Joe Yogerst
10 ways to avoid lost luggage
It started out as just an ordinary trip to the Caribbean and wound up as a baggage claim nightmare thanks to two airlines, three airports and the always unnamed gremlins responsible for the increasing amount of misplaced—and downright lost—luggage around the globe.
Air Jamaica lost my checked bag on a flight into St. Lucia. A day later, still no bag. Stuck with nothing more than the clothes I was wearing in the heat and humidity, I invested in a whole new tropical wardrobe (at no small expense). My bag showed up just in time for my next flight, a 30-minute LIAT service to Dominica. And guess what? My checked bag went missing again—with almost all of the clothes I had purchased in St Lucia. Once again, a full day passed without the suitcase appearing. And once again, I found myself shopping for an island-appropriate wardrobe...
10 ways to avoid lost luggage
It started out as just an ordinary trip to the Caribbean and wound up as a baggage claim nightmare thanks to two airlines, three airports and the always unnamed gremlins responsible for the increasing amount of misplaced—and downright lost—luggage around the globe.
Air Jamaica lost my checked bag on a flight into St. Lucia. A day later, still no bag. Stuck with nothing more than the clothes I was wearing in the heat and humidity, I invested in a whole new tropical wardrobe (at no small expense). My bag showed up just in time for my next flight, a 30-minute LIAT service to Dominica. And guess what? My checked bag went missing again—with almost all of the clothes I had purchased in St Lucia. Once again, a full day passed without the suitcase appearing. And once again, I found myself shopping for an island-appropriate wardrobe...
Joe Yogerst 10 ways to avoid lost luggage It started out as just an ordinary trip to the Caribbean and wound up as a baggage claim nightmare thanks to ... more
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1
Don't check luggage
Learn to pack (and pack it in) so you can travel with only carry-on luggage, especially on flights with tight connections. Given the fact that you can go straight to/from the gates, this also cuts down on the overall amount of airport time at the front and back of your trip.
2
Name that bag
Be sure to label your checked luggage both inside and out. Before each flight, make sure external name tags are still secure and place a current business card or some other form of identification somewhere inside the bag. Some fliers also place a copy of their flight itinerary and hotel details inside their checked baggage.
3
Take direct flights
Airlines love to funnel their customers into hubs. But shifting bags from one flight to another at transfer airport is by far the most common way that luggage goes missing. Direct flights may cost more in some cases, but the savings in time (tracking down lost luggage) and angst is often invaluable.
4
Arrive at the airport on time—or earlier
It's dumb to risk bag-screening delays so you can cut it close on your airport-arrival time. Late check-in can lead to bags not getting placed aboard your flight, especially in this era of greatly increased airport security. Your bag must go through TSA screening before it even reaches the tarmac.
5
Be smart about packing
"Don't place an alarm clock next to your iPod cable," says Steve Lott of IATA. Or for that matter, anything else that might look suspicious when x-rayed by TSA. Same goes with potentially dangerous items. Any sort of secondary screening is going to delay your bag reaching the plane.
6
Make your bag stand out
You don't have to paint it DayGlo pink, but somehow making your luggage stand out from the crowd will help airport or airline attendants identify it. Brightly colored ribbons are a favorite choice (and also easily removable). But you can also opt for colored tape or good old-fashioned travel decals a la the 1920s and 30s. You might also want to invest in something besides a black, navy blue or dark gray bag.
7
Don't get sucked into short connections
Despite the temptation to trim connections down to the shortest possible time, tell your travel agent to follow the recommended time guidelines for each airport you have to pass through on your journey. Same goes if you're buying the tickets yourself online.
8
Matching those tags
At check-in, make sure a baggage tag receipt is attached to your flight itinerary or folder, and always double check that receipt to make sure that your bags are bound for the same destination, and not some other airport with similar call letters.
9
Photograph your bag and carry copies
This may seem extreme, but it's often hard to remember exactly what your bag looks like when filling out those lost luggage forms at an airport counter. Being able to give the airline attendant a copy can also expedite the search effort.
10
Send your bags ahead
Companies like Personal Porter and Sports Express offer door-to-door luggage delivery service to many parts of the globe. After pick-up at your home or office a few days before your scheduled flight, the bag is waiting at hotel, resort, home, etc. at the other end. Shipping a large suitcase from the U.S. to Australia costs around $600 round trip.
[source: https://www.forbestraveler.com/jets-planes/lost-luggage-story.html ]
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