Tips to prevent your luggage from being lost or stolen during your next flight, whether it is international or domestic.
This is my first post since returning home after a land and cruise trip that lasted a whole month. Any trip can be derailed by checked luggage issues. We were attacked three times but we were prepared and it did not stop us from having a great trip by land, sea and air.
We lost three pieces of luggage during our recent trip.
Sydney, Australia was reached without luggage. Both flights were successful, but not without incident. When we arrived at the luggage carousel in customs, I grabbed my wife’s bag as soon as we cleared passport control. My bag was caught by another passenger a few moments later as it headed to the luggage carousel. I’ll grant him the benefit-of-the doubt and assume that he was not trying to steal my luggage, but it has a large tag in blue on the handle with large white letters that reads “Levi”, as well as a large belt of blue around the bag. To distinguish it from other bags.
I asked if his first name was Levi. He replied, “No.” I asked: “Why did you grab that big tag with Levi written on it?” He dropped the bag and left.
There were also luggage issues at the time of our cruise’s embarkation.
Two Sydney cruise terminals were Hitchhike. We boarded at 12 noon to depart at 4:30 pm. After a leisurely meal, we went to our cabin. The bag of my wife was already in the cabin. By 3pm, I started to get nervous. No bag yet. The receptionist said that all bags were already on board but some were still in transit. My embedded Apple AirTag showed that at 3:45pm, people were walking past the bag every 5 minutes. I was able to see the main concierge, who then called housekeeping for an investigation. He told me that the bag had been delivered. My wife said that it was not there.
I spoke to the hotel manager on board. He had his men search the whole ship. A helpful concierge told me she had located it 15 minutes before the sailing. She took me there. The bag was accidentally left in the backroom. As soon as I saw the gangway of the ship, I went to our cabin and got the bags. Wow!
It was not made public that at our airport domestic, the luggage sent to two separate carousels was not announced.
We hurried to the baggage carousel in our airport of origin at the end our trip to find my wife’s luggage. My bag was not visible ten minutes later. Many bags had not yet arrived. As did the airline’s app, the list of luggage carousels displayed on the wall indicated that we were on the one carousel assigned to our flight. My AirTag indicated that the bag had arrived at the airport. I then received a message via the Tripit Pro application. Our flight was on a separate carousel. My bag appeared as soon as I got there. We were heading home with our entire belongings.
Tripit Pro and my Apple Air Tag bag identifier came to our rescue, ensuring that our luggage and belongings remained with us despite all the problems and chaos.
Here are 13 tips that will help you keep your items as safe as possible, and to prevent them from being stolen or lost.
Avoiding short flights or connecting flights will prevent your luggage from being lost.
If possible, book direct flights with no stops.
Baggage transfer issues are responsible for almost half of all baggage delays and losses, according to SITA. By booking direct non-stop flights, you can avoid these problems and increase the chances of your luggage arriving safely. All our flights were managed this way: No connections.
If you plan to use connecting flights, make sure that the layover is long enough.
Choose a layover that is long enough to allow you and your luggage to get from one flight to another. I schedule a minimum 90-minute layover.
Avoid using loose-fitting clothing:
It is not necessary to purchase expensive luggage in order to travel well. However, you should avoid buying a bag so cheap that it cannot withstand the rough treatment checked baggage receives at airports all over the world. Couldn’t.
Travel only with your hand luggage
It’s obvious but pack as light as possible and put everything in your carry on. It was impossible to take everything with us because we were on vacation for a whole month.
To prevent luggage from being lost or stolen, it is important to remove old airline tags and security tags. You should also make sure that your luggage looks distinctive.
Remove old airline and security labels:
The wrong bag can be directed to by old airline tags. Check your bag before leaving for the airport to make sure it is free of old stickers or tags.
Inside and outside, identify your possessions as yours:
The majority of travelers attach an ID tag to their luggage. Because luggage tags are often broken, I have two. In order to be extra safe, I display my business cards inside my bag along with my itinerary, which lists all my contact information day-by-day.
Stand out from the crowd:
Making it difficult for anyone to miss your bag at baggage claim will make it more difficult for them to steal it. I have a neon-colored luggage belt and a blue tag with my name printed in white on it.
Check that your airline baggage tags and baggage claim slips are correct.
Before attaching airline baggage tags to your luggage, check that they are accurate.
The wrong airline baggage tag can send your bag the wrong airport. I’ve seen ticket agents put the wrong baggage tag on my bag more than once. Before you place your tags on your bag, make sure they are accurate.
Keep the baggage claim slip with you until your bag is collected and you have checked its contents.
The claim stub you receive is the only proof of your checked baggage and bag identification within the airline baggage system. You will need to present the claim stub if your bag is delayed or lost.
Prepare for lost luggage
My bags are often delayed by days when I travel. It’s not fun. Packing essentials such as medications, a change of clothing, and valuables in my carry-on helps me prepare for any delays or lost luggage.
Check your bags quickly:
If you arrive at the airport a few minutes late, your luggage may not be on board. On domestic flights, I arrive at the airport two hours prior to boarding and three hours in advance of boarding international flights. Some airports require extra time.
Keep track of your bags with quality apps for air travel on your smartphone. You can also use electronic luggage tracking devices to find them if they are lost or stolen.
Download quality travel apps for your smartphone:
Track your luggage using the airline app on your phone. Apps like Tripit Pro can provide additional assistance. (I have been using this app for many years.
Use an electronic luggage tracker
I use an iPhone. To track my bags, I use Apple AirTags. I think the Apple “Find My system” is the best worldwide. The “Find My app” can be used to help find my bag if it is lost, delayed or misplaced. Apple AirTags are effective. I’ve used them myself.
As my recent trip showed, these tips are not going to prevent all lost or misplaced bags, but they can help you avoid many issues. Each is simple to do and does not cost much.
Also Read : How to book cheap flights and compare prices on flights in a single click
