Sightseeing Sidekicks Lose Luggage
How to avoid it, and what to do if you can’t.
It was bound to happen at some point. If you fly enough, you will eventually have a missing or late bag. The chance of losing your bags has increased with canceled flights due to overbooking and weather.
Recently on a trip to Chicago, we checked our bag, and then our flight was changed. So we arrived at our destination: no bag.
We usually do everything possible not to check bags (read here about getting a week’s worth of stuff in your carry-on), but this was an association event in Chicago, and we had dress clothes, business attire, swimsuits, and more. So, unfortunately, we had to replace almost everything, (we had enough for 24 hours), including the suitcase, because they didn’t know where the luggage was or if we would even get it back.
Here are some tips to decrease the chance of losing your luggage and increase the chances of getting it back should it go missing.
- Remove any old tags or stickers.
- Place your information inside and out.
- Use bright and unique luggage straps or tags.
- Travel early in the morning to lessen your flight’s chance of getting bumped.
- Take a photo of your luggage and the items in it.
- Travel non-stop or choose more extended layovers.
- And the thing that would have gotten our luggage to us sooner: GPS luggage trackers or Apple Air Tags. (check with your airline first to make sure this is permitted)
Take any money, jewelry, prescriptions, ID, or electronics in your carry-on. And lock your luggage with a TSA-approved lock. You may be covered under the credit card you purchased the ticket with or consider travel insurance, which will cover more than just lost baggage.
We were reimbursed by the airline, although I missed a meeting and had to pay uber to get to the mall to replace all the items. Read more here on how to document records to file claims with the airline or your insurance.
Hopefully, you will have better luck than us and never lose your luggage. But if you do, now you know what to do!
