Lost or delayed luggage:                                                   back

Some ways to minimize the chance of problems with your luggage:

A very small amount of luggage goes astray but if we don't want that to be ours.

The Basics:

1. Make sure your bags get on your plane: i.e. get to the check in early and make sure the tags they put on your

bags are have the proper airline code on them. (You can check the code with the airline personal when you

check in.) or go Here and find out the code for the city/airport of your destination.

2. Tags: The airline will place a tag on your luggage and give you a stub. (Do not loose or discard this stub till you

retrieve your luggage. (I'd advise you to keep it till your out of the airport.)

3. Try to make your luggage unique: Bright colored electrical tape might be one idea. (a lot of luggage looks very

similar and in the rush to get out of the airport someone may grab your bag, thinking it's theirs. Making it unique

will eliminate this problem.) It may also discourage someone from trying to steal it. Hard not to get noticed.

4. Get to the area where the luggage is being unloaded as soon as possible: This will cut down on the chance of

anyone grabbing your bag by mistake or otherwise.

5. Don't carry expensive looking luggage: I may be cynical but I'm sure thieves also fly & an expensive bag looks

like a gift horse.

6. Carry all valuables in your carry on bag: This should be obvious.

7. Attach a tag with your name on all of your bags: obvious but you should also place one (Preferably with your

home address plus your agenda inside. This will make it easierfor the airline to get your bags to you if they

get misplaced.

8. Never let your bags out of your sight: (You go to the bathroom, your bag go to: even if it doesn't have to.)

9. Remove tags: As soon a possible (Before you can forget.) remove the flight tags from your luggage. (You may

think of them as nice souvenirs & they make it look as if you really get around, but they can really confuse the

airlines luggage handlers who may rushed for time.)

10. Bumped: If you get bumped try to make sure your luggage doesn't go without you. It may already be loaded.

If it does make sure the airline will take care of it at the other end.

11.Where is my luggage: After all we've done to keep it from happening, it's missing.

11a. Contact the airline: As soon as you realize that your luggage isn't there. You'll have to fill out a claim/

statement. If you know where you'll be staying make sure the airline knows too. If not, make arrangements

to call them when you get settled in. i.e. who should you talk to when you call, what if any is the claim

number, etc. This will help them get your luggage to as fast as possible when/if it turns up.

11b. Have a list of our luggage with a good description. i.e. not a brown suitcase about 8" by 24" X 36" but a

(brown Samson travel tote model 77- 8 1/2" X 23 X 37" with red tape on the front & back.) Make &

keep a list of  all your bags & keep this list on your person or in your carry on. It will help the airline

track your  luggage if it goes missing.

11c. If you change hotels, etc. Call and let the airline know your new address & phone  number

Your luggage may make transfers:

Your flying to Bali from N.Y.

1. Non stop your luggage: once on the plane, will go all the way with you.

2. Stop/stops but not changing planes: Most likely the same but not always.

3. Stopovers with a change of plane: Luggage will also change planes & could go astray.

4. Stopovers with a change of airlines: Better chance of luggage going astray.

5. Layover where you have to claim your luggage, maybe clear customs. Make sure you do

1 & 2 The Basics again when you board for the next leg of your trip.

Damaged luggage:

1. Make sure nothing on the outside of your bags could get caught and maybe torn off, possible further damaging

your luggage, on the airport luggage transfer equipment.

2. Make sure anything fragile is well packed & protected against damage from the outside of the bags. Luggage

isn't handled with kid gloves and the airline may refuse to cover these items.

3. Don't pack perishables in anything but your carry on bags. (If your bags get delayed you could have a real mess.)

4. Make sure you use any locks the luggage may have. A thief will just break it open but they will help it from

being accidentally popped open.

5. Speaking of luggage popping open. Don't over-pack, this puts pressure on the latches.

Once damaged/lost

1. The airline will make a certain amount of restitution if the damage was their fault.

1a. but only if you bring it to their attention prior to your leaving the terminal.

2. The airlines are required by law to cover luggage damage caused by them.

3. If carrying expensive items, you may want to check if you can purchase extra value insurance. This is not really

insurance but will increase the amount the airline will reimburse you if your bag is damaged or lost.

4. You can check the Warsaw Convention here. The Warsaw Convention is a treaty between nations on laws

pertaining to airlines. For your Luggage see:

4a. Article 18 sections 1 & 2

4b. Article 22 section 2 - It is French Francs & kilograms but equals about $9.05 per pound.

5. The Warsaw Convention applies to international flights. On domestic flights there is a ceiling of $1,250 per

person on the amount they have to pay. Needless to say if you had a bag of diamonds etc. you could lose a

lot of money.

6. If booked from Bali to New York with a change of airlines in Los Angeles the Warsaw Convention would still

apply on that flight. A domestic segment of any international flight is always covered.

7. Get a signed agreement from the airline personal before leaving the airport.

7a. If this is not possible get all names of airline personal you talked with.

7b. Don't expect to get replacement of your luggage. The airline like insurance  companies will depreciate the

value.

7c. Do not attempt to cheat the airlines. They may deny all claims if they think some part of the claim is

fraudulent.

7d. They may ask for sales receipts. Keep good records.

7e.  When settling a claim the airline may offer you something that cost them less. (since all flights aren't filled, a

free ticket even though worth more then the agreed upon amount of your claim is still a bargain to them.)

7e1. make sure you ask about any restrictions on this ticket.

I have my bag, let's go.

Airlines aren't the only ones to lose luggage.

1. Make sure your bags stay with you till you get into your room. Airports are paradise to thieves.

1a. After carrying your bags to the taxi stand don't leave them unattended while you go back for others, to use

a pay phone, say goodbye to someone you met on the plane, etc.

1b. Make sure your bags get loaded into the cab/shuttle, etc and that they are secure. i.e. The trunk is latched etc.

1c. Make sure your bags get unloaded. (Don't just pay the driver and run in to secure your room, assuming the

driver will unload the cab. He'll be in a hurry to catch another fare & may just forget.)

1d. In the hotel don't expect a bellboy to bring your bags to your room. Make arrangements & accompany them.

(Tip the bellboy.)

1e. When going out make sure that your door is locked & all valuables are safely locked in a safe box or safe

in the hotel/Guest house office.

Things you might want to check/think about:

1.   Do you have any travel coverage under your homeowner's policy?

2.   Do any of your credit cards offer any type of coverage for your luggage?

3.   Will it pay to buy added valuation coverage for your luggage from the airline?

4.   Will your claim adversely affect your future dealings with the airline? If so how?

5.   Will the airline cover expenses you may accrue while waiting for delayed luggage?

i.e. Rental of sporting equipment. Tennis rackets, golf clubs etc.

5a.  Don't forget to get & keep any receipts for rental items no matter what they are.

6.   If you belong to AAA they offer travel insurance that provides delay and/or lost coverage, above what the

airline may provide.