Backpackers concerned they may lose their luggage when they fly to far-flung corners of the world could buy
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The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) found that baggage mishandling in airports has risen in recent years, with more than 40 million bags going missing around the world throughout the course of 2007 - an increase of over ten million in the space of two years.
Some airlines have responded by saying that many bags - some of which could be owned by backpackers with
gap year travel insurance - have insufficient information on them and that the lack of names and addresses on labelling makes it difficult to contact rightful owners.
James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at the AUC, said: "The infrastructure dealing with baggage handling is provided by airport operators so they must take some responsibility for it. Passengers need to take some responsibility too."
He added that baggage conveyor belts sometimes break down and that the reliability of airport baggage systems could be addressed.
Over a million bags lost in 2007 were never found, according to research from the AUC.
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