"My suitcase is gone!" How to prevent lost luggage

You go on an overseas trip, wait at the airport carousel at your destination for as long as you can, but your suitcase never appears, and eventually, all the suitcases are taken and the carousel stops.

"Wait, my suitcase still hasn't come out?" I have also experienced that miserable scene where my mind went blank and I stood there in a daze.

And it happened during a business trip, not a family vacation.

In a previous article, "Tips and Precautions for Using Airplanes," I wrote a little about measures against lost luggage, but this time I will talk about it in more detail.

<Remove old barcodes and tags>

Sometimes I see people with several barcode stickers from previous trips still on their suitcases.

They might think of them as "travel souvenirs," but if an airport employee accidentally scans an old barcode, it will be transported to the wrong airport.

Make sure to remove all used barcodes and tags.

<Allow plenty of time for transfers>

When you have a connecting flight, both people and luggage have to transfer planes.

It is fine if you pick up your checked suitcase during the transfer, but if you check it through to your final destination, a short transfer time can result in you making the flight while your luggage does not.

Statistics show that errors are common with transfer times of less than one hour and more than four hours, so try to ensure a transfer time of about one hour for domestic flights and two hours for international flights.

<Check in early>

If you arrive at the airport at the last minute and check in, your luggage might not make it onto the plane before it takes off.

Arrive at the airport and complete check-in procedures one hour before domestic flights and two to three hours before international flights.

<Avoid luxury brand suitcases>

Not having your own suitcase is not limited to lost luggage; it can also be due to other passengers picking it up by mistake.

Luxury brand suitcases are a source of theft and mix-ups, so it is safer not to use them.

<Attach a noticeable mark>

Common colors for suitcases are black, navy, and gray.

If your suitcase is one of these colors, there is a high risk of it being mistaken for someone else's.

To make it easy to identify as your own, you should try wrapping a bandana around the handle, applying flashy stickers, or attaching a colorful suitcase belt.

<Choosing a suitcase color>

Another method is to choose a highly visible suitcase color.

Colors like red, yellow, orange, and light blue are easy to spot even from a distance.

<Take a photo of the tag>

Taking a photo of the baggage tag at check-in makes it easier to track later.

<Put contact information inside the suitcase>

If you write down the name and contact information of the hotel you are staying at, or your address after returning home, and put it inside the suitcase, it will be easier for the airline to contact you.

<Make a list of the contents>

Making a list of what is inside your suitcase will make the reporting process smoother in the unlikely event of an issue.

Use it as a packing list to prevent forgetting items as well.

<Insert a smart tag>

Recently, there are things called smart tags that show location information, which allow you to search for where your suitcase is right now.

<Ask for a fragile tag>

It is said that if you tell them "there are fragile items inside" at check-in and have them attach a FRAGILE tag, the handling will be more careful and it is less likely to be left behind.

<Get insurance that covers lost or delayed luggage>

If you take out travel insurance that includes coverage for lost or delayed luggage, you can be reimbursed for the cost of clothing and toiletries purchased while waiting for your luggage to arrive.

If that happens, be sure to keep your receipts.

<Pick up your luggage immediately>

Once you arrive at the airport, head to the baggage claim carousel early and pick up your suitcase as soon as it appears.

This is to prevent someone else from taking it by mistake.

<Choose direct flights>

Naturally, the more connections you have, the higher the rate of loss.

If possible, choose direct flights and try to limit connections to two at most. Any more than that is quite risky.

<Airlines with frequent issues>

The top 5 airlines with the most lost luggage are,
1st place American Airlines,
2nd place United Airlines,
3rd place Alaska Airlines,
4th place British Airways,
5th place Air India.

This is because they all have massive networks with many connecting flights and congested hub airports.

In my case, it was Air France.

<Airports with frequent issues>

The top 5 airports with the most lost luggage are,
1st place Heathrow Airport,
2nd place Charles de Gaulle Airport,
3rd place Dubai Airport,
4th place Istanbul Airport,
5th place Frankfurt Airport.

These are all massive hub airports with many complex terminals, numerous connecting flights, and high volumes of baggage handling.

In my case, it was Charles de Gaulle Airport. It was the airport with the second-highest number of incidents.

<Kansai International Airport has zero issues>

Actually, Kansai International Airport holds a world record for having zero cases of lost luggage for over 30 years since it opened.

This seems to be because they have a two-to-three-person check system, a 15-minute baggage unloading rule, and specific procedure manuals for each airline.

That is wonderful; it is great to see that a Japanese airport, especially my local Kansai International Airport, is working so hard.

<If your luggage is lost>

If your suitcase goes missing,be sure to go to the Lost and Found or Baggage Claim office before passing through customs and have a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) created.

Since most cases of lost luggage are actually delays rather than permanent loss, 90% are found within 24 to 48 hours.

In my case, it arrived the next day.

However, in the case of an acquaintance, it arrived at their home about a week after they had finished their work and returned to their country.
This means that such worst-case scenarios can happen.

<Keep the bare essentials in your carry-on>

Finally, I will talk about how to avoid trouble even if your luggage is lost.

For short-term trips like domestic flights, you have less luggage, so it is a good idea to pack everything into your carry-on, but for long-term trips, your luggage will inevitably increase, and you will have to put it in a large suitcase and check it in.

However, considering the risk of lost luggage,it is safer to put necessary documents for business trips, computer-related items, valuables, medicines, work clothes, and a few days' worth of underwear in your carry-on suitcase.
I strongly recommend doing this, especially for work-related items.

Thank you for reading this far.
I would be happy if you could like, follow, or tip.
I look forward to your continued support.

#EnjoyNewLife