Direct Line offers advice to those affected by Heathrow's T5 delays

Direct Line, one of the UK's leading insurers, has today highlighted some of the actions travellers can take to help reduce the impact of baggage handling delays and loss as a result of the current problems at Terminal Five.

Many travellers have already suffered severe baggage delays and lose during the last few days.

Chris Price, Direct Line's Head of Travel Insurance, comments, "Representatives from our travel insurance team are available to respond to calls from our customers. Our priority over the coming days is to provide our customers with help and advice on how to process claims as quickly as possible.

“The problems at Terminal Five have highlighted the importance of purchasing travel insurance, as arriving at a destination without your baggage can be a huge inconvenience and be costly to replace. Having travel insurance can offer that extra peace of mind should the unexpected happen."

Direct Line offers the following advice to travellers:

Clearly tag your baggage with your name and contact details.

Read your airline's baggage policy to ensure your baggage is within size and weight limits for your particular journey.

You should report any damage or temporary loss to your airline and obtain from them a 'Property Irregularity Report' (commonly known as a 'PIR'). Ensure you keep any damaged items for inspection.

If there is a delay, you should obtain written confirmation from the airline giving exact details of the reason for, and length of the delay.

It is essential you keep receipts, guarantees, instruction manuals, valuations or photographs of your belongings as these may help to support any claim for lost baggage.

Direct Line provides compensation (up to £100/person on DL) for customers who've had to buy replacement items as a result of delayed or lost baggage (e.g. underwear, toiletries).

Contact Direct Line as soon as possible to check whether your claim is covered by your policy. Our trained staff can provide you with important information and advice to help reduce the impact of the delay or loss.

For further information and advice please log on to: directline.com