TRAVEL TIPS: LOST LUGGAGE

It happens to the best of us: you arrive in Bangkok, but your bags in Bali. Here, our tips on how to prepare for the eventuality – and avoid losing your luggage in the first place.

Before You Leave

·         Book a direct or nonstop flight, which will minimise the change of losing a bag.

·         Choose an airline that has a good baggage record. Compare online at airconsumer.dot.gov.

·         Pack your carry-on wisely so that you can live out of it for a few days – toiletries, medications, change of clothes – in the event that you have to.

·         Remove old luggage tags to avoid confusion.

At The Airport

·         Don’t check in late, or your bags might not make it onto the plane in time for takeoff

·         Make sure the desk agent places a destination tag on your suitcase.

·         Hold on to your luggage-claim ticket. It’s often attached to your boarding pass and easy to forget on the plane.

After Landing

·         Be at the carousel when bags are off-loaded.

·         If your bag is lost or delayed, file a report immediately at the airport and get a copy.

·         Ask at the lost-luggage counter for the airline’s contract of carriage, which spells out your rights.

·         Consider following up with a certified letter to the airline’s customer service department restating the details of the incident.

TRAVEL TIPS: LUCKY LUGGAGE

Some advice on how to keep your bags out of harm’s way:

·         As a general rule, if you can’t lift your bag, it’s likely that airline staff won’t be able to either. (And it’s probably overweight.)

·         Pack your bag evenly. Dense, heavy objects can cause your bag to shift and create delays at security checks.

·         Always use something to identify your bag, like a colourful strap, thought bear in mind that cloths tied to the handle may obscure the baggage label.

·         Store any detachable carrying straps in the bag itself before checking in.

·         Place a luggage label on once handle of your bag and another inside your bag.

·         If your luggage has wheels, be sure to lock them so they don’t move after check-in.

·         Check that your travel insurance covers the cost of replacing your bag and its contents in the event that anything happens to it.

·         Make a list of your bag’s contents in case you need to place an insurance claim.