Lost Luggage Survival Tips

Posted by Barbara Rogers Jun 21, 2007

The time to begin thinking about the awful moment when your suitcase doesn’t appear on the carousel is long before take-off. In fact, it begins when you plan your trip. And you can be prepared, so your travels can continue even without the things you so carefully planned to bring.

Here are some tips for pre-travel preparedness:

• If possible, allow a day or two at your embarcation city before heading out on a cruise. Take it from my experience: two weeks on a Russian river boat in the same clothes is not fun. While an airline will usually try to deliver your luggage to you as you travel, this is not always possible on the high seas or in a remote location. Be aware that some airlines (Alitalia, for one) may require you to come to the airport to claim lost luggage, instead of delivering it to your hotel. A spare day will also allow you time to replace essential items at lower prices than you’ll find at the shipboard boutique.
• Always carry anything you cannot live without in your carry-on bag. Yes, new rules are making this harder, but it’s a basic fact of flying. Medications, business papers, essential electronic equipment and at least a change of underwear (and preferably a spare shirt) should be with you. If you wear a hard-to-find shoe size, add whichever essential shoes you are not wearing.
• Divide clothing between two suitcases, so all your shirts or socks are not in the same bag. Trade at least a full change of clothes with a traveling companion. That way, if one loses luggage, they will at least have a spare outfit.
• Don’t travel with things you can’t lose. The bracelet your husband gave you when your first child was born? Leave it in the safe deposit box or wear it on board. Ditto irreplaceable items of clothing. Maybe – just maybe -- the suitcase will never turn up.

Most likely it will, but you can make the first day or so without it a lot more enjoyable and minimize the inconvenience if you think ahead.