British Airways voted worst airline for baggage troubles

One in 3.8 BA passengers has had lost, delayed or damaged luggage in the last five years, a survey by insurance company LV= revealed.

Second worst hit travellers were those on Virgin Atlantic flights, one in 8.3 having luggage problems.

Third was Dubai-based carrier Emirates (one in nine passengers affected), fourth was easyJet (one in 11.1) and fifth was Ryanair (one in 12.5).

Based on responses from more than 2,000 recent flyers from across the UK, the survey also showed that, overall, 29 per cent of passengers had suffered lost, damaged or delayed luggage after checking in during the last five years.

Only a quarter of those whose luggage was damaged received compensation from the airline. Those who were compensated received an average of just 72 for their damage.

The survey also showed that 30 per cent of travellers waited three months or more to be compensated for their damaged luggage. A total of 38 per cent had to wait for between one week and a month, while just 20 per cent were compensated for the damage within a week.

When it comes to lost luggage, only 27 per cent were reunited with their bags within 24 hours.

LV= travel insurance managing director John O'Roarke said: "The fact that a third of all travellers have had their baggage lost or damaged in the last five years is surprisingly high and should come as a warning to holidaymakers."

Britons have failed to shake off their socks-and-sandals image and have been voted the worst-dressed holidaymakers in Europe. The next worst-dressed foreign tourists were the Germans and the Americans, while the survey by TripAdvisor showed the Italians to be the best-dressed holiday-makers.