How To Avoid Losing Your Luggage

Have you ever been waiting at the luggage carousel watching each bag come out? As each bag that isn’t yours hits the carousel does the fear that your bag has been lost grow and grow? Whilst we can’t help if your luggage is lost we can help you avoid a situation where you are left with no clothes for your holiday. Here are our top tips to help you avoid losing your luggage.

How To Avoid Losing Your Luggage

1. Make your luggage unique! I’m sure you’ve seen it happen yourself. Someone reaches onto the carousel grabs a bag, after a few moments returns it when they realise it’s not theres. But how many people don’t check or do and because it’s similar enough to theres they take it? By decorating your luggage in a unique way e.g. using stickers or by using bright unique luggage straps you minimise the risk of someone with a similar looking bag taking yours.
   
2. Take a picture of your luggage. This is a lot easier to show airport staff than trying to describe your bag! My bag didn’t arrive when landing at London Stansted so I went to the desk with a photo of my bag. 10/15 minutes later they had found it. It’s a lot easier when you know exactly what you are looking for!
   
3. Make it easy to contact you/find you. Firstly remove any old labels/tags that might end up confusing your bags final destination. Secondly, put your name, email, and phone number on a luggage tag on the outside in case to make sure you’re easily contactable. Finally, include a copy of your itenary/tickets inside your case. This will cover all eventualties and make sure you can be easily reunited with your luggage.
   
4. Invest in a GPS tracker. These will enable you (and your airline) to access your bags location in realtime. Whilst it might not stop your bag being lost in the first place it can enable you to be reunited with your bag a lot quicker than you otherwise would. Plus you have the benefit of not needing to watch the carousel like a hawk for your bag, just wait until your tracker tells you it’s nearby! Popular options in the UK include Curve, Spytrack & Winnes. Make sure they work in the countries you intend to visit before purchasing!
   
5. Cover your back. Literally! In your hand luggage if you make sure you have a few spare items of clothing, essential tolieteries & medication you’ll be able to start your holiday without feeling too icky! If you are travelling as a family/couple you can also cross-pack some of your items so if one bag gets lost you will still have some items to wear/use.

What do I do if my luggage is lost?

If your luggage is lost head to the airline’s help desk/baggage desk. Here you will be asked about your luggage and potentially to fill in a form, this will include details about your luggage and where you are staying. You should do this as soon as possible after learning your luggage is lost. If the desk is closed you should contact the airline ASAP via telephone.

The majority of bags are located and returned to their owners within a couple of days. Your luggage won’t officially be classed as lost until 21 days have passed, until then it’s merely class as ‘delayed.’ If it is classed as lost you can make a claim for compensation from the airline.

Whilst this process is happening check your airline’s policy for delayed luggage, some will cover essentials such as toiletries and clothes, just ensure you keep your receipts. You can also check any insurance policies you have to see if they cover delayed luggage and if so, after how long does the policy kick in.

Avoid Losing Your Luggage Conclusion

Fingers crossed that it will never be you BUT just in case it is these tips will help ensure that 1) you will be reunited with your luggage & 2) it won’t take a lifetime for you to be reunited. Do you have any tips to avoid losing your luggage?