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.

Pack your stuff Courtesy - fotosearch.com

I don’t know if it happens only in the movies but I have seen actors and actresses onscreen throw and cram their clothes and other stuff into their luggage when they are supposed to be packing.  After hours inside the suitcase, the clothes are wrinkled, the shoes have soiled them, and some lotion spilled on them, making them look like garbage.

This need not happen. You can follow the tips given below so that you and your clothes can get to your destination, whether New York or Timbuktu, looking fresh and as good as new.

• Prepare all the clothes, toiletries, footwear, and other things you plan to take with you, selecting those that belong to the same color family. Remember to bring more tops than bottoms. Knits, wools, and cottons are usually more resistant to wrinkles and are more versatile. T-shirts, underwear, jeans, cotton pants, and knitwear should be rolled as they are not prone to wrinkling.  Blazers, starched cotton shirts, skirts, and dressy pants should be folded carefully.

• The rolled items should be the first to go into the bag. Folded garments follow, starting with the longest items such as pants or skirts. When packing pants, skirts, or slacks, align them with the rim of the suitcase and alternate the waist and hem of your stack. If these are too long, drape them over the opposite rim. Once you have packed your all pants, skirts, or slacks, fold that part that was draped over the rim into the center. The shorter items follow. Lay the collars of the shirts at the hinges allowing their bottom to spill out of the suitcase. Fold the collar and the ends that spilled out neatly. Then fold the arms inwards.

• To help keep wrinkles off your clothes, you can cover them with a dry-cleaning bag. The bag, because of its slippery surface, will keep the clothes from settling in one place preventing creases from setting in.
• For easy access to your clothes that are in the bottom of the pile, you can place a bag in between them. Simply lift both ends of the bag that is above the item you want to get.

• Shoes are best slipped into a resealable bag, and then packed into the sides of your suitcase. You can insert your battery charger, sunglasses, and even socks inside your shoes. If you plan on bringing along several pairs that might be needed for different occasions, wear the heaviest and pack the others.