DeborahAnn

We just can't get to carryon only and our flight is not direct so other than hope for the best are there any tips you can give to have our luggage arrive when we arrive?

I have huge itinerary enclosed luggage tags but to keep them from getting torn off the suitcases I have to tuck them into an outside pocket.

Do you think putting a note inside our suitcases that our flight itinerary is located in an outside luggage pocket would do any good? I already have all our flight information on paper both inside and in an outside pockets of our luggage, if airport personnel will bother to look for it. I've got our black luggage marked with colorful ribbons and straps with a couple of ID tags on each piece.

Our luggage was lost for three days once flying to Europe so I always carry some of our clothes and all medication and electronics in our carryon.

I'm wondering if there is anything else you can recommend to help the successful arrival of our bags. Thanks, Deborah

nytraveler

First, make sure that your luggage has the correct destination tag on it - clerks aren't infallible.

Do not check in very late - make sure your luggage is there in plenty of time to be put with the rest of the transfer luggage (some airlines do this on some flights - not all).

Other than that I think you've done everything obvious.

joannyc

Probably expensive but you could ship it to your hotel instead of checking it on your flight.

tuscanlifeedit

I've read that people put half of each of their things in two bags. You know, half your stuff in your companion's bag, half his/her stuff in your's.

I do carry on, but if I had to check, I guess I would try that method as extra insurance.

J62

None of the tricks you describe will help your bag arrive when you do. The only things that matter are that the bag is properly tagged at checkin and the airline gets it onto your connecting flight.

As you do, I always make sure I have enough in my carryon to last me 1-2 days.

daveesl

In my carry on I bring 1 days worth of clothing, in addition to the clothes I am wearing. When it is DW and I flying (normal, but not always), we do the half/half thing. Half of my stuff in her check-in, half of her stuff in mine. So at worst, we have 2 days worth of clothes to begin with (wear and carry). If a bag gets lost, then we have another 1-2 days worth. Hooefully the lost bag is found.

I use a plastic information holder that attaches to the outside of the bag. I have a series of cards that I print up, which fit inside the holder. Each card lists my name, destination address and phone. I also have a full sized sheet of paper that boldly lists the destination info that I place on the top of everything inside the bag. At least this way, I HOPE that they can figure out where to actually send the bag.

And yes, make absolutely certain that the proper airport code(s) is on the stick-on claim tape and get to the airport early.

While I have had bags arrive up to 2 days late, at least they get to me.

Now I have just jinxed myself and we are bound to lose everything in our month-long February trip for 2012.

dave

greg

You cannot control delayed/lost baggage beyond making sure that the check-in agent placed the tag with the correct airport code.

You can do damage control. I have always split "appropriate" content across the traveling members. By "appropriate," I mean separated content form complete outfit. So splitting the contents so that my wife carries all my shirts while I have all my pants does not help. Also, the outfit that must match must be in the same bag.

I also carry at least one complete change of clothes on carry-on. With properly matching clothes, I have at least three sets of clothes: carry-on, my bag, my wife's bag. This forms minimum of 3 pants * 3 shirts = 9 combinations. Losing one bag means 2 pants * 2 shirts = 4 combinations, which is really acceptable for continuing the trip.

DeborahAnn

Thanks, I guess I've already done everything you suggested except ship it to our first hotel--which I think would be very expensive.

I like the idea of a clear plastic holder secured to our checked luggage. We have Magellan's bright yellow itinerary tags with wording in a dozen languages explaining our itinerary is enclosed but they dangle from a strap so I'm always relieved when they don't get torn off--Now I put them inside one of the nearby pockets so they won't get caught and pulled off

We do divide our clothes between each suitcase. That is when packing becomes a battle strategy, me against the airline--we each have two colors for the basics, for this trip black and gray. I put all the black in one suitcase and all the gray in the other, hoping they both make it or we are down to one color each for bottoms

I'll be more careful about double checking the baggage tags the airline puts on--sometimes they whip those tags on and the luggage is gone while I'm still gathering up my carryon. We do have trip insurance, I'd just rather not have to use it. Thanks again, Deborah

dutyfree

The airline that I work for has a way to track your luggage by way of your phone and the bar code (on the tags that they give you) as you go so if you are making several stops you know where the problem might be if it goes missing.

KarenE

"Tips to have our luggage arrive when we do"
Don´t use London Heathrow airport for transit. They are widely known for loosing luggage. They lost ours four times in a row due to their chaotic system. Since then I always try to avoid this airport.

KTtravel

Your flight is probably already booked but I have found that my luggage has been delayed when the layover time between connecting flights was short.

My fingers are crossed that your luggage arrives when you do!

Mimar

And stay several days at your first stop. If your luggage is lost and you have already moved on, it's harder for it to catch up with you. Use those few days to get over jet lag.