Summer is just around the corner and while ‘tis the season to be jolly, ‘tis also the season for family holidays! For those flying this Christmas, it can be a challenge trying to fit everything you think everyone will need in a limited number of bags. So imagine what it would be like if you lost just one of your bags along the way…
Having almost done just that on a recent family holiday to the US (the bag I almost lost had all our passports, cash, and credit cards!), I am happy to share some tips on how to avoid lost luggage… and be prepared in case it happens to you!
Firstly, how to avoid it….
1. Check-in early. Whatever your booking confirmation says you need to allow for time to check-in, add an extra 45 minutes – especially in busy cities, and especially when travelling with kids. If there is a long queue or you encounter problems at the check-in counter, your bags – and your family – still have enough time to clear security and make it onto the correct flight.
Personalised Luggage Tags are a great way to label your bags
2. Put proper identification on ALL your bags – both outside and inside. Check-in luggage, carry-on bags, kids’ backpacks should all have a sturdy ID tags on them for easy identification. Some useful information to include would be your name, physical address where the bags can be returned, a contact number or email address where you can be reached while you are away. Tip: If you have concerns about putting your home address on the tag, put a frequent flyer membership number (for the airline you are travelling with) instead. This way all your relevant information can be retrieved by airline staff if they need to.
3. Before you check-in your bags, make a note of how many pieces of luggage you have in total, including all hand-carry items, strollers, and car seats. This way you can do a baggage count each time you move from one point to the next making sure nothing has been left behind.
4. Remove airline tags from previous trips. These can cause confusion and result in your bag being loaded onto the wrong flight.
5. Ensure airline staff attaches the correct flight and destination details on your check-in bags. Double check this before your bag gets loaded onto the conveyor belt and heads off into the intricate world of airport baggage handling.
6. Arrive at Baggage Claim early. Being there to pick up your bags as soon as it comes onto the carousel reduces the chances of someone else picking it up by mistake.
If despite these precautions, you still find yourself in a ‘lost bag situation’, don’t panic. Be prepared for it by taking a few simple precautions before you leave.
1. Take photos of each bag. Keep a printed copy of photos with your passports. If you need to report a lost bag and identify it, a picture is worth a thousand words.
2. Split pack in each bag. Rather than having one suitcase for each person, or doing the ‘one for adults, one for kids’ suitcase split, make sure each suitcase has a few outfits for everyone. That way, should one of your bags go missing, everyone still has something to wear.
3. Split your cash and credit cards. If you are travelling with another adult, split your cash and carry your own credit cards.
4. Keep all medication and valuables in your carry-on bags. Be aware of airline rules for declaring sharps and other items allowed on board and have them with you at all times, especially prescription medication which may be more difficult to replace.
5. Have a ‘Do Not Lose’ bag. This is the bag you guard with your life and keep with you at all times. It would typically have things like your passports, cash, credit cards, itinerary and booking confirmations, travel insurance documents, and any essential medicines such as allergy, asthma or prescription medication.
6. Keep your check-in luggage stubs. Airlines normally attach this to your boarding pass. While most of the time you may not even notice they are there, you will need them to track down any missing bags.
7. Travel insurance. Know what you are entitled to claim for lost baggage and how to go about it. Keep travel insurance documents in your ‘Do Not Lose’ bag.
Realising that one of your bags is missing can be quite stressful. By taking these simple precautions, if you do find yourself in this situation, at least you can make sure it doesn’t take the fun out of your holiday.
This post is courtesy of Cindy Matias, the creator of The Bag Tag Studio and a fantastic range of personalised luggage tags and bag tags.
Please visit the Haggus and Stookles E-Store. We sell lovely luggage tags and some other high quality products for you and your kid’s luggages!
Other posts you might enjoy reading:
The importance of using luggage tags when travelling!
