Haute Tip When Traveling With Expensive Items

When you’re traveling internationally you may want to think about getting a little insurance in case your checked luggage gets lost. Most airlines are required by U.S. regulations to compensate travelers up to $3,300 in the event their checked bags are lost, stolen or damaged for domestic travel.

Unfortunately, the same is not true when you travel internationally with checked bags. In fact, you’d be lucky to get a fraction of that because compensation for international travel is based on the weight of your checked luggage at just $9.07 per pound. So you might want to think twice about checking in grandma’s Louis Vuitton steamer trunk or Aunt CoCo’s Chanel luggage.
However, there’s a little secret that may help you recover more of what your items are worth. It’s called Excess Valuation or EV. Most people have never even heard of it because it’s one of those things that “they don’t want you to know.” You must ask about EV at check-in or take your chances in the event of the unthinkable.

EV allows you to spend about $10 on average to get an additional $1,000 of coverage. There’s only one thing to keep in mind… this only covers the contents of your lost luggage, not damage to the outside.

To find out more check with your airline before you check-in because prices and coverage may vary. Also, if you’re traveling on more than one carrier to get to your final destination, be sure to inquire about carryover coverage.

Will you buy EV to cover the contents of your luggage?