Wednesday, 14 March 2012

A Fast And Furious Safety Guide For Luggage

By Edward French


Lost, stolen or mishandled baggage is an epidemic that does not seem to go away. The US Department of Transportation recently reported that for every 200 passengers flying domestic on the ten largest US airlines, at least one files a mishandled baggage report.

Losing one's luggage is a definite headache for travelers. To avoid such mishaps, the following pointers are recommended:

Only take carry-on luggage with you on the trip. Basically, you are taking your bags with you and placing them on the overhead, so you need not worry about loss or theft. Generally, a passenger is allowed two pieces of carry-on luggage, one for the overhead bin and the other for under the seat. Additional items such as umbrellas and baby strollers are also permitted.

Do not in any event place heavy baggage on the overhead storage bin. Even lightweight items can cause serious injuries if they fall out of the overhead. The maximum weight for carry-on bags is 40 pounds, and they should not be larger than 9″ x 14″ x 22″. Leave your emergency contact data on each bag. Stick a label on each bag -- the outside should have tags displaying your name and address. The inner portion of your bags should also have another tag with a copy of your itinerary. Missing bags can easier be located by airline staff if they are tagged inside and out. And in case you have to check in your carry-on bags at the last minute, make sure these two are tagged accordingly.

Be creative in making your bags look unique. Many bags have similar designs. This would make it important to make your checked bags look a bit different from everybody else's; if similar in appearance your bags may be accidentally grabbed by another passenger. Be especially protective of your valuables. Store your valuable items, such as money, jewelry, laptop computers and electronic files in your carry-on luggage so they would not get lost.

Check your luggage and be sure that the airline tags are correct. The three-letter identifier tagged on your checked baggage should match your destination airport. When in doubt, check with your ticket agent. Once your luggage is checked, keep the stub given to you. The stub is a very important key to identifying your bags in case it is lost or picked up by someone else by accident.

Immediately report lost checked luggage. If you notice that any of your bags have not joined you upon arriving at your destination, maintain your composure and notify the baggage or customer service representatives in the airport.

The loss of a bag is something that has to be prepared for in advance. It is always better to be safe than to be sorry. The loss of a bag is a debacle that can be avoided by packing your bags to ensure such a loss will not have any impact. Distribute clothes and underwear among your bags. For business travelers who have materials for a presentation or trade expo, have backup copies of these documents in another bag or arrange to have them sent ahead. Dangerous items are verboten. Remember that there are some household or office items that are not at all safe when present on an aircraft, but would otherwise be ordinary, run-of-the-mill items found in any home or office. If your airline allows them in checked baggage, make sure they are packed properly.

As an aside, make a quick call to the airline before your flight so you can verify their protocols and procedures with regards to baggage and packing.




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