Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was last updated April 9, 2021.
As someone who travels for a living, I know it can be a little stressful at times. Obviously not so much that it makes seeing the world not worth it, but enough that certain thoughts consistently come to mind when packing for a trip. Thoughts like, “What happens if I lose my luggage?” Knock on wood, I’ve never have to deal with this issue, and I’m sure it has everything to do with a few key practices that I’ve taken up over the years (listed below, for your convenience). Of course, nothing is completely preventable. But if you’ve got a trip coming up, why not set yourself up for the best chance possible? Here are 8 simple ways to prevent losing your luggage.
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1. Use bright and unique luggage straps
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but there’s a chance you could be doing it a little bit better. For years I stuck with just tying a bright bandana around my luggage handles, but there are a couple of things wrong with this. First, anything that dangles a little too far has the potential to get stuck on something … like a conveyor belt. So in actuality, I was almost setting myself up for better chances of losing my luggage. Second, it seemed like I could never actually see said bandana until I was basically close enough to reach out and touch my bag. This meant that the chances of having my stuff grabbed by someone else and ending up in the “oops, this isn’t mine” section off to the side was also higher than it needed to be. (Happened to an aunt of mine once. It took us two hours to figure out it was only 40 feet away.)
The solution is bright/unique luggage straps. Luggage straps are flush all the way around your bag. So, all at once you can stop worrying about things getting caught AND having someone see your identifier just a little too late. Plus, they come with added benefits. All obviously perform their intended function of keeping your bag from popping open. But there are some out there that also come with combination locks and even tracking devices. Just make sure you get one that’s TSA approved if you decide to go that route.
2. Keep your information inside and out
For the outside of your bag, attach a sturdy luggage tag with your information. And feel free to skip the address and only supply your name, email, and phone number. On our last trip together, my wife had to use one of the paper tags supplied by the airport and noticed they’d changed them so this was the only information they asked for. The attendant explained that they would never deliver lost luggage to an address without contacting the owner first, so it was really just a security issue. Makes sense.
On the inside of the bag, go ahead and provide addresses with the rest of your information. It definitely doesn’t need to be formal, but throwing a piece of paper on top with your name, phone, email, and a dated itinerary with addresses can only help in the event of misplaced luggage.
3. Remove old tags/stickers
This falls in with the previous bit of advice. Be sure to remove any old tags, stickers, barcodes, etc. from your luggage before handing it over. While leaving them on doesn’t mean the handlers won’t be able to find the right one, why leave it open to any confusion at all? Plus, if for whatever reason the bag IS misplaced, it’ll be much easier to identify where it was supposed to be going, and get it back on track.
4. Consider GPS
If your anxiety about lost luggage tends to be on the higher side, you might want to look into a GPS tracker. From long-range to short, it seems like there are new options coming out every day. My main piece of advice for this is to do your research. When perusing a few options for myself, it appeared to be a common problem that people would purchase without realizing they might have an issue with something like the range covered or the phone network it operated on. Just make sure you check out the GPS well and are aware of its functions and limitations.
5. Be an organized packer
Not only will this help you out during your travels, it will help out the TSA when they check out your luggage. Be especially sure to keep any wires or things that they might be inclined to check into tidy and together. If everything is neat and easy to see, there’s less need to rummage. Less need to rummage means less rummaging time, so your bags are on their way to the plane that much faster.
6. Double-check tag information
This definitely isn’t to say that the individual printing and applying the tags to your checked luggage isn’t doing a proper job. Sometimes it’s just good to double-check. Before your bag hits that conveyor to be carried off to your next stop, take a second to give the tag a quick look and confirm it has the correct destination airport code. It’ll give you a little peace of mind, if nothing else.
7. Be timely
Everyone is aware of this one, but you might be shocked by just how many people I know that calculate the last possible minute they can get to the airport and still make their flight. I get it; waiting in a terminal can be the worst. But what I think people forget to take into account is the journey their bag takes after it’s been dropped off. It goes through just as much security as you do — maybe more — and then has to rely on a human being to get it to where it’s going. You might have a brain that’s telling you to rush to your gate, but that bag doesn’t. Of course, airports have to deal with late passengers all the time. But, if you’re looking to lose a bag, this seems like it might be a good place to start your endeavor.
8. Travel non-stop or with longer layovers
If you’re ever confronted with the choice between a more expensive non-stop flight, a cheap flight with a longer layover, or something in the middle with a short layover, you might be inclined to take the latter. If that layover is less than an hour and you happen to be checking luggage, however, you might want to rethink your decision. Again, you might know you need to rush to your next flight, but your bag doesn’t. Best to pick one of your other options depending on your needs. If it’s time, spring for the more expensive non-stop. And if it’s money, go for the longer layover. As for that pesky issue of waiting in a terminal, maybe take some of your savings and apply it to a lounge pass.
Just in case
Fingers crossed that it will never be you, but to say that luggage never gets lost would be a lie. As with anything else, it’s best to be prepared. For that, I will leave you with three recommendations:
- Always be sure to pack all medicines and other important items, along with a change of clothes and essential toiletries in a carry-on.
- Take a few quick photos of what you’ve packed and what your luggage looks like for reference.
- Consider travelers insurance (maybe something to consider regardless).
Safe travels! Looking for more travel tips? See what to do if your flight gets canceled.
Joe Miragliotta
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This article was very very helpful
Extremely insightful! Thanks for all the information. As seasoned traveler of 40 years I learned some some tricks of travel ?.
Thanks
Helpful hints. I shared this article with friends.
very helpful especially how to get rid of wife
An even more ‘personal’ way to identify your luggage………my wife has used fabric paint to paint designs or stencil patterns on each of our bags. Absolutely no way these are going to be mistaken for some other persons bag. Also very easy (with a photo on your phone, to describe your bag to the airlines if it is ‘lost.’
My checked bag is a bold plaid with a contrasting luggage strap. In addition to your tips, I also take a picture of my packed bag with my mobile phone.
Colored duct tape also helps to identify one’s bag. I used purple in the shape of an X. Could always spot my bag.
If not traveling alone, split up each person’s clothes between the suitcases. That way if one is lost, no one is without ALL their clothes. Just be sure to divide clothes of all types, for example, day outfits and shoes, evening clothes and shoes, etc.
Pack your clothes in plastic space bags, especially the ones that will be on the bottom or top of your packed clothes in your checked luggage. When we got to Europe last year my checked luggage had gotten very wet sitting on the tarmac in a rainstorm waiting to get loaded into the plane. Some of my clothes that I hadn’t put in a space bag were very wet. I was able to hang them to dry for a couple of days. Thankfully I didn’t need to wear them right away. I will space bag everything from now on to prevent the clothes in my checked luggage from possibly getting wet.
Totally agree with fabric painting your suitcase. And make sure you use some of that color on every side of the suitcase.
I paint a green tree on my bag. First trip to Paris with my boyfriend. he asked me to paint his bag when all the commen black bags were in the luggage claim area. We went to an art supply store and got fabric paint.
My suitcases are small, shabby, in faded colors. Don’t look like anyone else’s, and nobody else would want them. (But they have special storage spaces and are very practical. Can’t find new ones like them.)
ziploc bags — 2.5 gal ….same concept as the cubes
use your cellphone number on your luggage and your airline info
I’m not artistic with fabric paint and so applied macrame with different-colored string to the handles on my bags. It’s easy to spot and provides a tactile clue if someone picks up the wrong bag.
I always make sure the airline tag has the correct information, including connections. Seems silly but I have caught errors more than once. Also, most airline apps have a bag tracking function.
I make copies of my boarding pass and put one into each checked AND carry-on bag. Only the airline will know how to find you with a boarding pass, but it saves you from filling out lengthy identification info. Once, in a stressed-out moment upon return from a long trip, I left my carry-on (with a copy of the original boarding pass) on the floor of the baggage claim area once I had I grabbed my checked bags. The airline notified me before I had even returned home.
Checking the baggage claim stickers is a must. I arrived in Delhi before the new airport… not many computers. My luggage had been sent to DC with someone else’s name on it. I spent three days waiting for it… in the same clothes
Put your name and phone number on a sheet of unfolded paper conspicuously on top of everything inside your luggage in the event the tags get damaged or removed from the outside.
Tip #1, putting a belt all the way around your suitcase saved my stuff when my suitcase was destroyed by a Chinese airline. Nothing like looking out the porthole of a plane and seeing your busted up suitcase lying on the tarmac, in the rain, with all your stuff hanging out both ends of your suitcase which was held securely together in the middle by the strap
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