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Viewing How to Prevent and Cope with Lost or Mishandled LuggageHow to Prevent and Cope with Lost or Mishandled Luggage
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The inconvenience of lost luggage can ruin your trip. Figures published worldwide show that millions of passengers every year suffer the hassle of misplaced baggage. These tips can help to prevent the problem, or deal with it once it occurs. By Paula Garrett Mishandled luggage is every air traveler's nightmare. Whether you are on a business trip, taking a quick weekend away, or off on you annual family holiday, the inconvenience associated with lost luggage can ruin your trip. Figures published worldwide show that millions of passengers every year suffer the hassle of misplaced baggage. Mishandled luggage falls into several categories: delayed, lost, damaged, or stolen. Delayed baggage - approximately 98% of all baggage classified as delayed is returned to its owners. Airlines usually return baggage to passengers rather than the passengers traveling to the airport to collect it. Damaged or stolen - when you collect your luggage from the carousel, check the tag to ensure that it really is your case, inspect for signs of damage or tampering, and report problems immediately before leaving the airport. Although we cannot ensure that the airline puts our baggage on the plane, we can take steps to reduce the likelihood of loss or damage to our baggage and, if the worst happens, help in the return of our luggage if it is misplaced. The following tips will help you to pack and decide what to do in the event that your luggage is mishandled. Packing and Preparing • Before packing, check your suitcase carefully. Inspect the seams, fabric, and zips to ensure that it will withstand the rough treatment it could receive by the baggage handlers. If you are in any doubt, replace your suitcase. Use sturdy, good quality luggage. However, be aware that having expensive-looking luggage can be a beacon to luggage thieves - expensive luggage suggests expensive contents. • Remove loose straps or other items hanging from your suitcase, and make sure that you have removed old luggage tags and tagged your bags with your new destination address and contact details. • Do not over pack your case. If it is bulging at the seams, it is more likely to burst open and you could lose items. It is better to pack two suitcases and pay extra than risk loss or damage to your belongings. • A common cause of delayed or lost baggage is late check-ins - avoid wherever possible. • Prepare an inventory of everything you pack, keeping a note of the make, model, and color of your case. If your suitcase is lost, it will assist you in your claim. Quite often, you can forget something important that you have packed and neglect to claim for it. Receipts help to prove the value of the items and age. • Put your name and address inside each piece of luggage to help identify it if exterior labels become detached. • Pack valuables, jewelry, house keys, mobile phones, cameras, passports, visas, documents etc. in your hand luggage. Airlines often have clauses in their terms and conditions stating that they do not accept responsibility for such items. • Make sure that your travel insurance covers your luggage, particularly when the airline is in control of it. Should your luggage be damaged, delayed, or lost, your airline is responsible under the Montreal Convention, but it is still wise to make sure you have covered your baggage with your insurance. • If you are traveling with a companion or family members, split the luggage - ensuring that you pack clothes for each traveler in each case. This way if your bag is lost or delayed, you will have clothes to change into. • Do not pack anything in your case that you cannot do without, such as essential medications. Check with your airline before traveling due to current liquid restrictions. • Do not forget to lock your luggage. • When checking in baggage, make sure that the airline tags your bags with the correct travel details, and make sure that you keep hold of your ticket luggage tags. What to do in the Event of Mishandled Luggage • If your luggage does not arrive in the baggage reclaim area, report it immediately, and do not leave the airport before completing the paperwork for your lost luggage. Try to get contact details to follow up your claim. Some airlines have websites where you can track your lost baggage with a tracking number given to you at the time of your claim; others deal with lost luggage via telephone. Make sure you get as much information about your claim as possible, and give complete information about your luggage and contact details before leaving the airport. • The Montreal Convention requires airlines to treat a bag as lost after twenty-one days. You may be asked to provide a list of the items that were in your missing bag, and possibly receipts. The amount you can claim from the airline is capped under the Montreal Convention, so you may find you will get a better settlement figure by claiming from your travel insurance. • Under the Montreal Convention, claims should be made to an airline in writing with the following specified time limits: Damaged baggage - seven days from the receipt of the bags Delayed baggage - twenty-one days from delivery Lost baggage - no time limit specified in the Convention - but passengers are advised to make the complaint as soon as possible after the bag has been missing for twenty-one days, or after the airline has declared the bag lost if sooner • Trial runs of new radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging are due to take place in the UK shortly. However, in the meantime, by following the above advice you should minimize the likelihood of damage, delay, and loss of your luggage. About the Author: Paula Garrett is a contributor to www.help-me-park.co.uk the Gatwick meet and greet parking company providing valet parking at Gatwick Airport. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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