline staff, and they tell you that your luggage has been delayed, and they don’t know when it will arrive. What do you do?

“Alabama store turns lost luggage into amazing shopping experience” shared by YouTube channel: CBS Mornings

If you’re like most travelers, you might feel frustrated, angry, or even panicked. You might wonder how you’re going to survive without your clothes, toiletries, and other essentials. You might think that your trip is ruined before it even begins.

What if we told you that there’s a way to turn this unfortunate situation into a fun and rewarding experience? What if we told you that you can use your travel insurance to buy yourself a whole new outfit, and maybe even some souvenirs, while you wait for your bag to show up?

That’s exactly what one savvy traveler did when their baggage was delayed on a trip to Paris. They shared their story on Reddit, and it went viral among the travel community. Here’s how they did it, and how you can do it too.

“delayed flight baggage” by skeddy in NYC is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Travel Insurance Win

The Reddit user, who goes by the name of u/TravelInsuranceWin, posted their story on the r/travel subreddit, under the title ‘Travel insurance win: delayed baggage = a whole new outfit for me’. They explained that they had booked a trip to Paris with their partner, and they had bought travel insurance from World Nomads, a popular provider among backpackers and adventurers.

‘We arrived in Paris and our bags didn’t. We filed a claim with the airline and they said they would deliver them to our hotel when they arrived. They gave us each a small toiletry kit and sent us on our way.’

They continued: ‘We checked into our hotel and looked at our travel insurance policy. It said that if our bags were delayed for more than 12 hours, we could claim up to $750 per person for ‘reasonable’ expenses. We called the insurance company and they confirmed this. They said we just had to keep the receipts and submit them online when we got home.’

‘We decided to make the most of it and go shopping. We bought new clothes, shoes, accessories, and even a perfume for me. We spent about $700 each, and we felt like we were on a shopping spree. We had so much fun, and we looked fabulous in our new outfits.’

‘The next day, our bags arrived at our hotel. We were happy to have them, but we didn’t really need them anymore. We had everything we needed, and more. We wore our new clothes for the rest of the trip, and we got so many compliments. We felt like we were living the Parisian dream.’

They also shared some photos of their new purchases, which included a leather jacket, a trench coat, a dress, a scarf, a hat, a pair of boots, and a bottle of Chanel No. 5. They said they were ‘so happy’ with their travel insurance, and they thanked World Nomads for ‘making our trip even better’.

How to Do It Yourself

If you’re wondering how you can replicate this travel insurance win, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.

Buy travel insurance before you go. This is a no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating. Travel insurance can save you a lot of hassle and money in case something goes wrong on your trip, such as delayed or lost baggage, medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or theft. You can compare different plans and prices online, and choose the one that suits your needs and budget. Make sure you read the fine print and understand what’s covered and what’s not.

Check your baggage coverage. Different travel insurance policies have different levels of coverage for baggage delays or losses. Some may only cover a few hundred dollars, while others may cover thousands. Some may have a time limit, such as 12 or 24 hours, while others may not. Some may have a deductible, while others may not. Some may require you to buy essential items, while others may allow you to buy anything you want. Make sure you know the details of your policy, and keep a copy of it with you.

File a claim with the airline. If your baggage is delayed or lost, you need to file a claim with the airline as soon as possible. You can do this at the airport, or online, or by phone. You will need to provide your flight details, your baggage tag number, and your contact information. The airline will give you a reference number, which you will need to track your bag and to claim compensation. The airline may also give you a small allowance or a toiletry kit to tide you over. Keep in mind that the airline’s liability for baggage delays or losses is limited by international conventions, and it may not cover the full value of your belongings.

Call your travel insurance company. As soon as you know that your baggage is delayed, you should call your travel insurance company and inform them of the situation. They will tell you what you need to do to make a claim, and how much you can spend. They may also give you some advice on where to shop and what to buy. Keep in mind that you need to get their approval before you go shopping, and you need to keep all the receipts and invoices for your purchases.

Go shopping. This is the fun part. You can use your travel insurance money to buy yourself some new clothes, shoes, accessories, toiletries, or anything else you need or want. You can choose to buy local brands, or splurge on some designer labels. You can shop at malls, or boutiques, or markets. You can follow the latest trends, or create your own style. You can mix and match, or go for a complete makeover. The choice is yours. Just make sure you stay within your budget, and you don’t buy anything illegal or prohibited.

Enjoy your trip. Once you have your new outfit, you can enjoy your trip as planned. You can visit the attractions, take photos, meet new people, and have fun. You can also show off your new look, and feel confident and comfortable. You can forget about your delayed baggage, and focus on the positive aspects of your trip. You can also look forward to receiving your original luggage, and having even more options to choose from.

Submit your claim. When you get back home, you need to submit your claim to your travel insurance company. You will need to provide them with the following documents: your flight details, your baggage tag number, your reference number, your receipts and invoices, and a letter from the airline confirming the delay and the compensation. You can do this online, or by mail, or by fax. You will also need to provide your bank details, so they can transfer the money to you. It may take a few weeks for your claim to be processed and approved, so be patient and follow up if necessary.

Traveling is an amazing experience, but it can also come with some challenges and risks. One of them is having your baggage delayed or lost by the airline, which can cause a lot of stress and inconvenience. However, with the right travel insurance, you can turn this problem into an opportunity, and use it as an excuse to go shopping and treat yourself to a new outfit. This way, you can make the most of your trip, and have a memorable and enjoyable time.

Have you ever had your baggage delayed or lost on a trip? How did you deal with it? Did you have travel insurance? Did you go shopping? What did you buy? Share your stories and tips with us in the comments below.