The one thing you should do so your airline won't lose your luggage
And how to cope if they do
And how to cope if they do
If you've ever lost your luggage, you know just how frustrating it can be to try and recover your lost items, if you're lucky enough to find them. Whether you have lost your luggage or are dreading the day when it happens to you, there are a few things to keep in mind.
According to research by the , it can cost up to $232 on average to replace the contents of a lost suitcase while you wait for the airline to find it. The study also found that airlines can take up to four and a half days to locate your things, with an unlucky 5% of people polled never seeing their suitcase ever again.
Thankfully, Jordan Bishop of has come up with a way to reduce the chances of you being in the 5%.
"Losing luggage is never ideal, but there are a few things you can do ahead of time if the worst happens," he says.
"At check-in, always take a photo of your luggage tag which is given to you with your boarding pass. That way, if your bag is misplaced, you still have your luggage details to hand."
But what happens if you do end up losing your luggage? Jordan has :
"In most cases you should be able to claim compensation with your airline", he says. "Passengers are protected by the Montreal Convention, which is designed to protect travelers if air travel goes wrong."
Simply to make sure you're eligible for a reimbursement. And what if none of that works?
Jordan recommends buying your flights "with a credit card that has additional baggage insurance included. While the airline should reimburse you for the cost of your bag and reasonable expenses, it's sensible to have a backup in case things don't go to plan."