Losing your baggage can be nerve-wracking, stressful, and expensive to boot! Although you can attempt to reclaim your losses with your insurance and the airline’s liability, most claims will rarely match the true value of your possessions, especially if there are lost belongings with sentimental value for you. It can also ruin a well-planned vacation, especially if you have kids along. Even if you’re not vain, imagine trying to survive in an unfamiliar city with only one set of clothes! Although losing your baggage may be out of your hands, there are still ways to reduce the chances of your luggage getting lost.
1. Make your bags as distinct as possible. It would help if, from the start, you bought luggage that veers away from the generic black luggage. Another trick is to tie a sturdy, bright-colored ribbon on your suitcase, so you can distinguish your bag easily.
2. Clearly identify your luggage or parcels with secure and legible tags and labels. Double-check that all the identification on your tags are updated. Also, make sure to put your name and address on everything, even hand-carried items, in case you leave these items behind.
3. Put additional identification inside your bag, including a copy of your itinerary. This can help the airlines know whether to send your bags to your travel destination or to your home. Having contact information inside your bag will also be useful in case the label gets torn off.
4. Pack jewelry, money, medications, important papers, electronics, and other valuables in your carry-on luggage, rather than checked-in baggage. Not only are these items usually irreplaceable, the airlines generally do not accept liability for these items, and insurance may not cover the full value of these belongings.