12 Clever Ways to Prevent Airlines from Losing Your Luggage

At the baggage carousel, you stand as one suitcase rolls by after another. Your trip excitement shifts to panic when the crowd thins and your luggage disappears. Sound familiar? According to SITA data, airlines lost 36.1 million suitcases worldwide in 2023, while millions of bags continue to be mishandled yearly. The good news? You can employ numerous intelligent methods to reduce the likelihood of losing your luggage.

Simple labels and advanced tracking devices combine these 12 innovative strategies to protect your luggage during travel.

Choose a luggage tag with bold colors and attach your contact details

Have you ever encountered baggage services trying to identify which black carry-on is yours among 400 similar bags? Take pictures of your suitcase and contents before you check it in. Keep photos of your luggage handy to make identification easier when filing an insurance claim for a lost bag.

One of your photos should document the airline’s baggage tag attached to your suitcase. This detail can speed up their search.

Remove old tags and stickers

Old baggage tags are a hidden menace. Airlines depend on barcodes and stickers to track baggage, but an old tag can mistakenly redirect your suitcase to Paris during your Tokyo trip. Before departing on any journey, check your luggage for leftover travel tags or stickers and take them off completely to avoid tracking errors.

Even though this procedure seems essential, professionals recommend it. In a TikTok video, an Ontario airport worker showcased how scanners often misread old tags, sending bags to the wrong destinations.

Invest in a luggage tracker

Technology is your new travel BFF. Adding a tracking device such as an Apple AirTag or Tile Tracker to your suitcase lets you follow your luggage in real-time using your smartphone.

If you share the precise location of your lost baggage with the airline, it can quickly retrieve it. Airlines today allow passengers to share luggage tracker locations so they can travel with increased confidence.

Arrive early at the airport

Early airport arrival helps you avoid TSA stress and improves the chances of your bag boarding your flight. Late check-ins are more likely to cause your luggage to miss the designated cargo loading times. Flight experts advise travelers to reach airports two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international ones.

Take nonstop flights whenever possible

Lost bags often vanish at layover points during their transit between flights. Traveling with fewer connections reduces the chances that your luggage will miss its flight.

When you can, book direct flights; when connections can’t be avoided, ensure that you select layovers that last at least 90 minutes so baggage handlers have sufficient time to move your suitcase between flights.

Double-check that your luggage is checked to the correct destination

Ensure that airline staff have appropriately tagged your suitcase to its final destination before you leave it at the check-in counter. When mistakes occur, a brief look at your baggage tag can prevent you from arriving in Cancun without your swimwear.

Carry valuables in your hand luggage

Here’s a golden rule of air travel: Never place valuable items in checked luggage because you cannot afford to lose them. Place essential items such as passports, jewelry, electronics, and medications in your carry-on bag. This method ensures you have your essential items when disaster strikes.

Use a luggage strap for added security

A durable luggage strap provides additional security benefits beyond keeping your luggage closed in transit. Brightly colored straps improve visibility, helping you quickly identify your luggage on the carousel and minimizing the risk of others accidentally taking it.

Get luggage insurance

Have you considered insuring your luggage like you protect your vehicle or vacation? Travel insurance typically offers financial protection against stolen items or lost luggage by reimbursing you for valuable belongings up to a specified limit. Blue Valet lets you declare your luggage value at check-in for better compensation if your bags get lost.

Distribute your belongings

Traveling with someone? Avoid storing all your clothes in one suitcase during your travels. Ensure you have essential items by dividing your belongings between multiple suitcases so that one lost or delayed bag won’t leave you without necessities. The method proves highly effective when traveling as a duo or within a group since combining everyone’s items ensures nobody ends up without anything.

Store a fundamental change of clothes and essential toiletries in your carry-on to make your travel preparations more reliable. Innovative packing strategies help minimize travel stress so you can concentrate on having fun throughout your journey!

Leverage airline apps to track your luggage

Numerous airlines have made real-time baggage tracking capabilities available through airline apps. Record your baggage tracking number during check-in to monitor your suitcase’s journey through transit. When you pair a luggage tracker with airline tracking apps, you can easily find your briefcase, no matter where you are.

Take Photos of Your Luggage and Its Contents

Have you ever encountered baggage services trying to identify which black carry-on bag is yours among 400 similar bags? Before you check your suitcase in, take pictures of its contents.

Keep photos of your luggage handy to make identification easier when filing an insurance claim for a lost bag. One of your photos should document the airline’s baggage tag attached to your suitcase. This detail can speed up their search.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.

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