Gettin’ Carried Away

Imagine yourself about to embark on a two-week holiday to London. You’ve packed up a huge suitcase, checked it at the airport and sent it off to be placed on your aircraft… or so you thought. You take your overnight flight to the UK, you sleep through most of it and you wake up excited, ready to greet the day! You wait patiently at the baggage claim as everyone grabs their suitcases. All of a sudden, the turnstile is empty. Where’s your bag? It’s… gone.

Although ‘permanently lost luggage’ is a rare occurence, it does happen. Here’s what you can do to prepare yourself for the worst-case-scenario:

1. Bring a carry-on! Especially when you are planning to bring valuable items and important documents, you should carry them with you at all times. These include, but are not limited to, a camera, a cell phone, an mp3 player, a laptop, a passport, a visa and prescription medication. You may also want to bring your toiletries (in a clear, quart-sized plastic bag) and pack a change of clothes in the event that the airline does lose your checked luggage.

2. Attach a clearly written label to your checked bag. Most suitcases have a pocket on the outside where you can slip an address label. You may also want to stick another one inside your suitcase just in case the one on the outside falls out. Another good idea is to place a copy of your flight itinerary and the name/address of your hotel accommodations inside your bag so that when it is found, the airline will know where to send it.

3. Give your luggage some distinctive characteristics. Do you know how many people own basic black suitcases? Because of the sleek appearance, black suitcases are a popular choice among travelers. However, it’s never easy to spot your bag when 20 other black bags spill out onto the turnstile. And if the airline loses your bag, it’s going to be hard to give a good description when your suitcase looks just like everyone else’s. Tie some colorful ribbon around the handle or the holes in the zippers. You may also want to buy a bright-colored luggage strap to wrap around your suitcase!

4. Try to take a non-top flight. Most luggage is lost when passengers make connecting flights. If your first flight is delayed, and you have very little time to get to your connecting flight, the chances of the airline losing your luggage increase. If you’re worried about it, try to find non-stop flights whenever you are planning a trip. This way, you should know where your luggage is from the moment you drop it off to the moment you pick it up.

When all is said and done, if your luggage is lost… it’s lost. The best thing you can do is to be prepared for the worst. Remember: don’t leave anything valuable in a checked bag, make sure your home address is on the checked bag, make your checked bag stand out from others and try to avoid connecting flights.