Recovering Luggage
You may have followed all the online guides about preventing the loss of your luggage when checking them at the airline counter, but there still remains the probability of its getting lost. Remember Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. So if things do go wrong, what should you do? Read on.
The first thing that most people do when the last bag had come out of the carousel and they still haven’t seen theirs is panic. They either cry or get mad. Don’t. Take a few deep breaths, stay calm and walk over to the baggage office or department of your airline. This is usually near the carousel.
Report what happened to the office staff giving them such details as:
• Flight number and route
• Number of missing bags, including description
• Addresses and phone numbers at home and, if you are traveling away from home, at your destination
• Cell phone number
• How long you plan to stay at destination
While you are reporting your loss, continue staying calm and remember that the airline’s baggage agent is not directly responsible for your lost luggage. He is there to help you so get him on your side. A little courtesy can be a big motivation for him or her to do everything possible to recover your luggage. You can probably show a hint of exasperation but never physically or even verbally threaten or abuse the agent. You could get arrested for this.
Keep your claim tags handy as the baggage agent will want to see them. He will need the information contained in that little tag. If you have more than one bag and you have retrieved some of them, don’t rip off the tags on them yet. The agent may also want to see them as they could help in locating the lost bag.
You should be able to describe your luggage. Don’t forget its brand, model, color, and size. If there are any peculiarities with it, don’t fail to mention them. If you had checked online guides on preventing lost luggage and followed the suggestion of tying some identifying sign on it, tell the baggage agent about this sign. If you did not put identity tags inside the bag but you carried some rather unusual items such as a Superman costume for your son, or a specific book or medication, mention this also.
On average lost luggage are recovered within 24 hours. During the peak travel season, however, this could take a few days. It is rare that bags are lost forever. This is because airlines have set up a worldwide database of lost and unidentified luggage. This is called the WorldTracer and if it finds a match between a lost luggage in one airport and an unidentified one in another airport, the airline is notified.
Lost Luggage Courtesy - fotosearch.com
The moment you check your luggage at the counter you can never be sure what will happen to it. They could get lost. Although statistically, the number of luggage lost by airlines is low at six for every 1,000, you can never tell it won’t happen to you. Here’s how not to lose your luggage.
Why They Get Lost
• Tight connections between connecting flights are one of the most common causes of lost or at least delayed luggage. If your next airline leaves in less than an hour after your arrival, there may not be enough time for the transfer of your luggage.
• Late checking of luggage at the counter is another reason. It is possible that the baggage handlers have already left the check-in counter and have proceeded to the airplane before you checked-in.
• When the flight is full and most of the passengers are carrying huge or even extra luggage resulting in excess weight, some of the luggage may be intentionally left behind for safety considerations.
• Missing and misread tags are also an issue. Sometimes external tags are torn off the luggage. This happens when they go through the conveyor belt and bags bump against each other. Without the tags, the handlers simply would not know where to take the bags. Or they could be tired and distracted and misread the tags, placing the bags in a plane bound for another destination.
• Another reason is when two bags are of the same brand, model, and color and a passenger simply mistakes one for the other. This happens a lot in the movies.
To Check or Not to Check
The surest way to protect your luggage is never to let it leave your sight. Airlines normally allow one carry bag and one personal item. Usually, they allow you to carry suitcase that measures up to 45 linear inches. You get this by adding the length, height, and width of your bag.
With the rising cost of checking-in your luggage at the airlines, you might even consider using a luggage forwarding service. This type of service is expensive but you can have your luggage picked up and delivered to your destination. This is useful for those who have to transport fragile material.
If You Have to Check
Sometimes you have to carry suitcases exceeding 45 linear inches containing stuff worth less than what it would cost to hire a luggage forwarding service. Then you will have no option but to check your luggage. In that case, remember the following:
• Attach leather or plastic tags to each of your bags with your name and contact details printed or at least legibly written. Old destination tags should be removed.
• Have a copy of your itinerary inside your luggage, including your name and contact numbers both at home and in your destination. This may be your only link to your bags if the outer tags are torn or damaged.
• Put your name and contact numbers on your glass case, camera, and cell phone.
• Verify the airport tags on your bags. Be sure they match your destination and your claim tags.
