With the imminent festive season, the Christmas and New Year’s travel rush is set to take off, raising concerns about luggage safety.
Every day, 100,000 bags are either lost or go missing within the busy airport eco-system, spoiling holidays and causing huge amounts of unwanted stress, reports the Mirror.
To ensure your holiday essentials, Christmas jumpers and festive gifts arrive intact, 1st Move International Removals has shared some useful advice that could be the difference between a happy holiday or a frustrating fiasco. They say that removing tatty old baggage tags is essential in preventing luggage from being misrouted or lost.
Airline baggage systems, particularly reliant on legible and accurate labelling, may become confused if obsolete tags lead scanners astray — reading an outdated barcode might mean your belongings end up across the globe. With the increased use of self-service booths and sophisticated baggage handling methods, a clean slate with just the current tag is more likely to secure a seamless delivery.
The experts caution frequent flyers about overlooked remnants of their past voyages stuck on their suitcases. They urge people to strip these off, simplifying work for airport staff and curtailing chances of misplacement.
They provide a nugget of wisdom saying, “It’s easy to forget to remove tags from previous flights, but doing so can cause confusion for airport staff, potentially leading to lost luggage.”
Beyond this crucial check, the specialists have offered some extra advice to further protect your possessions during transit.
How to protect your luggage when flying
Add your own luggage tag
Adding a luggage tag that is both durable and distinct will help you locate your belongings after a flight and will make it less likely that someone else will mistake it for their own.
This tag should include your name and contact details, with the experts urging: “Make sure to keep the contact details on your tag up-to-date as this will also make it easier for staff to return lost baggage to you.”
Include a paper version of your details and itinerary in your suitcase
They explain: “Occasionally, luggage tags fall off or are damaged during transit. In this case, it’s a good idea to keep a paper copy of your contact information and itinerary inside your luggage. This simple step can help airline staff reunite you with your belongings faster.”
Get a GPS luggage tracker
For extra assurance, buying a good-quality GPS tracker can do wonders.
“Airtags or Tile Mates can be easily stored in your suitcase, allowing you to track its whereabouts from your phone. Not only will it put you at ease for your flight, but it will also make it easier to find your luggage in the event an airline does lose it.”
Take a photo of your baggage before check-in
Just in case the worst happens, the experts recommend taking a quick snapshot of your bag. The experts say: “This can be a lifesaver if it goes missing. It gives airport staff a reference image of what they’re looking for, helping them identify and return your luggage more efficiently and ensure it’s safely returned.”
Should your luggage go astray on your next adventure, the experts have offered some practical advice on what to do.
Mike Harvey, Managing Director at 1st Move International, said: “The first thing you should do is report the issue to the airline’s baggage claim officer or customer service desk before leaving the airport, as this initiates the tracking process.”
“Usually, baggage will be tagged with your flight information, but just in case you want to give the airline a description, be as thorough as possible. How many cases, how big are they, what colour are they, and what brand? Every bit of information helps.
“I would also check your travel insurance policy for coverage in case of lost or delayed baggage, and keep receipts for any purchases if you have to replace lost items, even if they might be found later. You may be able to claim these costs back.
“In case of situations like this, it is always advised to try and pack a few days’ worth of essentials in your hand luggage.”