Losing your checked baggage is an awful experience. Your clothes, shoes, and toiletries are in a heap on the airport floor or scattered across the tarmac. You’ve been away from home for hours, and you come back to this mess. It can be both frustrating and expensive: not only do you have to buy new things, but then there’s all that wasted time! And it’s not just about replacing items. If something was irreplaceable, like a wedding dress or treasured family heirloom, it’s devastating too.
So what can we do about it? There are certain precautions you can take before leaving home which will help to ensure your baggage arrives with you.
1. Pick the Right Bag
When packing your suitcase or bag, make sure everything is sturdy. If it’s flimsy, it’s more likely to break, and your belongings will be lost: the handlers at the airport are not gentle!
2. Don’t overpack
This makes your luggage more difficult to handle and increases the chances of something getting damaged or lost. Check out our tips on saving space while packing.
3. Use TSA-approved locks
These locks will deter thieves from snooping around inside and help if your bag gets lost: the airline can open it and check what’s inside without damaging your things.
4. Keep valuables in your carry-on baggage
This way, if your luggage does go missing, you won’t have lost everything. Things like jewelry, laptops, tablets, and other expensive items should always be kept in your carry-on! Maybe you can even consider going carry-on only and packing like a minimalist!
5. Label Your Bags
Make sure you label your bags with your name and contact details. If your bag gets lost, this will help the airline to find you and return it to you. On the luggage tag, write your name, destination address, and, if possible, a phone number where you can be reached while traveling. Exclude your home address, so you don’t advertise your empty home to thieves.
6. Take a photo
Take pictures of what you’ve packed in your case before you leave home. This will help you remember what you’ve put in your luggage, which will come in handy if you need to claim with the airline for lost or damaged items. You should always keep receipts of any expensive items so you can claim them without any long disputes.
7. Get Insured
Travel insurance is a must for any trip. It will cover you for any loss or damage to your belongings, as well as other problems like flight delays or cancellations. Also, check the airline’s policy on bag loss or delay. They will often pay for new belongings, even if your ones turn up a few days later!
8. Read the fine print
When traveling, it’s important to be aware of your airline’s baggage policy. This will help ensure that you don’t end up with a checked bag that gets lost. Each airline has different rules about what is and isn’t allowed in checked luggage, and there may be restrictions on the weight and size of bags.
9. Stand Out
Adding a ribbon to your luggage will make it easily identifiable on the carousel. Choose a bright color or pattern that will stand out, and make sure the ribbon is securely attached, so it doesn’t come loose. This will help other passengers not mistake your bag for their own.
10. Be Unique!
The more unique your bag looks, the harder it is for someone to steal it or for it to get lost. Choose a suitcase in a bright color, add a custom design and make it super easy to spot coming around the carousel.
11. Ship ahead
Ship any valuable items ahead of time. This can include anything from jewelry to electronics. By sending these items ahead of time, you’ll have less to worry about if your luggage does get lost or misplaced. Send these by tracked courier with added insurance for the safest solution.
12. Track your Luggage
Use an Apple Air Tag or a Tile to find your bag anywhere in the world. Get peace of mind that your bag made it onto the flight, find it on the carousel, or help the airline track it down if it does get lost. These can also be handy for helping keep your carry-on or handbag safe too!
13. Be Prepared
Always bring a spare change of clothes and a few pairs of underwear in your carry-on. In the worst-case scenario that your bag gets lost, at least you have some clothes to change into when you reach your destination. In most cases, suitcases are found and returned within 48 hours, so this will be enough to get by on in case you’re not close by to any shopping malls.
14. Don’t Delay the Claim
If your luggage does go missing, the first thing you should do is file a lost baggage claim with the airline. This will help them start their search for your belongings as soon as possible. Be sure to include all of your contact information, as well as the details of your trip, in the claim form. Provide any pictures of your bag and any special features that might help them pick it out.
15. Don’t give up hope!
Sometimes it takes a while for bags to be found and returned to their owners, but it does happen. Replace the essentials and wait to see what turns up in a few days.
Losing your checked baggage can be an extremely frustrating and costly experience. However, by following these tips, you can help to reduce the chances of this happening. Taking some simple precautions before leaving home will give you peace of mind while on your trip.
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any other tips or tricks for avoiding lost baggage, please share them in the comments below!
Happy Travels!