How can I decrease the chance
of losing my luggage?
- Get to the airport early so your bags will make
it on your flight.
- Carry on as many bags as the Airline allows.
- Allow plenty of time between connecting flights
so your luggage will be able to transfer on to your
next flight.
- Never leave your luggage unattended; always keep
an eye on them.
- Label your bags clearly with your name, address
and telephone number.
- Keep the paperwork you are given by the Airline
when you check your bags so that they will be easier
to track if your bags go missing.
- If your fashion sense can handle it, mark your
bags with bright colors by using colored tape. It
will be easier to find and criminals know they are
more likely to be noticed and remembered carrying
out a unique bag.
- Remove any old flight information tags, they may
route your luggage to your last destination.
- Make sure the new tags placed on your bags are
from the correct Airline and they have the proper
Airport's destination code on them.
- You should label both the outside and the inside
of your bags, in case the outside tag gets pulled
off.
- You should include the hotel information where
you are staying with dates so the bags will have a
better chance of finding their way to you.
- Pay attention to what type of luggage you are carrying
so you¡¯ll have a good description of them if they
go missing. Medium size black nylon probably describes
half the luggage on the plane. Identifying the brand
name, size, color, material, and distinguishing marks
will help the Airline to locate your luggage.
- If you are traveling with a friend, you might consider
switching some of your items with each other. Putting
a few outfits in their bag will give you something
to fall back on incase your bags go missing. In exchange,
you can offer to carry a few items for them in case
their luggage goes missing.
- Avoid using an Airline that loses or damages lots
of luggage.
How can I protect my luggage
once I¡¯ve made it to my destination?
- Once you have arrived, find out where your luggage
is being unloaded. It usually takes some time for
the luggage to get there, but it might also take a
while for you to get there. You don¡¯t need to run,
but it is better that you get there and wait for your
bags then to have them waiting for you. Remember they
come out on a conveyor belt and anyone can come up
and get them. How is anyone else in the crowd supposed
to know to stop someone because they took your bags?
- It may not just be criminals, but other passengers
who mistake your medium sized black nylon bag for
their medium sized black nylon bag and off they go.
You want to be able to watch them drop and if they
are not there, notify the Airline immediately.
- Since so many bags do look alike, make sure you
check to make sure that the baggage you take is really
yours.
- Check your bags and notify the Airline of any missing
or damaged luggage before you leave the airport. This
is where making a packing list will come in handy.
- As you leave the airport, watch your bags until
you get to your hotel room. Taxicab waiting lines,
rental car counters and hotel or rental car shuttle
vans and even hotel lobbies are all good places to
loose your bags.
- Don¡¯t assume the drivers will unload all your bags,
they may be hurrying right back to the airport.
- Don¡¯t assume that if you just leave them in the
hotel¡¯s lobby that someone will bring them to your
room.
- Rental car shuttle vans often have several drop
off points and another customer might accidentally
grab your bags and be out the gate before you even
realize your bags are gone.
What should I do if my luggage
is lost or delayed?
- Make a claim before you leave the airport; some
claims will only be honored if they are made before
you leave airport property.
- Leave a good description of your luggage; it will
help the Airline to locate your luggage.
- Leave complete contact information and itinerary
for both your home and where you are currently staying.
- Notify those where you are staying of your situation
to make them aware for phone calls or deliveries.
- Find out whom you should call and when they¡¯ll
be available for updates on your luggage. Some Airlines
are beginning to offer an online tracking service
that you can access if your bags are lost.
- Find out the Airline¡¯s policy about missing luggage.
The Airlines will have a policy in writing that they
can provide to you. You want to know what will happen
if you buy replacement items and your luggage is found
the next day.
How can I avoid damage to my
luggage?
- Remove any shoulder straps; pull handles, or other
loose elements that could get caught on a conveyor
belt.
- Buy luggage with only retractable wheels.
- Consider using a shrink wrap service for your luggage
if your airport has one.
- If your bags have locks, use them, but better yet
avoid putting anything of real value in your checked
bags.
- Avoid using an Airline that loses or damages lots
of baggage.
What will the Airline do if they
have damaged or cannot find my luggage?
- It depends on the particular Airline.,
- Particularly valuable items such as jewelry, cash
or electronics and fragile or perishable items are
usually not covered at all.
- You may also need to provide receipts for the items
lost.
- The value of the items will also be depreciated
so don¡¯t expect to get replacement value.
- International flights base the value of your luggage
on weight so make sure the weight of your luggage
is noted at check-in. If your luggage is not weighted,
they generally assume a weight of 70 pounds.
How can I get a better reimbursement
for lost luggage?
- Purchase travel insurance.
- Declare and pay for a higher valuation of your
luggage.
- Check to see if you have any coverage under your
homeowner¡¯s policy.
- Check to see if any of your credit cards offer
coverage for your luggage.
- Keep the receipts for items you brought with you.
- Keep the receipts for any replacement items you
purchased while your luggage was missing.
- Make packing list and leave a copy in a safe place
at home. This will not only help you to organize and
remember all the essentials, while cutting down on
the fluff, but it will also help you make out a claim
form if your luggage goes missing.
- Make a claim before you leave the airport; they
may not honor a claim made after you leave the airport
property.
- Appeal to the Airline¡¯s customer service department
for help with the claim since this issue may effect
your future use of the Airline¡¯s services.
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