The Armchair Traveler reveals three secrets that will keep you from losing your checked luggage. This is the first episode of my new podcast. Any comments or suggestions? Please send ‘em along.
✓ Get the latest travel news, tips and commentary from Elliott’s E-Mail, the subversive newsletter from industry gadfly Christopher Elliott. You’ll travel like a pro. Sign up here. It’s free.
Sign up for my 
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Very nice! Can we expect more?
I myself use stickers to identify my bag better. Last summer I went on a trip with several layovers flying with 2 different airlines. They lost my bag both at departure and coming back. Eventually it turned up again but my advise is if you fly on multiple airlines for the same trip, just take a carry-on bag.
Thank you. Yes, this is going to be a weekly podcast. I’m still working out some of the kinks, but there’s been enough positive response to do this on a regular basis. If you want to be notified when the next podcast goes up, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/elliottdotorg — and don’t forget to rate the videos!
It’s a good one…
I was hoping you were going to target something like what can we do about the zipper problem you reported on a couple (few) weeks back.
J
I don’t put business cards in my luggage, instead, I print out a complete copy of my itinerary beforehand, that includes the following: my name and contact info, my flight numbers, times, and destinations, the name/address/phone of the hotel I’ll be staying at, and any contact info for folks I might be visiting. Then I place this sheet of paper in an 8.5″x11″ plastic sleeve, and pack that in my luggage.
This ensures that if my luggage turns up someplace where it shouldn’t be, it will be easy for the person to tell where my luggage belongs, and it can be sent on its way, possibly even without having to track me down first.
That’s a great idea! Next time I do something on luggage loss, I’ll have to include that tip.
What about putting an exact list of luggage contents (in case it gets lost we know, well, we wouldn’t know anything if we hadn’t kept an inventory with us as well). Of course, if we put something in it that isn’t covered, and the list is seen by someone who does not care about stealing from your bag, then you basically gave them a shopping list…
Nevermind, forget about it, but maybe do get an inventory for yourself :)
The trouble with an itinerary or a business card is that someone now knows a lot about you. It is a Catch 22 for sure.
My bags are tagged with a toll free number to a service that can put me and my bags together again if found. They have the itinerary, and know which day I am going to be where!
Good advice all around. Loved the Bag Ragz. I thought Chris was just showing us his favorite swim trunks! ;)
John, your toll-free number idea is great. How do we do this?
As Chris suggested, though, I try not to check bags unless it is absolutely necessary.
If you have to check a bag, and you definitely can’t afford to have it get lost, buy a small caliber handgun, keep it unloaded, and check it with your checked luggage. Your bag will then be hand carried to the plane, and hand carried off the plane. The airline absolutely doesn’t want anything to do with a lost firearm.
Make sure you have more than 30 mins between connections. I suggest at least 1/1/2hrs and there us time for it to be transferred.
Chris: Could you possibly also provide transcripts of your podcasts?
This would be a great service for hard of hearing folks (like myself), deaf, etc.?
I print out and put several copies of Itinerary in various pockets in my suitcase. I also print out the address and telephone number at destination as well. Would do no good to call Florida for a bag lost enroute to Europe. I also have several tags on the bag. If I have 5 to begin with, I end up with about 3 at the other end. Haven’t we all seen them on the floor of the airport? And to know my own bag, I put strips of neon colored Duck Tape on the outside with my last name. On my canvas bag that is light enough in color I print my last name in black magic marker. So far so good. I also do this for my “Carry-0n” just in case! And nothing I really care about goes in my luggage. Gifts in US I mail. I have no locks on my bags since 9/11. I have found the card left by TSA that the bags have been inspected. I have not lost anything.
DRATS! Would like to know what the “three secrets that will keep you from losing your checked baggage” are but…dial-up doesn’t allow download. Any chance of reading those “three secrets”?
Thanks for your travel articles; I enjoy them greatly and use many of the tips both you and your readers post.
With dial-up it is almost impossible to watch YouTube or any other webinars or podcasts. Please offer a transcript. It would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Chris, this is great! More videos, please!
You’re too kind, Marilyn. More are on the way.
Nice to hear comments and personal solutions to this common problem. I notice that because wheels are often on the bottom of luggage, the handlers throw them on the conveyor upside down. I also notice that about 80% of bags are black or at least dark color. To quickly recognize my bags, I placed light colored duct tape on the bottom or back of each bag and wrote my last name in caps. I don’t recommend others do this, however. It will make recognizing my bags that much harder. Also beware of long pieces of ribbon or other material on the handles. The “tails” can get caught in the conveyor gears, and stop the whole process. While you’re waiting for your flight, visit the (trinitybiblechurch.org) website and stream some great sermons by Pastor Manuel Periera, all verse by verse from the Bible.