If you're told your bags still haven't arrived after a day or so, insist on going into the "lost luggage" holding room to look for them anyway. Our bags didn't show up on a trip to Venice last year. Not trusting (correctly, as it turned out) the lost luggage folks to do anything right, we told them we'd be back the next day. When we came back, the person in charge spent some time on the computer only to announce that we still had no bags, but (after a "what can I do to get rid of these dumb Americans?" look) we could go into the luggage room and look around, which we did. And there they were, all of them - just sitting out in plain sight. In spite of computers, bar codes, ample tags, etc., and the fact that her job, her only job, was to keep track of lost luggage, she didn't even know our bags were about 50 ft. away from her. Sheesh.

I carry a picture of my bright red suitcase in my carry-on. It helps when dealing with a foreign language speaker, trust me.

I use the retriever tags, too, with addresses and phone numbers of my hotels. I also tape my itinerary inside the bag.

Another thought: use the airline address tag (the ones with the elastic band on them) to write down your name and destination hotel (as well as the retriever tags). My sister took this advice, and was very glad she did. On one of her trips, someone else took her bag (by mistake) and was able to track her down at her hotel to return her bag to her.

Travelled to Seattle mid July from London via Heathrow. Bags were tagged with names and address of our destination. We had 2 1/2 hour layover at Heathrow. All planes on time. Upon arrival at Seatac, only two of our four pieces of luggage arrived. Ten other people didn't receive their luggage either.

One couple with missing baggage was going to catch a cruise to Alaska the next morning. Our luggage didn't arrive at our destination until two days later. I've often wondered where and when that poor couple finally received their luggage. I'm willing to be it wasn't the next morning.

Moral of lesson: If possible, arrive two nights before your cruise to make sure you'll get your luggage.

Don't think the regulation about being able to open your bags are current yet in europe - the lastest fashion is to have them shrink-wrapped before you get on the plane, to stop anyone opening them. Perhaps US baggage handlers are more honest???

Thanks to all for all your useful tips. We aren't on a cruise and will have 3 days in Athens, so hopefully in the event of "misplaced" luggage it will find us at our Athens hotel prior to our leaving Athens. I'll plan to put all your ideas into effect and then hope for some luck along the way. Who knows? luggage and us may end up togther at the Athens airport ...here's hoping!

Our best tip to avoid a delay in getting your luggage while travelling in Europe is simply this: avoid going to or through Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris! We and our associates have had bad luck with CDG.

When I used to work for customs I was amazed at how many travellers picked up someone else's luggage by mistake. Since then I have put bright yellow duct tape on all sides of my suitcases in order to prevent others by accidently thinking my luggage is their's.

I tie narrow ribbon on the handles of my luggage so I can pick it out easily. I used to use luggage straps but they were a pain and could come off. The ribbons seem to work fine.

I'm done with the checking of the luggage. (from a famous movie, guess)

I've just ordered 6 bright luggage tags on eBay, three yellow ones for me and three red ones for the DH, with name/cell # on each set respectively. One inside, one outside, any checked bags.

I like the idea of writing name/hotel on the airline luggage tag too, as well as itinerary inside.

yestravel, I bought the large bright yellow "please note my enclosed itinerary" tags from magellan's website. I love how obvious they are. We used them the first time on our Dulles to Frankfurt to Paris trip with a return through Philly. They (the tags) all made it back except for my tag.

It was on the bag when it arrived from Paris in Philly because I saw it while going through customs but was missing when I picked up the luggage in Baltimore. The pilot had announced the luggage belt was not functioning so our luggage was being hand loaded. It must have been pulled off at that time.

I'm going to order another pair but will need to find a way to keep them from being torn off ;;) Deborah

I bought at a travel store recently a bright red plastic tag for my luggage that reads "you will not look good in my clothes". There were other funny ones in a variety of bright colors like "OOPS, you took the wrong bag".

"When checking your bags, doublecheck the airport code on the tag attached to your bags before they're whisked off."

Check the airport AND the flight number. I was rechecking my suitcase after going through customs in Atlanta a few years ago and the agent looked at my ticket and the strip on the luggage and said the flight number was incorrect. The agent in Prague had the airport code right, but not the flight number. The last few flights I've just put the luggage on a conveyer belt so it's really important to check carefully.

You had been allowed to use the TSA approved locks for domestic and international flights leaving the U.S., but not on flights returning from outside the U.S. I don't know if this has changed now but I'm going ask before using my lock next trip.

I love the idea of (if you're traveling with a partner) splitting the clothes between the two bags--thanks for the recommendations!