{"id":19912,"date":"2017-07-25T19:41:44","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T19:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/?p=19912"},"modified":"2021-04-09T22:00:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-09T22:00:38","slug":"8-simple-tips-prevent-losing-luggage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/8-simple-tips-prevent-losing-luggage\/","title":{"rendered":"8 simple tips to prevent losing your luggage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note:<\/i><\/b> All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions\u2014please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips. This article was last updated April 9, 2021.<\/i><\/p>\n

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<\/a>. Thoughts like, \u201cWhat happens if I lose my luggage?\u201d Knock on wood, I\u2019ve never have to deal with this issue, and I\u2019m sure it has everything to do with a few key practices that I\u2019ve taken up over the years (listed below, for your convenience). Of course, nothing is completely preventable. But if you\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/strong>: America’s best beaches for families<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Use bright and unique luggage straps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"Colorful\n

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but there\u2019s 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 \u2026 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 \u201coops, this isn\u2019t mine\u201d 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.)<\/p>\n

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\u2019s TSA approved if you decide to go that route.<\/p>\n

2. Keep your information inside and out<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n

On the inside of the bag, go ahead and provide addresses with the rest of your information. It definitely doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

3. Remove old tags\/stickers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\"8\n

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\u2019t mean the handlers won\u2019t 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\u2019ll be much easier to identify where it was supposed to be going, and get it back on track.<\/p>\n

4. Consider GPS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

5. Be an organized packer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Be

My wife (Sarah<\/a>) trying to sneak into my luggage.<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

6. Double-check tag information<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This definitely isn\u2019t to say that the individual printing and applying the tags to your checked luggage isn\u2019t doing a proper job. Sometimes it\u2019s 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\u2019ll give you a little peace of mind, if nothing else.<\/p>\n

7. Be timely<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\u2019s been dropped off. It goes through just as much security as you do \u2014 maybe more \u2014 and then has to rely on a human being to get it to where it\u2019s going. You might have a brain that\u2019s telling you to rush to your gate, but that bag doesn\u2019t. Of course, airports have to deal with late passengers all the time. But, if you\u2019re looking to lose a bag, this seems like it might be a good place to start your endeavor.<\/p>\n\"Running\n

8. Travel non-stop or with longer layovers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re ever confronted with the choice between a more expensive non-stop flight<\/a>, 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\u2019t. Best to pick one of your other options depending on your needs. If it\u2019s time, spring for the more expensive non-stop. And if it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\"Connecting\n

Just in case<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u2019s best to be prepared. For that, I will leave you with three recommendations:<\/p>\n