Comments on: Ask the Armchair Traveler: how do I not lose my luggage?

By: ed ellsworth

ed ellsworth — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:55:28 +0000

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.

By: Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:39:37 +0000

You’re too kind, Marilyn. More are on the way.

By: Marilyn Terrell

Marilyn Terrell — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:32:41 +0000

Chris, this is great! More videos, please!

By: Leona

Leona — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:59:38 +0000

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!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:04:42 +0000

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.

By: Sheder1

Sheder1 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:01:49 +0000

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.

By: M

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:47:46 +0000

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.?

By: Jan Blake

Jan Blake — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:04:00 +0000

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.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:26:50 +0000

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.

By: Chicky

Chicky — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:25:50 +0000

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.

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:17:47 +0000

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!

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:38:24 +0000

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 :)

By: Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:04:17 +0000

That’s a great idea! Next time I do something on luggage loss, I’ll have to include that tip.

By: Douglas Muth

Douglas Muth — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:16:00 +0000

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.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:34:05 +0000

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.