Any tips on making sure your luggage doesn't get lost when flying?

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Angela M

This is totally out of your hands. You can add huge pictures on your case, fancy ribbons and sticky labels that you can recognise. If the airport buffs send your case to the wrong place, there is nothing you can do about it!! I always put labels, stickers, bells, whistles and bows on my case. However, if it is lost in transit, I have to wait until it arrives at some poor souls house, they open it and find my address in it, then I have the chance to get it back...

Jay

Check you bag only at the counter and not at the curb or with a skycap.

When they put the sticker on the handle of your bag, look at it to ensure it has your name, your flight number, and the correct destination airport. If you're flying through another city, make sure each layover is listed.

Make sure they put your bag on the belt, or whatever is available for your airport. If they put it next to the belt, ask why.

Make sure that your bag is securely closed. Use a TSA-approved lock, if your bag does not otherwise close.

Put a note inside the bag with your name, phone number, and address. If you carry a cell phone, make sure it says that. If not, put contact information at your destination or the name/phone number of someone who can reach you (a relative or friend at home).

Put this same information in a luggage tag on the outside of the bag. Get a strong luggage tag made of hard plastic with a quality strap to attach it. Do not use the airline's paper tags, except as a supplement.

Other than that, there's little you can do. Most luggage gets delayed or lost, not because of any of the above issues, but because it simply didn't make the flight. Or because the barcode was misread (it happens). Or because a human being misread something and sent the bag on the wrong flight.

Luggage rarely totally gets lost. Usually, it's simply delayed.

ms bell

The only way you can be abolutely sure your luggage doesn't get lost is to take only a carry-on bag with you and put everything in it. I do this every trip I take so I don't have to worry about lost luggage. Plus, I don't have to spend a good deal of time waiting at the baggage carousel at the airport waiting for my luggage. It's very easy to do, because I only put take what I absolutely need with me on my trip. Travelling light has many advantages.

When I used to check my luggage, I always had luggage tags. I would never consider travelling without them. I know many people who have had lost luggage, but the airlines have always found their luggage and returned the luggage to its owners.

One thing I can tell you if you still want to check in bags is to make sure the airline employee who checks in your luggage sends it to the right airport. Check and see what airline code tag he/she puts on your luggage and ask them where you luggage is going just to confirm.

Charlie

Seesitebelow.

potatochip

Since many people use black color luggage, what you can do is tie a bright colored ribbon to distinguish your suitcase from someone else's.

At the ticket counter, verify that the ticket agent put in the correct flight number and airport code on the strip that goes around your luggage. If the ticket agent enters the wrong airport code, your luggage may end up at a better destination than you.

Sometimes lost luggage is beyond your control if for example your arriving flight is late and you only have 10 minutes to connect to your next flight. There is a good chance your luggage will not make it.

Gerry

Yes of course, only bring carry ons you can carry pretty big carry ons my family of 4 went to washington D.C for a week and the three of us cause i had an infant had a carry on bag, and duffle bags fit the most stuff

Daleyo

pop ur name and address etc on a piece of paper on top inside ur luggage

mark h

lost luggage is becoming a thing of the past with bar codes and airport codes. there is really nothing you can do

Charlotte h

put something like a bow or something really bright on it so you know its yours!

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