WHY IT RATES: Travelers booking with Trip.com will now be able to utilize Blue Ribbon Bags' service. —Codie Liermann, Senior Editor

Trip.com today announced that it now offers the Blue Ribbon Bags (“BRB”) delayed baggage protection service on its platform. Blue Ribbon Bags is one of the fastest-growing ancillary services in the travel market and the world leader in airport delayed baggage retrieval services.

Travelers who book air travel on Trip.com will be able to safeguard their checked-in baggage against any delay during transit. Flyers will now be able to opt for the Delayed Baggage Protection Service while booking flights.

Commenting on the new service, Lyrics Zhao, Director of Product and Business Development in the Flights Business at Trip.com said, “Trip.com strives to make travel worry-free and relaxing for all. We want the booking experience to be the beginning of a relaxing trip and to offer value added services to the passenger. Starting a trip with delayed baggage can cause stress and worry, therefore, we are excited to be offering the world’s delayed baggage experts service by Blue Ribbon Bags to our clients when booking a flight.”

“Our service provides air travelers with confidence that if their checked-in baggage does not arrive at the destination airport, we will coordinate and expedite the swift return. Our clients should be able to enjoy their holiday or focus on their work trip while we locate and expedite the baggage,” stated CD Lazear, Senior Vice President of Blue Ribbon Bags.

Recent aggregated customer data shows that the top three factors a customer will consider when they book air travel are: flexibility of cancellation, health & medical coverage and delayed baggage. Around two thirds of mishandled or delayed baggage happen on connecting flights rather than direct.

There is also an expected spike in the number of checked bags globally, as airlines, in attempts to keep customers safe, have urged passengers to abstain from bringing carry-on baggage in order to speed up boarding and takeoff.

SOURCE: Blue Ribbon Bags press release.