How to Avoid Losing Luggage

Co-authored by Amy Tan

Last Updated: September 16, 2022 References

Traveling is the highlight of many people’s lives, but damaged or lost or luggage can make a trip memorable for the wrong reasons. The rise in technology in airports is amazing, but human error still exists, and it’s not impossible for a bag to be misplaced for a certain amount of time. Thankfully, by planning ahead, marking and decorating your luggage, and working cooperatively with airline employees, you can drastically reduce your chances of losing your possessions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Packing Smart

1
Remove old airline tags. This is a simple step, but a really important one. Stickers or tags from flights you’ve taken before can confuse airport baggage scanners.^{[1]
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Research source} Peel them off, and scrapbook them if you’re really going to miss them.
2
Know your airline’s policies. In recent years, many airlines have stepped up their game when it comes to reimbursing travelers for lost luggage. The policies will vary from airline to airline, but should be accessible from the company’s website. However, most airlines don’t reimburse for valuable items.^{[2]
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Research source} If you want to bring things like cash, jewelry, and electronics in your checked baggage, know that you might be responsible for their replacement.^{[3]
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Research source}

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3
Pack fragile items gently. It’s best to travel without very delicate objects, but sometimes you just can’t resist picking up a souvenir. If you are bringing home something somewhat sturdy, like a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, wrap them carefully in bubble wrap and place them in the middle of your suitcase. Extremely fragile things, like blown glass, should be wrapped in soft cloth or bubble wrap, sectioned off with hard items (like books), and placed in your carry-on.
4
Hand carry important items. Any item you can’t survive without should go in your carry-on bag. This way, if your checked luggage is lost, you will still have your basics. What counts as an essential item? That depends on what you personally need. If you need any small liquid items, like eye drops, make sure to pack them in a clear quart-sized plastic bag.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
U.S. Transportation Security Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring safety by setting and enforcing travel protocols
Go to source} Some common items include:
- Medication
- Wallet
- Traveler’s checks
- Change of clothes
- Electronics and chargers
- Empty water bottle
5
Make a list of what you have. Mark down all the things you take with you, noting brands or colors if applicable. In the case of lost luggage, the airline will want some type of proof of loss, and they may still deduct a percentage of the cost depending on the age of the article. Obviously, don’t put this list in your luggage. Stash it in your carry-on instead.
6
Choose a place for your travel documents. Before you go to the airport, make sure your carry-on luggage has a spot to put your ID or passport, boarding passes, and luggage receipts. This will keep you from scrambling when you’re at the airport.^{[5]
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Research source} Furthermore, if you have stashed your receipts in a safe place, they’ll be easier to access if your luggage is delayed.
7
Mark your luggage. Using either a built-in or store-bought tag, neatly label every single piece of baggage you bring to the airport. You’ll want to note your name, home address, and phone number, at the very least. You can even slip in an extra note behind your permanent address with your hotel’s address and phone number.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Amy Tan
Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers
Expert Interview. 12 March 2020.}
8
Make your luggage distinctive. You want to mark your luggage to make sure the airline can keep track of it, but decorating your luggage is more about making sure none of your fellow travelers walks away with it by mistake. The decorations are actually functional, but they’re also fun to choose and apply.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Amy Tan
Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers
Expert Interview. 12 March 2020.}
- If you’re buying luggage, pick suitcases in bright colors or prints. Most baggage is a dark neutral, like black, navy, or olive, so yours will stand out. Alternately, some companies will monogram your initials onto your bag.
- Tie a bright ribbon or scarf around the handle of your bag.
- Attach eye-catching tags or charms.
- Use fabric-safe spray paint to stencil on your initial, or a simple shape.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Navigating the Airport

1
Check in early. Give yourself plenty of time. Get to the airport 90 minutes before a domestic flight, and two hours before an international flight. (Allow even more flexibility if you’re flying from an airport known for its backups, or traveling around a holiday.) You’ll be in less of a rush, which will give you peace of mind. Furthermore, the airline will have lots of time to get your bag to the right spot before your flight.^{[8]
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Research source}
2
Consider luggage insurance. You can often purchase additional luggage coverage by paying the airlines an added fee for a higher value for your luggage when you check in. Just let the check-in person know that you’d like to do this, then follow the steps they lay out. Make sure to have a credit card ready to pay additional fees.
3
Know the policies for connecting flights. Some larger airports will pass your bags from flight to flight for you; other airports (especially smaller ones, but some large ones too) will require you to pick up your bag as you get off one flight and transfer it to the next.^{[9]
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Research source} Make sure you know the particular policies of whatever airports you’re flying into. The people who check in baggage should be able to help if you have any questions.
4
Be ready for security. If you’re a careful packer, you’ve planned to put your travel documents in a safe place. Stay calm and don’t throw your carry-on belongings all over the place as you move through the security line. Make use of the bins to make sure you don’t lose track of small items like your phone or watch.^{[10]
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Research source}
5
Keep your carry-on with you. Since all your most important items are in your carry-on, it makes sense to keep it with you at all times. Make sure it is zipped and secured, and carried close to your body. Leaving a bag by itself may attract thieves. Worse, someone might see it, assume it’s an explosive, and panic.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Amy Tan
Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers
Expert Interview. 12 March 2020.}
6
Find the right carousel. When you are at the tail end of your journey, the flight attendants will probably announce the right claim for those picking up their baggage. If they don’t, there should be a screen that lists it. Go to the correctly numbered carousel and wait, but keep your ears open: sometimes airlines need to switch the claim they use. The airport will make an announcement if this is the case.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I reduce the odds that my luggage gets lost?

Amy Tan
Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers
Amy Tan is a Travel Planner and the Founder of Planet Hoppers, a boutique travel design team founded in 2002. Planet Hoppers specializes in brainstorming and creating itineraries for dream vacations, honeymoons, exotic adventures, family reunions, and group trips. Planet Hoppers is a TRUE accredited travel agency and a member of the Signature Travel Network, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and Travel Leaders. Amy earned a BA in Communications and a BS in Physics from the University of California, Davis in 2000.

Amy Tan

Travel Planner & Founder, Planet Hoppers

Expert Answer

Make sure that you keep an accurate luggage tag on your bag with your name, email, and phone number. Include the country code with your phone number. To decrease the odds that someone else grabs your luggage on accident, avoid black suitcases. There are so many colorful bags out there that will be much easier to spot at the airport.
Question

What should I do to my luggage if I travel by train?

Community Answer

If you're travelling for a long time or overnight, it's best to put a simple lock, your name and mailing address on your luggage. If you constantly need something and will open your luggage, put what you need near you so you can get to it quickly.
Question

Should I keep a laptop in my carry-on?

Ellie Shelley

Community Answer

Yes, keep your laptop as a carry-on. It's more likely to get damaged or lost if it's in your stowed luggage.

Warnings

Back up your data before you leave home.

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Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
If an item is legitimately too valuable to lose, it might make sense to avoid traveling with it.

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