Eamonn Turley lost his laptop charger and designer sunglasses on a recent flight from Dublin to New York.
He’d carefully packed them in his checked luggage, assuming his airline would take care of them. But when he unpacked his bags in New York, they were gone — for good.
“Even after immediately filing a claim, I never got these items back,” he recalls.
The experience made him think of better ways to keep his checked luggage safe. It’s a worthwhile exercise for anyone about to embark on a summer trip.
Last year, 10 million checked bags were delayed, mislaid, misdirected, pilfered or stolen, according to the multinational IT company SITA.
“Losing luggage while traveling is one of those unpleasant situations most people would rather avoid,” says Alonso Marly, travel agent at Skylux Travel. “Whether you are traveling for work or going on a well-deserved vacation, being separated from your personal belongings can be a devastating experience.”
And if you ask experts, it’s a growing problem. The evidence is more than anecdotal. The problem is worsening because airport security is lax.
“Anyone can steal,” says Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC.com. “Even a frequent business traveller who has a klepto personality can grab an extra bag every time they deplane and have a good excuse — ‘Sorry, my bad!” — if they are caught.”
Before you leave, do this
Before we get to some of the new strategies travellers are using to keep their checked luggage safe, let’s go over the things you have to do before you leave home:
- Don’t pack any excluded items. Remember, most airline contracts of carriage — the legal agreements between you and the airline — specifically exclude responsibility for valuables such as electronics and jewellery. Never pack them in your checked bag.
- Take a picture of your bag. Please take a photo of the exterior and interior of your bag, including all the contents. You may need it later to determine if something has gone missing. Save the images in the cloud in case you lose your phone.
By Christopher Elliott
BIO:
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organisation that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at [email protected].
