by Adrian Owens

Created on: November 19, 2010   Last Updated: November 22, 2010

You have just returned home from your vacation and start to unpack your bags. Wait! Where is the box of jewelry and the new designer shirt you brought while on vacation? They can't be missing, they still had the price tag on them. There is a good possibility the items were stolen from your check luggage.

If you have ever had this experience than you know how devastating having an item stolen out of your checked luggage can be. But what if you have never experienced missing items from your luggage, what should you do to file a claim for the stolen item? This article will provide you with guidelines in assisting with filing a claim for items stolen from your checked luggage.

Normally, people discover missing items from their checked luggage only after leaving the airport and arriving at their destination. Airlines have different policies pertaining to stolen or missing items taken from your checked luggage. Some airlines allow 24 hours after your arrival to make a claim on a lost or stolen item from your checked bag.

Visit the airline's website immediately and read the information pertaining to lost or stolen items from your checked luggage. They should also have a contact number or email address for you to use. At this moment you may feel your emotions are running high so take the time to collect your thoughts and be patient when speaking to the airline representative. They will have a series of questions to ask you to begin the stolen item claim process.

If the stolen item is one that is reimbursable by the airlines, and this information can be found on the airline's website, call the contact number or email the airlines. Emails are preferred since you can provide detailed information of the lost item and have a copy of the correspondence time and date stamped for your records. A airline representative will contact you to complete the report and provide you with information you should know.

Whether you are speaking with an airline representative or corresponding by email you should have the following flight information:

Date of travel, flight number, departing and arrival cities, if you made a connection include this information in your correspondence as well.

Estimated time it took for the bags to arrive to the baggage carousel upon arrival to your destination.

If you are a frequent traveler with the airline include your frequent traveler number for easier verification of travel.

Include your complete name, physical address, email address, and contact numbers.

Provide a description of the missing items and the value.

If you still have a receipt for the purchased items advise this when speaking to the airline representative or in your written correspondence.

Depending on the airline's policy, which you can find on their website or when speaking with an airline representative, the claim process can take any where from two weeks to 30 days. You also want to make a stolen item report with the local police department. This will ensure you have an official report of the stolen item for your homeowners or travel insurance claims if it is covered by those policies.

The airlines do everything in their power to prevent thefts from occurring. Unfortunately it still happens. The best way to safeguard your items it to keep valuables in your carry on luggage. And if you have to pack new items in checked luggage then remove the price tags and keep them in your purse until you reach your destination. If you do find something is stolen from your checked luggage at least now you have guidelines on how to proceed and information as to what to expect when processing a claim for items stolen from your checked luggage.

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