Cancellations and disruptions at Terminal 5 caused baggage backlogs.
Independent research company Defaqto has revealed that 14% of the 308 single trip policies on its database do not provide any cover for delayed baggage.
The findings come as chaos continues at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (T5). A spokesman for British Airways (BA), which operates from T5, said 24 flights were cancelled on Saturday due to a baggage system malfunction.
BA was able to repair the baggage system that same day. But bad weather over the weekend also resulted in flight cancellations across the airport and T5 suffered 140 cancellations on Sunday.
The spokesman added that of the 15,000 bags that were backlogged since the £4.3bn facility opened two weeks ago, 10,000 had been returned to owners and 5,000 were being processed.
Meanwhile, Defaqto also found that 40% of single trip policies only provided a maximum cover of £100 for delayed flights and baggage. A further 74% provided £20 or less for the first 12 hours of being delayed at the airport, and 82% provided £20 or less for each subsequent 12 hours of delay.
The company has warned consumers about the need for comprehensive travel cover.
Mike Powell, consultant for general insurance at Defaqto, said: “With the problems that have occurred with the opening of Terminal 5 and the fact that there have been widespread reports in the media of people not being able to collect their luggage and flights being cancelled or delayed, consumers do not always consider what cover is provided by their travel insurance policy for these types of eventualities.
“It is therefore important to check what is provided by a travel insurance policy before purchasing cover.”
