With our upcoming trip to Chicago, the memories of losing our luggage or having our luggage misplaced, are always at the back of our minds to remind us to 
take care when packing our suitcases. I was just reading the article, Lost Luggage Nears Historic High, and the idea for a post to give tips for travelers to avoid the misfortune of having to find a missing bag or even replace items that are to never be recovered, occurred to me. “How To Lose Your Luggage” seems like a good catchy title…don’t do these things, and you will increase the odds of allowing the airlines to add your bag to their ever increasing lost luggage statistics.
Tips to Reduce the Risk of Losing Luggage.
- Only bring carry-on bags. If we can avoid it, we never check bags…traveling light is a beauteous thing.
- Have a bright colored bag. I am a fan of red bags, but these have become way to popular, so off colored luggage might be easier to spot.
- Use an obvious bag tag. Luggage tags enable you and others to identify who your bag belongs to.
- Mark Your bag with a unique piece of fabric…Lizzie ties a fluorescent bandanna around the handle. Not as good as a Luggage tag if your bag does get lost, but this makes it easier to spot your bag from others.
- Use a luggage delivery service – companies that specializes in the transportation of luggage.
- Fly airlines with a good reputation for not losing luggage, as opposed to airlines that have cheap tickets and are known for losing luggage. Check this Government site for info on the top airlines for lost luggage and more.
- Fly airlines that reach for a higher standard. I just came across a blog post about Alsaka Airlines, which now pays you $25 if you have to wait over 25 minutes.
- Fly Direct. If you can avoid having layovers or stopovers, you can cut down on the number of times your bag needs to be handled by the airlines. Direct flights are always the best.
- Pack Business Cards – This could enable people who find your bag to contact you if your luggage tag becomes lost.
- If your plane does arrive without your luggage, when filing a misplaced luggage report, get the name of the person filing the report, and double check all the information that you are giving the airline representative.
Take Digital Photographs of the suitcase and make a packing list of the contents so that you will have a record of the approximate value of loss. Also, never pack expensive items in your checked luggage..items like electronics should be carried on to the plane.
If you deem it necessary to check a bag that has considerable value, you may also want to consider the option of insuring the bag. Travel insurance, which may include insuring your luggage, is in itself is another blog post.
Got any Tips that you use to keep from having your bag appear on IsthisYourLuggage.com?
Tags: lost luggage · luggage19 Comments
cool stuff man!!! never thought about it.. ..thanks dude
This won’t help you with lost luggage but it will help you find yours. I put a device in my suitcase that beeps when activated by a remote I have.
I use this when I go on cruises and they just dump your luggage into a huge room with thousands of other bags.
That sounds like a great idea dainiel.
I like the title of this post. I can’t imagine trying to lose my luggage but I bet it could happen easily to anyone. While traveling you have to be careful with your possessions as they can get misplaced very easy.
yes, indeed..Losing my luggage while away from home is one of my fears, that I have come mighty close to experiencing. Not something I would wish on anyone, even the airline people who were responsible.
Good idea Daniel! Thanks!
Good tips.
If you check on the last moment you push the system and your luggage has a greater risk of getting lost.
And be on time at the airport
Very true HeroTravlers..oh so true.
This is a fantastic article that is very helpful for airport travelers – as a matter of fact, I saved it for my next trip!
Your tip on bringing only a carry on bag is great advice. Most U.S. airlines will allow up to a 22 inch luggage be be carried on. You’d be surprised on how well you can pack luggage this size.
I think you are so right 22 carry on..love your site…great niche.
Thanks Baldydog. I’m enjoying your site as well.
re: Have a bright colored bag
Or maybe a bright pink one lol! Great tips here and certainly the last thing you want to do on your vacation is lose your luggage.:D
Call Uma is a world wide travel service offering help to travellers. We purchased one of their luggage tags / baggage tags when we went on holiday last month; which was lucky as we lost luggage and thanks to Call Uma managed to get our luggage tracked through their special luggage tracking service and within a day we had our luggage back with nothing missing and no other problems. If you are worried about losing luggage or losing bags then I would really reccomend going to calluma.com and buying a luggage tag with their special luggage tracking so if you lose your luggage the airport or whoever finds it can return it immediately.
I lost my luggage last year and it had a journal I had been writing in for over 3 years which was of course irreplacable.
After that I looked around for something that would help if I lost my bags again. I found call uma which are offer travel services. They have a unique service which actually fights lost luggage by tracking luggage. I have used the Call Uma bag tag tracking service each time I have been away for 12 months. I have thank god only lost my luggage once in that time but I had it delivered back to me within 24 hours thanks to Call Uma’s luggage tag tracking; if you worry about lost luggage I really suggest visiting calluma.com
Losing my luggage while away from home is one of my fears. Thanks.
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I’d always make sure you lock your bag! I know various people who have had their luggage broken into.
Good article!
Losing baggage is never good. Ive heard so many stories about bags being opened by workers, although a small (easily breakable) padlock seems to help for some reason. I dont know if they look at it and think id normally trash that bag, but that little padlock has definately stood in my way?!