Buzz
Losing luggage at the airport has become a haunting experience for many travelers. To avoid this unnecessary risk, equip yourself with essential skills.
Opt for Simple Suitcases
If you own a luxurious and eye-catching suitcase, showcasing your status, you may be tempted to flaunt it to everyone. However, such fancy luggage becomes an attractive target for thieves. Choosing simpler suitcases reduces the chances of your luggage becoming an unwitting target for opportunistic criminals.
Transform Your Suitcase into a Unique, Easily Identifiable Piece
When choosing a suitcase that doesn't attract thieves' attention, make sure it's not easily mistaken by others. Apply some tricks to make your suitcase stand out: stick labels on it, write your name with a bright pen, use a suitcase strap, or get creative with stylish bows. These subtle additions not only help distinguish your luggage but also deter thieves by making your luggage less conspicuous.
Use Reminder Alarms
Long flights can be exhausting, and before jumping out of the taxi and heading to the hotel, double-check if you've left anything behind. Ask the driver about the estimated travel time, set an alarm on your phone to remind you to grab your luggage. A wiser move is to label this alarm as 'LUGGAGE' to ensure you don't forget to retrieve your belongings.
Stay Calm and Courteous
You're at the security checkpoint, and everyone is grabbing their luggage from the conveyor belt, but yours is nowhere to be seen. It's a big hassle, and the airline has misplaced your baggage. Hurry to the lost luggage counter and prepare to voice your complaint. But remember, the staff is as tired as you are. Before unleashing a barrage of frustration, stay calm, take a deep breath, and be a bit friendly. A smile and a polite 'thank you' will make them happier and more willing to assist you.
Avoid Using Overly Complex, Ostentatious Locks
An excessively flashy lock is just as attention-grabbing as a shiny suitcase. It raises questions about what you're hiding in your bag that requires such careful locking. Some people might even start considering ways to break the lock to pilfer valuables from your luggage. The advice here is to make your luggage look as inexpensive and ordinary as possible—less is more when it comes to security.
Inspect Your Luggage Tags
After checking your suitcase, as a precaution against mistakes, request the airline attendant to quickly verify if your baggage tag matches the flight number and destination. Checking now will help you avoid many troubles later on. Don't lose the luggage tag – you can stick it onto your passport to keep it secure. This tiny piece of paper acts as a ticket for the airline to locate your luggage in case it goes missing.
You should also double-check the tag when retrieving your luggage from the conveyor to avoid grabbing someone else's belongings and save yourself the hassle later.
Divide Your Luggage Wisely
Strategic Luggage Distribution
Prepare for Lost Luggage
Recording the airline's contact number proves beneficial when you realize your luggage has ventured into unknown territory. The airport staff managing lost baggage can only document the details; retrieving the baggage is the airline's responsibility. Therefore, having their phone number expedites the process, especially in the absence of a representative desk at the airport.
Keep Important Documents Handy
Secure Essentials Wisely
The Power of Robust Technology
There's no absolute guarantee that your luggage won't go missing, even if you follow the given instructions. However, in such cases, you might find relief with technology designed to help you locate your belongings.
TRACE ME's luggage technology enables real-time tracking, even if the luggage tag is lost, by connecting to the global airline baggage system. ReboundTags go a step further by embedding microchips for tracking. Meanwhile, Bag2Go incorporates satellite positioning with a smartphone app. Technology is gradually minimizing and pushing the number of lost luggage cases to an all-time low.
