What do people do for luggage insurance?

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dylanfromwinnipeg

Contributor
Messages
89
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Location
Mexico
# of dives
200 - 499
Between my rebreather, dry suit, regs, and other gear I probably have close to $20k of gear I travel with (and when I add in a camera rig that will bump up even more). I can move some of the small expensive bits to my carry-on (computers, transmitters), but there's still an awful lot of money in that suitcase. If an airline loses it, the amount they reimburse won't come close to the value. And as far as I can tell travel insurance policies have max limits in the $2000-$3000 ranges.

Has anybody got a good solution to this problem?
 
Aaach yes, welcome to travel hell. Curious for tips as well. More and more starting to look at local diving, no matter how cold it is, or driving/taking a train, at least within Europe. Air travel has become such a pain nowadays.

I have more or less given up. Granted I am in a different market (Europe) but basically finding absolute nothing. Ridiculously low limits (like 1500 Euro), coupled with low per item limit (like 300-600) with statements like "camera and all lenses" counts as one item. And literally every single insurance has a small print "if you put valuables (and yes, camera or funky dive gear will count as this!) in hold, it invalidates the cover". Home insurance only covers when "at home away from home" (so say a hotel) but not in travel.
There is an insurance if you are a pro (business) but being private, you are screwed mostly.

Airlines are not better - there used to be an option for extra insurance on some, now it seems a dead concept. And more and more becoming absolutely strict about hand luggage with limits being a joke - 7kg is a norm now (I am jelly about Air Canada, boy that 23kg is a dream) . And trying to reason with them on the grounds of valuable/delicate etc. is a complete nonsense - even the "reputable" ones here answers are "stop being poor and book business" (though even there allowance starts to be puny compared to what is was)
And don't expect much help from the airlines when the bag vanishes into thin air . Speaking from an experience - whole bag of dive stuff including week old air freshener, poof and gone. Hence stuffing those with AirTags now (the only good thing about icraphone), and hope that at least I can track it then.
 
When I traveled, I insured the rebreather and camera through H20. It was around 10K and I can't remember the cost but it wasn't much in grand scheme.
 
Check with your insurance agent as you may be covered under your home owners or renters insurance.
 
Look at a Personal Articles policy added to your homeowners insurance. You’ll probably have to provide a list of the items, serial numbers, and receipts to prove you own them and the cost basis.
 
We use diveassure.com but can't comment on making a claim as we didn't have to (touch wood).

😅

With the plus package you get some decent coverage for items that are checked-in. We fly with computers and heads/regs in hand, that lowers the checked-in value significantly and we fit nice in the Plus range.
 
diveassure.com
Hmm , excerpt from T&C below. Markings in bold from me.


Claims are evaluated on an 'indemnity basis'. This means the market value of the article including deduction for age, wear, tear and
depreciation, or the cost of repair, whichever is lesser. The following limits apply:
A. Diving Equipment:
Up to maximum of 50% of cost as new for any one item to a maximum loss as defined in the Schedule of Benefits. Coverage
is supplementary to any other coverage held by You. This includes but is not limited to tanks, vest, regulators, and dive
computers/calculators.
B. Non diving equipment:
a. €500 in respect of any one article, pair or set of articles not defined under “Valuables”.
b. €300 overall in respect of valuables/electronics (see definition below).
Valuables: Are defined but not limited to photographic equipment, tablet PCs, computers, iPods, Smartphones, phones, MP3 players
and personal music and stereo equipment devices of any kind, telescope and binoculars, antiques, fur, and articles made of or
containing gold, silver or other precious metals or animal skins or hides. Valuation is at the sole discretion of the Insurer and are
considered final.

Specific Conditions & Exclusions - Baggage:
6.1. You must observe ordinary proper care in the supervision of Your property and in all cases of loss.
6.2. The Insurer shall not be liable for:
6.2.1. Money, Credit Cards
6.2.2. Damage to luggage of any kind and or its contents.
6.2.3. Any loss or theft, or suspected theft not reported to the Police within 24 hours of discovery and a
written report obtained;
6.2.4. Any damage or loss or theft of property in transit, which has not been reported to the carrier and
written report obtained. In the case of an airline a Property Irregularity Report will be required;
6.2.5. Loss or theft of any property left unattended in a public place unless the loss occurred during a
medical emergency;
6.2.6. Any theft from an unattended motor vehicle.
6.2.7. Loss, damage or theft of valuables and money packed in suitcases or other receptacles while traveling.

In other words, diving equipment max to 50% value (guess if you are lucky, after they apply their depreciation tables it might be 10 or 20), anything valuable (like camera equipment) in checked luggage is a no go. And even in hand baggage limit is 300 per item. 6.2.2 line is also quite interesting.
So same issues like with all the others sadly.

Shame DAN Europe no longer offers any dive equipment insurance.
 
Hmm , excerpt from T&C below. Markings in bold from me.




In other words, diving equipment max to 50% value (guess if you are lucky, after they apply their depreciation tables it might be 10 or 20), anything valuable (like camera equipment) in checked luggage is a no go. And even in hand baggage limit is 300 per item. So same issues like with all the others sadly.

Shame DAN Europe no longer offers any dive equipment insurance.
Cheers, but I saw it when signing up. There's nothing I could find that's better and we did look.

In our case I'm not losing sleep over it as we take pictures of dismantled CCR body and pipes (each part is around or under the limit), all truly valuable equipment is on us.
If we lose body, some pipes, stand, scrubber, etc - I'm prepared to lawyer up and get what's due. Even 50% makes a difference.
One might argue a CCR unit is VERY much in the very definition of "valuables", but didn't have the time and need to try and research the legalese resources at how it's treated. I haven't seen any reports here on the boards as to luggage loss with them.

Sigh... not much choice anyway and we took it for general coverage as well, including lost diving days, so we'll stick with them.
 
Cheers, but I saw it when signing up. There's nothing I could find that's better and we did look.

In our case I'm not losing sleep over it as we take pictures of dismantled CCR body and pipes (each part is around or under the limit), all truly valuable equipment is on us.
If we lose body, some pipes, stand, scrubber, etc - I'm prepared to lawyer up and get what's due. Even 50% makes a difference.
One might argue a CCR unit is VERY much in the very definition of "valuables", but didn't have the time and need to try and research the legalese resources at how it's treated. I haven't seen any reports here on the boards as to luggage loss with them.

Sigh... not much choice anyway and we took it for general coverage as well, including lost diving days, so we'll stick with them.

Do not be surprised when all those parts will be treated as a single item.
Insurance wise Europe stinks a bit, as long as its run of the mill, it is fine, but anything out of the ordinary, nope.
UK has Dive Master Insurance, with specialized gear/camera/breather options but it was UK residents only last time I've checked. Any valuables in cargo hold were also no-no.
 
No need to get a dive-specific policy. You can shop for a general travel insurance policy or a more limited baggage insurance policy. There are a number that offer replacement cost coverage.

But they will typically cap out in the $2-3K range per loss, so you will end up co-insuring yourself for value above that.
 

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