What To Do If You Have Lost Luggage
Imagine after flying
19 hours 18 minutes from Boston to Singapore, being overly exhausted and waiting at the luggage carousel only to find out after all the luggage were claimed that yours was not there.
Would you scream, curse or start panicking? Losing or having your luggage delayed is not only stressful and inconvenient but it could be expensive too. Airline restrictions for carry on have made it difficult for travelers to travel with just a carry on. Having a check in luggage is not only necessary if you are traveling abroad, it is the only way to have all your essentials with you if you have young children or have a certain diet or medical conditions.
Here are four things to do if you have lost luggage and two things that help you avoid lost luggage:
Things to do:
One: File a claim immediately
The baggage claim area of all airports does have a help desk or representatives at all times. According to Air France, you can file your claim with Air France Baggage Service at the airport or complete the online declaration form within 48 hours of your arrival.
From experience, we think filling out the claim form immediately is important. For example, Qantas Airways compensates
AUD100 per luggage (which is about USD104) and they give a complimentary overnight essential bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, tshirt and sleeping shorts immediately after you fill out the claim form.
The airline will immediately create a file to track down your luggage. Remember to give all contact details including phone number, hotel, travel schedule, next flight and permanent home address for easy contact and delivery of lost luggage.
Two: Keep all receipts
Be diligent in keeping all receipts including the little paper given out when you check in your luggage. These receipts will come in handy when you need them most.
Three: Don’t call the airline
In this day and age, nobody is answering phone calls. Leaving the airport without your luggage and calling the airline will not help especially if you are calling one that is fully automated. You will be taken for a long trail before finding the right person to talk to. If you are in a foreign country, the chances of getting a representative that understands you will frustrate you.
Four: Use social media
In this social media age, it works better if you send a polite tweet on Twitter to the airline and let them know your needs. Most airlines in the U.S. are good in responding to tweets from passengers.
Ways to avoid lost luggage:
One: Connecting flights
Sometimes if you have a short connecting time between two flights, the airline may not have enough time to transfer your luggage from one plane to the next. This usually occurs in busy and larger airports where terminals are further from each other.
When making an airline reservation, take into consideration the connecting time, the terminal and the size of the airport you will be connecting your flight to. Busy airports like O’Hare in Chicago, JFK in New York and
Los Angeles International Airports are some of the larger airports that require quite a long time to transfer your luggage from one terminal to the other.
Two: Travel light and bring your carry on only
Technology has made it possible for manufacturers to make lighter and larger capacity carry on bags where you can store more clothes and shoes. At the same time with the availability of a smartphone and Kindle, travelers need not lug a load of magazines, books, alarm clock, music CDs, DVDs, DVD player with them. Everything can be stored in small portable devices.
Even the laptops are lighter and smaller. You don’t even have to bring a camera if you don’t want to. These days, smartphones can take good photos and videos too.
Here are a few tips from the airlines about lost luggage:
Air France
Singapore Airlines
Delta Airlines
Emirates
For more information on flight time and flight distance please use Travelmath’s calculators to help you out.
