Lost Luggage At The Airport? Here's How To Avoid It
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Most of us here have probably heard horror stories about lost luggage at the airport, including this recent story we shared.
For many people, travelling is one of the most memorable experiences of their lives; however, having their belongings lost or misplaced on a trip can make the experience memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Although airport technology has advanced in incredible ways, human error happens occasionally, and a suitcase can go missing for a while.
Thankfully, there are a few tricks that people who travel frequently swear by when it comes to preventing lost luggage or, at the very least, lowering the stress when things don't go as planned.
Some of them are as follows:
Credit: Escape.
Only take carry-on
The first piece of advice that you should take from the travel experts is to avoid using check-in luggage whenever it is possible to do so.
You can keep a close eye on where your belongings are by only bringing carry-on bags, which will cut down on the amount of time you need to wait at the airport.
Check out the video below for some tips!
Credit: Minimal Traveller.
Make your bag stand out
After a long day of travelling, you might feel fatigued and simply want to grab your luggage and get out of there as soon as possible. It shouldn't come as a surprise when, in everyone's haste to leave the airport, somebody grabs the wrong suitcase.
An eye-catching case will not only make it easier for you to locate your luggage when you arrive, but it will also make it simple for airport employees to identify it if it gets lost in transit.
A brightly coloured suitcase is a great solution, but you can also make do by decorating your bags with a luggage strap, eye-catching tags or charms, or a stencil of your initials made with fabric-safe spray paint.
Label your bag - inside and out
Aside from decorations, a luggage tag with your name and contact information is necessary. (Your home address should never be included!)
In the unfortunate event that your luggage goes missing, the employees will be able to get in touch with you.
Never leave airline stickers on your suitcase
Always make sure to peel off any old airline tags and barcodes to prevent any confusion about where your items should be sent.
Credit: Escape.
Get to the airport early
There is a higher chance that your suitcase will be left behind if you are the last person to check in for your flight.
Don't overstuff your suitcase
As we've already mentioned, the best way to prevent missing luggage is to stick to carry-on alone, but if you must check a bag, don't go overboard.
No matter how tempting it may be to pack as much as you can if your suitcase or bag is already overflowing before the baggage handlers even lay eyes on it, there's a significant chance it won't arrive intact.
Take a photo of your suitcase before you fly
The image may be useful if you are asked to describe your luggage if it ever goes missing.
Before your trip, some insurance providers also advise photographing the contents of your luggage so that, if you need to file a claim, you'll know exactly what you've lost.
Keep your valuables (and undies) in your carry-on
Always prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario. You should pack all of your valuables in your carry-on luggage, along with a change of underwear and anything else that you just cannot live without, such as medications and important travel documents.
Keep your bag tidy
When checking in a bag, especially a backpack or duffle, be sure to remove or tighten any long straps that could potentially get caught in the conveyor belts.
Consider adding in a stopover
When you make it onto the connecting flight, but your suitcase does not, your luggage is at its highest risk of going missing.
Therefore, if you have a short layover in between flights, you might want to choose to break up your journey with a lengthier stopover to ensure that you and your luggage arrive at the airport.
Credit: Escape.
There are no guarantees in life, and the same is true when you travel, but these are a few simple things you can do to reduce the likelihood of having your luggage go missing. We sincerely hope you will find these suggestions useful, everyone!
Do you have any other advice to add to the list? Please feel free to share it with the rest of us in the comments!
For many people, travelling is one of the most memorable experiences of their lives; however, having their belongings lost or misplaced on a trip can make the experience memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Although airport technology has advanced in incredible ways, human error happens occasionally, and a suitcase can go missing for a while.
Thankfully, there are a few tricks that people who travel frequently swear by when it comes to preventing lost luggage or, at the very least, lowering the stress when things don't go as planned.
Some of them are as follows:
Credit: Escape.
Only take carry-on
The first piece of advice that you should take from the travel experts is to avoid using check-in luggage whenever it is possible to do so.
You can keep a close eye on where your belongings are by only bringing carry-on bags, which will cut down on the amount of time you need to wait at the airport.
Check out the video below for some tips!
Credit: Minimal Traveller.
Make your bag stand out
After a long day of travelling, you might feel fatigued and simply want to grab your luggage and get out of there as soon as possible. It shouldn't come as a surprise when, in everyone's haste to leave the airport, somebody grabs the wrong suitcase.
An eye-catching case will not only make it easier for you to locate your luggage when you arrive, but it will also make it simple for airport employees to identify it if it gets lost in transit.
A brightly coloured suitcase is a great solution, but you can also make do by decorating your bags with a luggage strap, eye-catching tags or charms, or a stencil of your initials made with fabric-safe spray paint.
Label your bag - inside and out
Aside from decorations, a luggage tag with your name and contact information is necessary. (Your home address should never be included!)
In the unfortunate event that your luggage goes missing, the employees will be able to get in touch with you.
Never leave airline stickers on your suitcase
Always make sure to peel off any old airline tags and barcodes to prevent any confusion about where your items should be sent.
Credit: Escape.
Get to the airport early
There is a higher chance that your suitcase will be left behind if you are the last person to check in for your flight.
Don't overstuff your suitcase
As we've already mentioned, the best way to prevent missing luggage is to stick to carry-on alone, but if you must check a bag, don't go overboard.
No matter how tempting it may be to pack as much as you can if your suitcase or bag is already overflowing before the baggage handlers even lay eyes on it, there's a significant chance it won't arrive intact.
Take a photo of your suitcase before you fly
The image may be useful if you are asked to describe your luggage if it ever goes missing.
Before your trip, some insurance providers also advise photographing the contents of your luggage so that, if you need to file a claim, you'll know exactly what you've lost.
Keep your valuables (and undies) in your carry-on
Always prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario. You should pack all of your valuables in your carry-on luggage, along with a change of underwear and anything else that you just cannot live without, such as medications and important travel documents.
Keep your bag tidy
When checking in a bag, especially a backpack or duffle, be sure to remove or tighten any long straps that could potentially get caught in the conveyor belts.
Consider adding in a stopover
When you make it onto the connecting flight, but your suitcase does not, your luggage is at its highest risk of going missing.
Therefore, if you have a short layover in between flights, you might want to choose to break up your journey with a lengthier stopover to ensure that you and your luggage arrive at the airport.
Credit: Escape.
There are no guarantees in life, and the same is true when you travel, but these are a few simple things you can do to reduce the likelihood of having your luggage go missing. We sincerely hope you will find these suggestions useful, everyone!
Do you have any other advice to add to the list? Please feel free to share it with the rest of us in the comments!
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