Lost bags

When six of us flew to Scotland this summer (three segments, US Airways and BA/Flybe), three of us arrived without our checked luggage. Dad's luggage got there in two days, K's in three days - mine was five days. And that only because I hounded them constantly to try to find it.

On the way back, they lost my luggage again. Got it back in two days.

My last trip to SFO I did carry-on only. It's the only way I can guarantee I'll have it.

One tip is to examine the tags they print and attach to make sure the bag's routing is correct. (ex. San Antonio, not San Diego)

Only once in 36 years of traveling was my baggage delayed, and only for a day. I've never had a bag totally lost, or had anything stolen. I'm not a frequent flyer, but I do take multiple trips per year.

I always carry a change of clothes in my carryon, as well as anything of value or necessity (camera, medicine, etc.) My checked bag only contains shoes and clothes. I haven't used the TSA locks, so no comment on those.

When checking in, if you have a rolling suitcase, have them put the check-in tag on the pully handle instead of the carry handle. We learned that the hard way. The handle fell off and the bag arrived about 3 weeks later. Thank goodness it was not on the way there, but on the way home.

I've been traveling about one major trip a year for 12 years. Of those trips, my bags have been delayed on 5 legs of those trips (either incoming or outgoing). That's about 20% of the time (assuming 24 legs).

Maybe I'm just lucky. I always have my name and address on the luggage, double check that they are properly labeled, etc. Once it was because the handlers broke the handle, which is where the tags were (it was a leather duffel). Another time it was 'lost' between the delivery service (who never got the paperwork) and the airline (who thought they had sent the bag).

We have only had our luggage lost one time, and that was on our return flight from Hawaii that required us to change planes in San Francisco and switch from a United flight to a US Air flight.

The same exact thing happened to my brother two weeks before our trip when he too had to switch from a United flight to US Air.

Based on that experience, I would have to say it is best to stick with one airline. Even though those airlines have a partnership, they still do things differently. According to the customer service representative at the airport, United scans the barcodes on the luggage tags but US Air doesn't? The problem with that is that even though they had documentation that the bags were on the first plane, after that point, we had no clue where they were and US Air apparently had no way to find out. And they told us it happened frequently! Good luck!

I have never (knock on wood) had my luggage lost or delayed. Some of the things I try to do:

1. Nothing of value goes in the bag;

2. I make sure the bag is in good shape before taking it. If the handle seems a bit wobbly, I use a different bag;

3. I put only one ID tag on the outside of the bag. No other strings, tags, etc. are put on the outside that can get caught up with anything along the way;

4. I arrive at the airport early enough so I have enough time to make sure my bag is labelled correctly;

5. I try to keep the connections to a minimum, and I use the airline's recommended connections;

6. I don't stress over it. If it gets lost, then all I've lost are clothes and shoes - no big deal.

How often do you lose your checked in bags on your flights??

Here are the most recent stats from the DOT ... http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr08.htm

If you open the PDF the info you seek is on pg 28, "MISHANDLED BAGGAGE REPORTS FILED BY PASSENGERS", listed by airline .. average was 4.98 per 1,000 passengers so about 1 in 200 odds ... or more than one person per plane on a big international flight, on average.

So, are there any ways we can do as travellers to minimise this risk?

Avoid tight connecting flights, put a copy of your schedule (flights, contact info) inside the bag in case the tags get ripped off.

How effective are the TSA locks?

The 3 digit combo ones can be opened pretty quickly, the 4 digit ones take 10x as long to open ... we use the keyed ones

We've only had delayed luggage problems twice, once when all the tags were ripped off by the baggage sorting machines and we had no name tags inside (took 2 months to get the suitcase back), once when we were 7 hours late making a connection in Newark to Paris because of storms. We barely made the last flight of the night, the luggage didn't but came a day later ... now we always put 2 pairs of socks and undies in our carry-on.

I've been traveling for about 30 years and have never had a lost bag. FOr the last 5 years I've almost always done carry on. Our last trip to Mexico we checked bags and would have not had such a mess we I had carried on. One non-stop to JFK I checked because everyone I was with did. The flight was cancelled and we couldnt' get on a quicker flight out because our bags were stuck on the other plane sitting at the gate.

I have never lost a suitcase, and I've been traveling for over 30 years. Only 1 single time it was delayed overnight & that was on my way home.

No reason to bring "two big bags" for the family.

In your carry-ons pack essentials that could get you thru the first day, in case of delay. Then have each person check one normal sized bag through.

I never bother to lock my suitcase anymore, as there is nothing of monetary value, just my clothes.

But TSA locks work fine.

I have heard from friends who travel to the US regularly that it is so common that they even fear flying there except that he has no choice due to work.

I have to question whether your friend either,

a) has been extraordinarly unlucky, or
b) simply lacks objectivity.

US airlines actually do a significantly better job handling baggage than European carriers. I could bore you with my own anecdotal evidence, but the numbers are so startling, that there is no need.

As noted in Bill_H's post, the rate of mishandled bags in the US was 4.98 in August 2008. The worst performance was Comair at 9.73. Meanwhile, European airlines mishandled an average of 15.5 bags per flight. In other words, the worst US airline lost 6.2 fewer bags than your average European airline!

The worst European airline (BA), lost over 3x more baggage than Comair. The best European carrier (Turkish) lost 1.5x more baggage than the best US carrier (Hawaiian). The WORST mainline US airline (United) mishandled 6.48 bags per 1000 pax. The BEST major carrier in Europe (Iberia), mishandled 11.1 per 1000 pax.

http://files.aea.be/News/PR/Pr08-015.pdf

Of course, if it is your bag lost, you don't care about overall statistics, but it is pretty obvious that you are better off entrusting your bags to any American airline than just about any European airline.

Data for Asian carriers is tough to find, but if this blog is accurate, even venerable Singapore Air is not clearly better (they use a different measure making it difficult to judge), as they mishandled somewhere around 4 in every 1000 bags (the US and Europeans measure versus enplanments).

http://williamleekg.blogspot.com/2008/04/42m-mishandled-luggage-missing-in-2007.html

Meanwhile, European airlines mishandled an average of 15.5 bags per flight

Gourmet, did you really mean "per flight" or "per 1000 passengers", like the US data I linked to. If "per flight" then that would be truly terrible but I think you probably meant "per 1000 pax"?

BTW these are customer complaints for lost, delayed or damaged luggage, all lumped together. The figure for "lost" for more than 1-2 days is quite a bit lower than 4.98 per 1,000 pax.

Bill

did you really mean "per flight" or "per 1000 passengers", like the US data I linked to.

You are right, I meant, per 1000 passengers. Nonetheless, I think the numbers are startling, particularly for the worst offenders, like BA.

In regards to the stats, you also have to remember that there are many flights with NO lost baggage, and one flight that might have an entire truckload misrouted. That means that depending on the types of flights you take, you may not have any trouble for years or you may see it everytime you fly.

To be fair, one of the reasons our bags were missing on the way back from Scotland is because somehow, in the middle of the night before our flight, about a third of the passengers were put on standby. That meant that all our luggage was labeled standby. We got on, our luggage evidently did not. However, we did get it the next day, and it was on the way home, not on the way out, which made it easier. We saw the labels when we got our luggage It was a grand mess all over.

I used to be a bag room supervisor for United and I have a few tips.

First, remove any barcoded tags from previous flights. Even if your bag is tagged properly, it could be misrouted to a different baggage belt due to an old tag that is read by a scanner.

Also, I believe most airlines' tags print an extra set (or two) of your bag tag numbers (about 1/2 inch tall and as wide as the original tag.) We would pull one from a misrouted bag to research it. Apply one of these extra mini-tags directly onto your bag so that in the event of a "tag-off," your bag can still find you.

Next, always have the name of the actual traveler on the bag. (A copy of your itinerary in an accessible pocket would be great too.) We would try to research bags that had been misrouted and sometimes we would not be able to find the passenger that was listed on the owner's tag. Some people borrow bags or have gotten married and their names have changed.

Also, never check valuables in your bags and I highly recommend bringing a carry on with at least one days worth of clean underwear.

Good luck.

Make sure you know the code for your destination airport and double check that your luggage tag has the proper airport code.

I always put my name and contact phone no. along with my itinerary details inside my luggage as well as having my name tag on the outside of the luggage.

Misterfuss, would you be able to give some advice about baggage locks?

I am aware that just about any lock can be opened, so do not want to lock our suitcases to prevent anything being stolen. However, I would like to secure our cases so I know if they have been opened (we Australians are a little paranoid about undesirable things being popped into our luggage - like drugs!)

I found some "Tamper Tell" easy seals at a luggage shop. They are threaded through the zipper loops and tighten - a bit like a hospital id bracelet. Each seal has a unique number so it can't be replaced by another seal without your knowledge.

Would you recommend these?

I've seen the premise of hiding drugs in someone's luggage in the movies a lot, but I've never really thought it was a practical plan to import drugs.

To access your suitcase after you are separated with it, I (the druggie) needs to gain access to the "other side" of the airport to get to your suitcase to slip the drugs into it.

Then what happens?

I sit around praying that customs will not find the drugs in your suitcase?

And then, if customs doesn't find the drugs?

I have a partner who accesses the "other side" of the airport at the destination in order to pull out the drugs?

I have a partner who waits at baggage to steal your bag before you see it?

I get on the plane with you and the bag and then try to steal it at the other end?

Somehow I think there are much easier ways to sneak drugs into a country.

Toedtoes, It's an Aussie thing. I have read countless discussions (on Hawaii forums) and still I can't quite understand it. But many people from Oz seem to share this same fear of drugs being planted in their suitcases when they are checked thru on the airlines.

Yup - I won't go into all the detail about what our federal police have found goes on behind the scenes, and maybe our fears are completely groundless. However, I would rather be safe than sorry - a death sentence in an Asian country (bear in mind that most flights from Australia to Europe go via Asia) is not the way I want to go!

I would far rather be able to tell if our suitcases have been opened since we last saw them so I can alert a customs official to this fact before I find myself, or my family, in trouble.

Perhaps there are scumbags out there who just want to get Aussies in trouble...

A simple solution if all you want to know is if someone got into your bag, is to use the plastic ties (found at hardware stores and used to gather wiring) or even simple twisty-ties that you get with plastic bags.

Even a simple wire pipe cleaner would advice you that someone was in your bag without costing a lot of money (and dealing with a lazy TSA agent who simply cuts the lock off instead of using the "universal key").

Thanks for making me smile Toadtoes! Probably more likely that we Aussies are just paranoid. Maybe it's got something to do with the Aussies who keep getting caught in Asia carrying drugs - who knows if they're innocent or not - I have my opinions but I'll keep them to myself!

Thanks for the great idea about the plastic ties and pipecleaners - very smart.

Hi Ozziez,

Sorry I haven't responded sooner. I would recommend the types of ties that you suggest if you would like to know if the tie has been removed. (Even if it has been removed, it may not have been done by a person as bags travel along mechanized baggage belts.) I have a feeling that they may be a bit overpriced. I have seen generic ties in a 99 cent store that would need to be cut to be removed but does not have serial numbers. These could serve a similar purpose at a fraction of the cost.

I never heard of anyone introducing items into baggage while I worked in the bagroom, but I actually caught someone taking something out of a bag. Never put anything of value in your checked bags. Also, never put medication there either.

Additionally, although liquids are allowed to be in checked luggage, ensure liquids will be contained (ie. in ziploc type bag) in case the original container breaks.

Also, I don't know if the TSA here in the US still does it, but when they opened bags, they would put a notification in the bag that advised the passenger they had done so.

Hi misterfuss

Thanks so much for your reply. Very useful.

Is the reason why medication should not be packed in checked luggage because it could be stolen?

And so you have it in case your baggage is lost or delayed. My father (usually very organized) packed his meds in his checked luggage on our trip to Scotland. His was one of the three bags that got delayed, though only by two days for him (his was the first back). Without his meds, some of which was for his blood pressure and diabetes, he was very listless and tired, so he did nothing those two days but hang around the apartment.

Ah GreenDragon - I never thought of that .....

Hi Ozziez,

As GreenDragon mentioned, if your bags are delayed or lost, so is the medication that you packed. Occasionally, when a flight was delayed, we would get a request to retrieve medication from a checked bag. *If* we were able to retrieve the bag (time constraints, manpower issues, accessibility of the bag, etc.), we would send it to the baggage claim area since we were not permitted to bring a checked bag in to the "sterile" passenger concourse. The passenger would then have to re-check the bag and possibly miss the flight. In general, prescription medication is exempt from the 3 ounce US limitation as long as you have the original prescription label attached. The TSA site has some good information:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

My motto in the Air Force was, "Flexibility is the key to air power - which loosely translates to always carry on your bag."

While I rarely find myself rerouting mid trip like I once did. I still carry-on only. No lost or delayed bags, no waiting at the terminal and no extra check-in time.

Very informative misterfuss - thank you!

I am the Queen of Lost Luggage as it's happened to me 7 times, and not just within the US. When I get to my destination I don't expect my bag to be there. If my bag arrives when I do, then I celebrate my good fortune!!

Usually it happens due to short layovers, but once it was due to mis-labeling. I agree with the advice to re-check the luggage tag before letting them take your bag. Otherwise it's just luck of the draw most of the time.

The good news is I always got my luggage back w/in 2 days.

I too, am touching wood, never had my bag misplaced. I always check my bag and carry on just a tote with my camera and an extra pair of shoes. (The only clothing I'm particular about)

One tag on the outside and all my contact information in the top front pocket with my hotels and cell phone #. If traveling with dh I include his too.

Also if traveling with dh, we put a little clothing in each other's bags.

Suze and Toadtoes - just had to tell you that I think I know why us Aussies are so paranoid about locking our suitcases. I've just received a pamphlet - more like a booklet actually (18 pages!) from Australian customs telling me what we can and can't take in and out of Australia, etc. In this pamphlet/booklet it states that travellers are strongly advised to lock their check-in and carry-on luggage. Now I know!

Very interesting and helpful information.
I have a question about the name tags on suitcases.
I always have my home address on the tag. But was thinking that maybe it would be better to put the address of my detination, so that if in case the bag is lost/delayed in between connections, it can eventualy be delivered to my vacation destination instead of my home.
Wondering if that makes any sense. Not sure.
Would love to read your advice or experience. Thanks

Ileen - that would work if you're going to be in one place for a while. If you'll be moving around, then it could cause more problems.

One thing I was told to do is to put the phone number and address of someone who will be around to get the call and to then contact you.

It also keeps your address (of the house that will be empty for a length of time) from being visible to folks who might use it to their advantage. This would most likely occur in the "backside" of the local airport.

I always put my work address and my cell phone number. That means my home address isn't advertised as an empty house. I have my cell phone so they will call me wherever I am (I seldom vacation in just one spot), and have an itinerary inside the suitcase.

I do tours but still I put the hotel where I am going on about 5 tags all over my luggage. I also make a sign and tape that to the outside of the luggage, and then inside is a full itinerary of my hotels. I also list my cell phone number.

Then on the way home I change everything and put my home address on all the tags etc.

My hubby is always home so I don't have to worry about an empty house.

Hi ileen,

My luggage name tag is actually an expired United Mileage Plus card (the number is still correct, but the year has past.) This card has my name and frequent flyer number on it. I taped my cell phone number and home phone number on it as well.

If United loses my bag, then they can look up my itinerary and my address (in addition to having my phone numbers.) I usually have a copy of my itinerary in an exterior pocket as well.

Misterfuss: Your idea is worth copying. Easy to do and pretty smart. Thanks

This thread gives me a great idea. You should always pack a bottle of wine in your checked luggage. If you don't lose it, you will have something to celebrate the occasion with.

I travel a good deal but I've only had bags lost twice. The last time was a few weeks ago - Air France into Florence via a tight connection in Paris. Came into the airport within 10 hrs or so but then had trouble getting the Italian guy who was delivering my bag to me to get it to my apartment!