According to new research from Gigasure, mobile phones account for 24.2% of all technology-related travel insurance claims.
The data reveals that smartphones are the most common tech item involved in holiday claims with technology claims costing £244 on average. With smartphones now used for everything from boarding passes and navigation to taking holiday photos, making payments and keeping in touch with friends and family, losing a phone abroad can quickly turn a relaxing break into a costly headache.
The research highlights how holidaymakers are travelling with an increasing collection of valuable technology. YouGov research found that smartphones are overwhelmingly the most common device taken abroad, while 37% of device owners take a power bank, 35% take a tablet and 27% take a smartwatch. Technology-related incidents, including theft, loss and damage, now account for 4.6% of all travel insurance claims.
Furthermore, the CAA states that the average traveller carries four devices with them when flying. Devices such as laptops, phones, tablets and power banks are powered by lithium batteries which can overheat and cause fires and cause significant damage in the air. FAA statistics show that there have been 786 incidents involving lithium batteries in electronic devices on planes in the last 10 years (69 so far in 2026).
The figures come as consumers are being urged to check exactly what their travel insurance covers before heading overseas. Recent research from Which? found that half of travel insurance customers surveyed had not updated their cover to reflect changes to their trips, while its analysis of annual travel insurance policies found that 65% of policies offering baggage or personal belongings cover had a maximum limit of £2,000 or less.
Gary Murphy, travel insurance expert, Gigasure, said: “Most of us wouldn’t dream of going on holiday without our mobile phone, but our claims data shows just how frequently things can go wrong with technology while we’re away.
“Phones in particular are vulnerable. Not just because people lose them, but our holiday behaviour, such as using it for photos or directions creates lots of opportunity for damage and theft too.
“Phones now play such an important role in our holidays, from storing boarding passes and booking information to navigating unfamiliar destinations, that losing one can cause significant disruption as well as an unexpected expense.
“With a quarter of technology-related claims involving mobile phones, we’re encouraging holidaymakers to think about their phone as one of their most valuable possessions when travelling and to check their insurance cover before they go.”
Gigasure’s holiday tech checklist
- Check your phone is covered by your travel insurance policy before going away (or whether you have any other policy covering it).
- If you have no other insurance, check whether the single-item / standard Gadget limit under your travel insurance policy is high enough (or whether you need to buy an upgrade).
- Consider what other devices you’re taking and their combined value.
- Back up any important photos and documents as you go.
- Keep your phone secure when taking photos or having your device out.
- Keep proof of purchase handy.
- If flying, carry all devices and power banks in your hand luggage and check they meet the airlines requirements.
- Store devices close by rather than in an overhead locker so any fire can be detected quickly.
*Research in conjunction with International Medical Group Ltd.