The Luggage Twilight Zone

We are constantly rushing. Always in a hurry. Waiting for bags at the arrival terminal, watching the bags go by on the carousel, takes a lot of patience, wondering when yours will come. For some reason waiting for luggage seems like forever even if it may just a few minutes. Finally!! Nothing shows up. What do you do? Remember the first rule: Do not panic. The second rule is inform the airline attendants immediately.
Wherever you go, whatever happens, you can always have a good time if you have the right attitude. Right attitude comes with knowledge, awareness and patience. If you are aware of what is to be done in this sort of a situation, won’t it make life easier? Rather than fretting and fuming when it happens and running from pillar to post. Here are the kind of problems you could face with regards to luggage, and how you can deal with them.

Delayed Baggage
When the bag hasn’t showed up on the luggage carousel, file a claim with the airline ground staff immediately. Give them your complete address, whether its home or hotel, phone number and take their contact details, to follow up the tracking of your bag.
Luggage does not get misplaced too often and airlines are able to trace it with their tagging and numbering system and locate it for you. 99% of the time, all misplaced baggage is returned. It only depends on the time taken, depending on where the bag is. If it is on the next flight, you would get it in a few hours. But if its been sent to a wrong airport, then it could take a few days. Typically, the airline does bring the luggage to you when found and you rarely have to return to the airport to fetch it. Many times, depending on the situation, the airline reimburses the passenger for the unexpected delay. Before you leave the airport, make sure you understand from the attendant, how you can get telephone assistance or online assistance, to check up on you bag.

Lost Baggage
Finally you bag never arrived, the airline will have to face the fact that its disappeared. when does a missing bag become a lost bag? This happens when it is lost for a week, upto a month. Then it is deemed as lost.

If the bag is deemed lost, you have to make a written complaint with the airline. Fill a new form for filing the claim. It can be done at the airport or via email, depends on the carrier. The Airline Baggage Liability is different from airline to airline, domestic to international too. You have to make and submit an itemized list of the contents of your bag. You may be required to produce the receipts to prove the value of the items you had in the suitcase. Send photocopies always. You will also be reimbursed the depreciated value of some items which were old, like maybe your suitcase, if purchased a while ago.
The airlines have a long list of items for which they will not be held responsible. Again this differs but it mostly includes: cash, credit cards, jewelery, heirlooms, documents, passport, any other valuables. These items anyway must always be kept in your carry on luggage.


Stolen Bag
Once you get off the aircraft, don’t wander off somewhere thinking you will get your bag later since it anyways takes time. Head directly for the luggage carousel. The airlines have a record of the bags loaded on to it. Once you have left the baggage claim area, your claim with no longer be with the airline but with the police.


Damaged Bag
The minute you get your bag off the carousel, inspect it, for damages, mishandling and tampering. report any damage to the airline ground staff immediately because they may want to inspect the bag. most airlines will not cover minor wear and tear.



The Action Plan
 
1. Tags
Put you name and telephone number on a distinct tag inside and outside your bag. Put a copy of your itinerary inside you bag, so the airline can locate you incase the tag has torn off or misplaced. Never give out your complete address on the outside tag.

2. Identify
Know the bag you are carrying. In case the tag is torn off, do you remember the brand of your bag? The colour? The size? Make your bag identification distinct, like tying a colourful ribbon on the handle.

3. Time
The number one cause of delayed and lost baggage is late check-in and tight connections. Avoid both. Keep ample time. Saves you the stress later.

4. Money
All valuables and cash must be in the carry on bag. Camera, iPod, passport, tickets, documents, laptop, medication, jewellery, heirlooms, address book must be with you always. Never in checked in baggage.

5. Counter Tags
Make sure when you are at the counter, the attendant gives you the correct counter tags of the bags numbered by them and they have the correct destination.

6. Item List
This sounds tedious, yes. But if you do it, it will save you a lot of trouble trying to remember what was is the bag in the first place. It saves you time and energy wondering what all had gone into that one particular bag that got lost.

7. Spare Set
Keep a spare set of clothes if possible in your carry on bag. Just in case there is a delay, you will have a spare set of clothes at least.

8. Insurance
Travel Insurance is a must and the best bet you have of recovering any loss.



Lastly, be reassured. It is rare for bags to be completely lost. But it does happen. The statistics would be 1:200, but this is no consolation if that 1 bag happens to be yours. Having the information about how to handle a stressful situation such as the above may help you get a resolution to the problem. Also, taking the preventive measures on your part helps minimize the situation from happening anyway. Vacations without hassles are always more relaxing. Follow the rules of the game to stay ahead.