Excess Baggage
Friday 13th August 2010: The average holidaymaker travels with £3174.65 of luggage, it was revealed today(1).
That’s nearly three times as much as the cost of the average package holiday – which sets folk back just £1,342.90.
The shock study from Sheilas’ Wheels Travel Insurance shows that despite shopping around for the best holiday deal Brits then pack thousands of pounds worth of clothes, shoes, electrical equipment and cosmetics(2).
Yet a fifth of holidaymakers don’t even think to take out travel insurance to cover lost or stolen luggage.
Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels travel insurance, which polled 3,000 people said: “The majority of folk don’t give a second thought to the value of the goods they are packing into their suitcase and hand luggage, but in reality the contents are worth thousands.
“And when it comes to the crunch, most holidaymakers don’t even use half of the items they take with them.
“Brits need to learn to pack light – not only would this reduce any implications of excess baggage fees, but it would also soften the blow if the luggage did go missing.”
The poll shows the average traveller takes £325.09 of clothes, £119.40 of shoes, flip-flops and wedges, and £75.73 of accessories such as scarves, sarongs and hats.
Holidaymakers also pack sunglasses to the value of £94.45, and jewellery to the tune of £236.50 – because although bikinis and shorts are all that is needed during the days, at night-time Brits like to dress to impress.
Electrical equipment also sends the value of holiday luggage soaring – as people travel with cameras worth £231.03, camcorders worth £281.03 and shavers totalling £104.71.
In addition, holidaymakers pack entertainment such as mp3 players, CD players, laptops, and mobile phones, a collective total of £1,207.61.
Personal hygiene sets them back another £189.25 as they pack their suitcase full of toiletries, hairdryers and straighteners.
While items such as baby equipment, and food and snacks cost a further £258.62.
And the suitcase and hand luggage itself costs another £51.23 – taking the total value of holiday luggage to just over three grand.
Interestingly, four in 10 couples admit to arguing over the contents of the suitcase, as one usually wants to take more than the other.
And 34 per cent of Brits have been forced to buy another bag or suitcase on holiday to accommodate their new purchases to bring home.
Jacky Brown further commented: “For peace of mind, it’s vital for holidaymakers to make sure they’ve got travel insurance and double check what they are covered for, as while you can’t plan for every eventuality, you can make sure you have done everything you can before leaving the UK.”
BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS
AVERAGE COST OF LUGGAGE IN POUNDS:
| Clothes | 325.09 |
| Shoes | 119.40 |
| Jewellery | 236.50 |
| Accessories | 75.73 |
| Sunglasses | 94.45 |
| Toiletries | 80.08 |
| Hair equipment | 109.17 |
| Laptop | 552.60 |
| Camera | 231.03 |
| Camcorder | 281.03 |
| Mp3 player | 189.04 |
| CD player | 131.26 |
| Mobile phone | 334.71 |
| Baby equipment | 181.23 |
| Electric shaver | 104.71 |
| Food / snacks | 77.39 |
| Suitcase | 51.23 |
| TOTAL | 3174.65 |
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Sheilas’ Wheels press contacts:
Asia Yasir, Public Relations Officer: 01737 641305
Adrian Webb, Head of Corporate Communications: 01737 641000
Email: pr@sheilaswheels.com
Visit the media centre: www.sheilaswheels.com
Visit the official fansite for Sheilas’ Wheels: www.ilovesheilas.com
An ISDN line is available for radio interviews.
Case studies are available on request.
Notes to Editors:
(1) SWNS conducted an online research survey via Onepoll which interviewed a random sample of 3,000 holidaymakers between 3rd – 5th August 2010.
(2) Sheilas’ Wheels travel insurance offers a ‘travel Bag top-up’ option: aimed at those taking an extended trip or holidaymakers who pack a more substantial sum of valuables, outfits and accessories, gadgets or equipment in their luggage, there is the option to pay for a higher baggage limit – upped from the standard £1500 to £2500.
