How to Reduce the Chance of Lost or Damaged Luggage

Arriving at your destination only to find that your luggage isn’t there is a great way to ruin a vacation or business trip. Although losing luggage is typically associated with air travel, you can lose your bags just as easily during a train or bus trip. Fortunately, with a little planning, you can reduce the possibility of lost bags. Follow these travel tips on how to prepare your luggage and improve the odds of arriving with everything intact.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Luggage tags
• Markers
• Stick-on labels

1. Label your luggage. As obvious as this may seem, many people will embark on a trip with no luggage tags or identifying information on their baggage. This is a sure way to have your bags disappear should they ever be misplaced or incorrectly routed. On traditional luggage or bags, attach a waterproof tag that includes your name, hometown and phone number. This is enough information to allow anyone to contact you in the event that your bag is misplaced. Airline frequent flier programs often supply luggage tags with just your account number and name. These can easily be tracked to you or your flight information by the airline and provide a level of privacy. If you are traveling with boxes or shipping cases, label them with stick-on labels or write identifying information directly on the box.

2. Verify the labeling of your bags. When the ticket agent labels your bags with your flight, train or bus information, check to verify that it is correct. Also, check these tags against your tickets and be sure that you get a stub that corresponds with the labels on your bags. If you have anything fragile in your luggage, ask the ticket agent to supply a label or tag that displays this information.

3. Customize your luggage. Marking your luggage with unique symbols or tags is a great way to help you pick out your bags on a carousel or in a baggage claim area. Luggage with your initials or name embroidered or printed on the outside will help with certain identification. For an easy way to tag your luggage, tie a colorful ribbon on the handle to help it stand out. Guys can use an old tie for the same purpose.

4. Consider how you pack your luggage. Stuffing your luggage can lead to splits, tears or broken hinges, which may cause your clothes to spill out or let water seep into your luggage. Overpacked bags can also get caught in airport baggage carousels or conveyor belts, resulting in damage to your luggage. If you need to carry a lot of stuff, pack it into several bags rather than one.

5. Ship your luggage. If you have the time and opportunity, consider shipping some of your luggage. This will allow you to travel much lighter and can provide a much safer means of transport. Also, most shipping companies offer better insurance than airlines.

Tips & Warnings

• As a last resort, use the airline-provided paper luggage tags at the ticket window.
• Check your baggage as early as possible. Arriving at the last minute is a sure way for your bags to be left behind or mishandled.
• Most luggage stores sell straps that can help secure and identify your luggage.
• Ask that irregular or oversized luggage be loaded by hand rather than conveyor belt. This will reduce the possibility of damage.
• Never put your street address on luggage tags. It can provide criminals with too much information.
• Avoid locking your luggage if possible. With new security procedures, most bags will be open for inspection and locks will be cut off.
• Don't be the last person to the luggage carousel. This is an great way for your bags to go missing.