Standing in front of the baggage carousel , you patiently wait for your luggage to arrive . Minutes later , you come to discover that out of the few bags left on the conveyor belt , nothing looks similar to yours . Disappointment sinks in . Then anxiety . Frustrating situations like this are common , especially during peak seasons such as summer vacation and winter holidays . To prevent you from being the next victim , we’ve organized 6 tips on “How To Avoid Lost Luggage” below .
1 . Make Your Luggage Distinguishable
To avoid baggage disappearance , make your luggage stand out . Consider wrapping your luggage with a bright-colored baggage strap or decorate it with personalized stickers . Get creative ! After all , after a long , tiring flight , people can mistakenly grab someone else’s baggage . Adding a bit of color to your suitcase can prevent disasters like this and also save you time at baggage claim .
2 . Use a Luggage Tag
Add a luggage tag onto your luggage as extra precaution . Sure , airlines do provide free paper luggage tags at the check-in counter just for convenience , but they can easily tear loose and aren’t as reliable as leather ones . Therefore , it is better to purchase one with higher quality , so that it is durable and tough enough . Other than filling out the basic information ( name , address , contact info ) , you can also slip a copy of your mobile number and itinerary inside your luggage just in case the tag falls off .
3 . Remove Old Airline Tags
Normally , after unpacking our items , we tend to stash our suitcase in the cabinet till our next travel without removing the airline tags . Having a large number of airline tags from prior trips dangling on your baggage may increase the risk of losing it . That is , your baggage will be re-routed to the destination of your last trip . So, be sure to remove all the old tags before this happens !
4 . Check In Early
When your baggage is dropped off at the check-in counter , baggage handlers need time to screen it and transport it onto the plane . With that being said , if you run in at the last minute , you’ll end up with a higher risk of lost or delayed luggage . Try to arrive at the airport 2 hours ahead of departure and stop the hurry .
5 . Take A Picture of Your Luggage
Unfortunately , if you can’t find your luggage at baggage claim , the airline will ask you to provide details of your lost bag , including the color , size , shape , material , design … etc. — a photo can work as the best description . Instead of relying on vague impressions , take a photo and let it speak for you.
6 . Track Your Luggage
Don’t trust your airline ? Take matters into your own hands ! Nowadays , there are plenty of luggage trackers combined with the latest technology to help you pinpoint the exact location of your luggage . Other than the in-built GPS system , some of them notify you through e-mail , text or app notifications when your luggage is out of a certain distance . Invest in a luggage tracker to keep a watchful eye on your luggage.