Commercial airlines lost 26 million bags in 2011. Don't let yours be next.
One of the worst things that can happen when traveling is an airline losing your luggage. The feeling of being in another part of the world without any belongings is a terrifying feeling that can ruin an entire trip. In 2011, nearly 26 million bags went missing worldwide, which is a disturbing amount of lost luggage. But there are some things you can do to make sure that your bag is safe and secure. Here are five travel tips that will help keep your bags safe, secure, and waiting for you when you land.
1. Carry On
A simple solution to ensure bag safety is to not give airlines a bag to lose. Most airlines allow two carry on bags, one larger piece of luggage and a handbag, purse or backpack. If traveling for a short period of time, it may be a smart idea to keep that large bag at home. Be sure to know what items can't be carried through security, and omit those from your luggage.
2. Label Everything
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Those elastic luggage tags that airlines provide could help keep your bag safe. Label both the inside and outside of your luggage with current contact information, and leave a copy of your travel itinerary and ticket inside your bag. This will give airlines everything they need to distinguish your bag from the hundreds waiting in lost and found.
3. Add Some Color
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An easy way to make your bag stand out from the crowd, and make it simple to describe to airline staff, is to wrap some kind of colorful item around a strap or handle of your luggage. By tying a bandana or applying colorful tape around the handle of your bag, you will easily be able to find your luggage in a sea of similar looking bags.
4. Take a Picture
Once your bag is labeled and tagged with a distinct colorful item, take a picture of your bag with a phone or digital camera. This will help you when trying to explain what your bag looks like to the airline looking to find your lost luggage. Instead of giving the same vague descriptions most travelers offer, you will be prepared with visual evidence that could help find your bag faster.
5. Track It
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An interesting technological advance from the 2013 CES show will aim to track luggage by communicating with your phone via Bluetooth. Trakdot can be placed inside the checked bag, and will tell your phone exactly where your luggage is located. This technology is not available yet, but could be on the market as soon as March.
6. Charter your own plane
Of course, the easiest way to ensure the airlines never lose your luggage is not to hand it over to them in the first place. Rent a jet and carry all of your luggage on the plane with you.
Lost luggage happens, but there are some things you can do to minimize the damage caused from missing your belongings. For the best in charter flight services, contact Cirrus Aviation at (702) 472-9714.
