Airport Tips on How
to Avoid Lost Luggage
According
to the Department of Transportation, complaints about lost, delayed and damaged
luggage are at an all time high. In fact, figures released recently by the Department
indicate that 2006 was the worst year for lost and mishandled baggage since 1991.
And, these high levels of lost and mishandled luggage scenarios will likely persist
in 2007 because airline restrictions regarding carry-on items, in place now and
for the foreseeable future, mean travelers will continue to check their luggage.
To help travelers protect their baggage and other possessions
when flying, here are some basic tips:
Tag
it - put your name inside as well as outside of baggage.
This way, if luggage tags fall off in transit, airline employees will be able
to identify your baggage. Also, putting a copy of your itinerary inside baggage
will make it easier for an airline employee to find you if a bag does become lost.
Take a photo - take
a picture of your bags before you travel. Travelers will find that having a photo
of lost baggage will be much easier than trying to describe what it looks like
at the claims desk.
Ship it
- send luggage and other items normally checked in at the airport, such as sports
equipment and baby accessories (carriage, car seat, etc.) directly to your destination.
By shipping their luggage, travelers will receive several benefits, including
eliminating the possibility of the airline losing it and bypassing long check-in
lines and excess baggage fees. There are a number of luggage delivery services
available.
American Express Vacations, for example, offers a luggage
delivery service to its customers that enables them to ship their luggage. Customers
can arrange shipping reservations online, and arrange a pick-up time and custom
insurance amounts for each item shipped. For more information click here.
Carry spares - pack a
day's worth of clothes in your carry on bag. Including a few essentials such as
a tooth brush, tooth paste and important prescription medications is also a good
idea. This way, if your bags do become lost, you can minimize stress by not having
to immediately run around an unknown city trying to replace essentials. If a bag
is lost or stolen, there is hope.
Baggage
insurance will go a long way in helping to counteract that sinking
feeling that comes with the realization that a bag is lost. Many charge and credit
cards offer baggage insurance as a benefit to their customers. Many credit cards,
for example, provide a fee-free baggage insurance plan on charge and credit card
products - as well as several insurance plans that offer added levels of protection
for a nominal fee.
(Source:
American
Express) |
