American Express Offers Tips on How Travelers Can Take Action to Protect

Baggage When Flying

    NEW YORK, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Department of
 Transportation, complaints about lost, delayed and damaged luggage are at
 an all time high. In fact, figures released recently by the Department
 indicate that 2006 is on course to be the worst year for lost and
 mishandled baggage since 1991. And, these high levels of lost and
 mishandled luggage scenarios will likely persist in 2007 because airline
 restrictions regarding carry-on items, in place now and for the foreseeable
 future, mean travelers will continue to check their luggage.
     To help travelers protect their baggage and other possessions when
 flying, American Express, a leader in travel insurance benefits, offers
 some basic tips:
     -- Tag it - put your name inside as well as outside of baggage.  This way,
        if luggage tags fall off in transit, airline employees will be able to
        identify your baggage.  Also, putting a copy of your itinerary inside
        baggage will make it easier for an airline employee to find you if a
        bag does become lost.
 
     -- Take a photo - take a picture of your bags before you travel.
        Travelers will find that having a photo of lost baggage will be much
        easier than trying to describe what it looks like at the claims desk.
 
     -- Ship it - send luggage and other items normally checked in at the
        airport, such as sports equipment and baby accessories (carriage, car
        seat, etc.) directly to your destination.  By shipping their luggage,
        travelers will receive several benefits, including eliminating the
        possibility of the airline losing it and bypassing long check-in lines
        and excess baggage fees.  There are a number of luggage delivery
        services available.  American Express Vacations, for example, offers a
        luggage delivery service to its customers that enables them to ship
        their luggage to any American Express Vacations destination.  Customers
        can arrange shipping reservations by phone or online, and arrange a
        pick-up time and custom insurance amounts for each item shipped.
        Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance or in as few as two
        business days prior to a required delivery date.  For more information
        visit www.luggageforward.com/aev.
 
     -- Carry spares - pack a day's worth of clothes in your carry on bag.
        Including a few essentials such as a tooth brush, tooth paste and
        important prescription medications is also a good idea.  This way, if
        your bags do become lost, you can minimize stress by not having to
        immediately run around an unknown city trying to replace essentials.
 
     If a bag is lost or stolen, there is hope.
     -- Baggage insurance will go a long way in helping to counteract that
        sinking feeling that comes with the realization that a bag is lost.
        Many charge and credit cards offer baggage insurance as a benefit to
        their customers.  American Express, for example, provides a fee-free
        baggage insurance plan on many of its charge and credit Card products -
        as well as several insurance plans that offer added levels of
        protection for a nominal fee including:
 
         - Baggage Insurance Plan*.  Available to Cardmembers who fly on a
           commercial airline flight when the ticket is charged to an eligible
           American Express Card.  The Plan provides coverage for loss and
           damage to carry-on baggage up to $1,250 at no extra cost and also
           provides secondary coverage for checked baggage up to $500 (in
           excess of the carrier's coverage).
 
         - Baggage Delay and Loss Protection*.  Provides coverage for checked,
           carry-on and delayed baggage when scheduled airline tickets are
           purchased on an enrolled Card.  Coverage includes: up to $500
           against loss or damage to checked baggage; up to $500 against loss
           or damage to carry-on baggage; up to $500 against loss or damage to
           personal property at a hotel; and up to $200 for the cost of
           replacing necessary personal articles when bags are delayed six (6)
           or more hours.  Per-trip premium: $5.75 per trip.
 
         - Executive Baggage Protection*.  Provides coverage for checked,
           carry-on and delayed baggage when scheduled airline tickets are
           purchased on an enrolled Card.  Coverage includes: up to $500
           against loss or damage to checked baggage; up to $500 against loss
           or damage to carry-on baggage; up to $500 against loss or damage to
           personal property at a hotel; and up to $300 for the cost of
           replacing necessary personal articles or business effects when bags
           are delayed six (6) or more hours.  Per-trip premium: $6.50 per
           trip.
 
         - Premium Baggage Insurance*.  Provides coverage for checked, carry-on
           and delayed baggage when scheduled airline tickets are purchased on
           an enrolled Card.  Coverage includes: up to $1,000 against loss or
           damage to checked baggage; up to $2,000 against loss or damage to
           carry-on baggage; up to $2,000 against loss or damage to personal
           property at a hotel; and up to $500 for the cost of replacing
           necessary personal articles or business effects when bags are
           delayed three (3) or more hours.  Fee is $9.95 per covered trip.
     For more information about these or other travel insurance benefits
 offered on the American Express Card, Cardmembers can call the toll free
 number listed on the back of their Card.
     * Terms and conditions apply.
 
 

SOURCE American Express