1. Check as little as possible. The best advice for travelers 
   worried about losing luggage is to simply try to avoid checking as much as 
   possible. It’s much more difficult, if not a considerable effort, to lose 
   luggage that you keep with you rather than checking in. Pack less to help keep 
   your checked bags to a minimum whenever possible.


2. Tag your luggage. Make sure each piece of luggage you’re 
   bringing with you, especially those you’re checking in, are marked with sturdy 
   luggage tags. They should have at the very least your name and a phone number 
   where you can be reached on them. If you’re worried about privacy, get those 
   that cover your information unless opened or put your business 
   contact information on them instead. After all, you want to make it easy for the 
   airline to contact you if your bag is found.


3. Double check all tags. Airline counters can be busy, 
   confusing places, and employees checking your bags are only human-they can make 
   mistakes. You can help reduce any mix ups with luggage tagging, however rare, by 
   making sure to double check your tags before you leave the counter. Check to see 
   if the destination on the tag matches your final destination. You could save 
   yourself a lot of time and trouble.


4. Put some things in a companion’s luggage. If you’re 
   traveling with a friend or family member, use the situation to your advantage. 
   Put a change of clothes into your friends suitcase and have them put one into 
   yours. Even if either bag is lost, you’ll both still have something to change 
   into, and won’t be at a complete loss.


5. Get a distinctive piece of luggage. While it may not 
   prevent your luggage from being lost, it can make it a lot easier to find if 
   your bag isn’t the standard black without any distinctive features. Try buying 
   luggage in an uncommon color or attaching a luggage tag or ribbon that will help 
   it stand out. It’ll make it easier to describe to airline employees if it’s 
   lost, and easier for you to spot on the baggage carousel.

1. 
   Remove old airline tags. Frequent travelers may find 
   themselves with old luggage tags still attached to bags the next time they go to 
   fly. This can lead to a lot of confusion, not to mention potential bag 
   misplacement. Before putting any new destination tags on your bag, make sure the 
   old ones have been completely removed.


2. Don’t ever check medications, jewelry or other valuables. 
   If you’ve checked in a medication you need to take within the next 24 hours you 
   may be out of luck if your bag can’t be returned to you right away. This can be 
   an uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous situation. While jewelry and 
   other valuables may not affect your health, they can be stolen from your bag, 
   and many airlines won’t reimburse for the full cost of replacement for items 
   like these. Always put these kind of things in your carry on bag, a purse, or 
   even your pocket so they won’t get lost on the trip.


3. Be civil. If your bag does get lost, yelling, threatening 
   or disrespecting the airline employees isn’t going to get you your bag any 
   faster. It’s normal to be frustrated, angry and distraught over lost luggage, 
   but the person you’re yelling at wasn’t personally responsible for your 
   inconvenience and is probably trying their best to rectify the situation. You’ll 
   likely get better service if you calm down and give the customer service agents 
   all the information they need to get your bag back to you as quickly as 
   possible.

While airlines only lose about 1% of all the total luggage processed, there’s 
always the chance that you’ll be that unlucky passenger stuck waiting at the 
baggage carousel for luggage that will never come, and there’s nothing to put a 
damper on a vacation faster than having no 
toothbrush or PJs to change into. There are a few things you can do, however, to 
help lower your chances of having your luggage lost. Here are a list of some preventative measures, as well as some tips on what to do if your bag is lost.
  

1. 
   File a claim immediately. If your bag is lost, don’t wait 
   until later to notify the airline. In most cases, lost luggage must be reported 
   within 24 hours if you will need to be reimbursed, not to mention that your 
   claim of lost luggage is a lot harder to dispute if you’ve never left the 
   building. File a claim as soon as you think your bag has gone missing, as the 
   sooner you do it, the sooner the airline can get on getting your bag back to 
   you.


2. Know your information. In the event that you do need to 
   deal with the hassles of lost luggage, it will be a whole lot easier on both you 
   and the airline if you carry your contact information with you. This means hotel 
   addresses and phone numbers of the hotel or residence where you’ll be staying. 
   Looking up this information takes time, and could cause a delay in getting your 
   bag back to you, which is the last thing you want.


3. Don’t panic. If your bag doesn’t show up on the baggage 
   carousel along with the others from your flight, don’t freak out. It’s tempting, 
   especially after being on a long flight, but it’s possible that the bag is being 
   held in the luggage office or with customer service. Check with the airline to 
   see if it might already be waiting for you. Even if it is lost, panic or tears 
   aren’t going to make it travel to you any faster, so calm down and deal with the 
   problem as rationally as possible.


4. Get compensation. Most airlines are responsible for making 
   sure that you have the necessities you need to survive while your bag is being 
   located. This can include toiletries and even basic clothing depending on the 
   length of the delay of your luggage, and if your bag is entirely lost or damaged 
   they should have to provide monetary compensation. Check with your airline to 
   find out what your rights are regarding your lost bag.


5. Pack essentials in your carry on. While you might choose to 
   pack the bulk of your wardrobe and vacation provisions in your checked bag, you 
   can avoid quite a bit of discomfort by packing essentials like a toothbrush, a 
   change of clothes, makeup, and deodorant in your carry on. That way, if 
   something happens to your bag, you’ll have at least enough to get by on until 
   the rest of your things can get back to you.

1. Avoid overbooked flights. While you might really need to 
   catch that last 
   minute flight the day before the holidays, it’s likely that it will be full. 
   Full flights may cause an overage in luggage, especially if people are traveling 
   with especially bulky pieces, meaning that it just might not all fit on the 
   plane. Rather than risk this, try flying on less crowded or out of the way 
   flights. It might take some schedule rearranging, but you can save yourself 
   hassle later of tracking down your bag.


2. Keep your checked luggage stub handy. Your luggage stub it 
   what links you to your bag. Check in agents normally affix it to the sleeve of 
   your boarding pass so it won’t get lost. Hang on to this puppy. While it’s not 
   impossible to track your bag without it, the numbers on this stub make it much 
   easier to track your missing luggage.

Lost luggage doesn’t have to be a constant worry on your next flight. These 
tips can help reduce the chances of having to deal with the hassle of lost 
baggage or make your life a little easier in the event you do. Either way, your 
trip will benefit.