Avoiding Lost Luggage: How-To Guide for Travelers
The best way to avoid lost luggage is to leave your best luggage at home and only bring a carry-on bag when you travel. But of course, that’s not always a practical or workable solution for any trip that’s more than a weekend getaway. Plus, you bought that beautiful luggage set so you can use it and enjoy it.
According to the US Department of Transportation, airlines have improved their methods of baggage handling to the point of lost luggage being a relatively rare event in 2020.
Still, the odds don’t mean a lot when it’s YOUR bag that is one of the three suitcases per every thousand that’s lost. So how do you minimize the risk of lost luggage when you travel?
Avoid Extra-Quick Connections
Most cases of lost luggage occur when your baggage doesn’t make a connecting flight. While no one enjoys long airport layovers, scheduling your connecting flights too close together increases the risk of you making the flight but your luggage not making the connection.
While it’s fairly easy for you to get yourself onto a connecting flight in only 20 minutes, keep in mind that it takes significantly longer than that for baggage handlers to separate out luggage for each connecting flight and get it loaded onto the correct plane.
A direct flight is the best way to ensure that your luggage stays on the same flight as you. Luggage is almost never lost on a direct flight, but if it isn’t possible or affordable to fly directly to your destination, allowing at least an hour to make a connecting flight greatly minimizes your risk of losing your best luggage.
Luggage Labeling: How and Why
While luggage tags have been around for a long time, and some of the best luggage comes with built-in tags, choosing the right luggage tags and filling them out correctly can make a big difference in ensuring your baggage finds you if you do become separated. Some tags have advanced technologies that include microchips for tracking and hidden information, so you won’t have to have your personal information on display.
Luggage tracking tags are especially helpful for finding out exactly where your bag is without having to wait for airline personnel to locate it. It also tells you where your bag is NOT, so you won’t waste time calling the wrong airports or standing in a baggage claim waiting for a bag that’s not there.
Other tags keep it simple with a space to supply your name and contact information. For personal security, it’s best to place only your email address or cell phone number on the display.
Luggage Tags and Itinerary
It’s also a good idea to add a tag to the inside of your bag or keep a laminated card taped inside your best luggage with your contact information. This way if your outside label separates from the bag there is another way for airport personnel to identify your bag and contact you.
If you plan a long trip with several destinations you may wish to leave a copy of your travel itinerary inside your luggage as well. This way baggage handlers will be able to contact you and send your luggage to your current location no matter where you are on your journey.
Be sure to tear off any old baggage tags on your luggage before your flight. Having a bunch of old tags, or even a single outdated tag, can make it take longer for baggage personnel to locate the correct tag for your flight.
Suitcase Selfie: Take a Picture
Your best luggage should also be photo-ready. A picture really is worth a thousand words. No matter how descriptive you are, showing airport personnel a picture of your luggage will help them to identify it much faster.
Taking a picture of your luggage and keeping it on your phone during your journey is a good way to ensure that you can use it to identify your luggage, and describe it whenever you need to. To be extra careful, you can also print hard copies of your best luggage photos, so you can leave one at baggage claim if your suitcase turns up missing and you have to be on your way to a connecting flight or another destination.
While you have your phone out, you can also take a picture of the airport’s baggage tag placed on your luggage before it’s taken away. This way you have with you a copy of the tag numbers assigned to your luggage.
Prepping in Advance: How to NOT Lose Your Luggage
No matter how carefully you prepare your best luggage for travel, it’s still possible that you’ll end up separated from your bags for at least 24 hours once they don’t make your connecting flight.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to have sleepwear and a day’s clothing in your carry on bags, as well as sample-sized grooming products. This can help to bridge the gap between your luggage getting lost, and your luggage finding you again.
Resources— AirFareWatchDog, ThePointsGuy, TravelTips
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