In lieu of the latest surge in lost luggage, I am sharing some practical tips to reduce your chances of becoming a part of the monstrous list of passengers with “mishandled” luggage, before you even get to the airport. After all, you are a smart traveler! and although nothing is completely preventable, why not set yourself up for success?
Keep it simple
Nonstop flights and longer layovers are your best friends. The cost of a nonstop or 1-stop flight may be worth considering vs. the painful and inconvenient process of figuring out what happened to your lost bag (especially when traveling internationally). If your itinerary and wallet allows it, keep your trip simple and opt for a nonstop flight. If you are tight on cash, a 1-stop with a long layover is still a good way to avoid a lost bag.
Have a back-up
Pack a day’s worth of clothing in your carry-on. Consider this tip for any trip in general, but it will especially become a life saver if you actually find yourself without a bag. Use your carry-on luggage to your advantage and pack at your most important items like jewelry, travel documents, and a small bag of toiletries. This will also help reduce any stress that comes with a possible missing a bag situation.
Track It!
If you are especially anxious about loosing your bag, there are useful gadgets that can help you keep track of it. From my quick research, a popular option to consider is the Apple Air Tag (make sure to read requirements before purchasing). From long range GPS options, to more simple tags as affordable as $9, adding a tracker to your bag is another way to plan ahead. See additional options here.
Tear off old bag tags
Be sure to remove any old tags, stickers, barcodes from previous trips from your luggage before checking it in. While leaving them on doesn’t mean the handlers won’t be able to find the right one, why leave it open to any confusion at all? Adding your latest information increases your chances of helping the airline know exactly where to send your bag if it gets lost.
Pro Tip: Adding your information inside the bag can also be helpful and it is a known industry hack. You can do this by writing your basic contact information in a piece of paper, and taping it to the inside of your bag.
Be Timely
Especially with the surge of cancellations and travel uncertainty, arriving to the airport with plenty of time will be essential. Make sure to comply by the airlines recommendations to arrive with enough time to check your bags and go through security in a timely manner. The additional time will help you reduce chances of missing your flight and with other unforeseen changes to your itinerary.