Whether you're traveling for a week-long family vacation, a get-a-way weekend or a luxury cruise around the world, getting your luggage to your destination on time and in once piece can make or break your trip. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that over 2.19 million mishandled-baggage claims were filed in 2009 alone. Veteran travel consultant Joyce Kliger, president of See More Travel in Southfield Michigan, today offered the following tips for getting you and your valuables to your destination safely.
Never put your home phone number and address on your luggage tag. Doing so will signal to all who see your luggage that your home is likely to be vacant and an easy target for thieves. Use your own name but insert the address and phone number of your travel agent instead. If your luggage is lost, your agent will know how to contact you.
Label both the outside and the inside of your luggage. Luggage tags frequently come off during handling and putting your name and contact information inside ensures that airline, hotel and cruise line personnel will be able to identify your belongings if they are misplaced. It's also wise to include an itinerary for the first few days of your trip including hotel addresses, phone numbers and/or cruise line ports of call.
Divide your valuables. If you're traveling with others, divide cash, credit and bank cards between the members of your party. This will reduce the risk associated with a possible robbery or loss of a handbag or wallet. Each of you should have a copy of the other's credit cards and emergency phone numbers. And remember, if it's something that is absolutely too valuable to lose, leave it at home.
"Cross pack" clothing. Make sure you and your traveling partner each has several items of the other's clothing in your bag in case one piece of luggage is lost or delayed.
Keep valuables in your carry-on. Medications, laptop computers, important papers and a change of cloths should all be packed in your carry-on bag.
Consider shipping your luggage ahead. Overnight and two-day delivery rates are less than you may think and today's airline baggage fees keep rising. Ask your travel consultant about agency shipping discounts. Many travel agencies, like See More Travel, extend their discounted shipping rates to clients.
Don't travel with expensive bags. They are a signal of wealth and invite thieves. Stick with sturdy, non-descript mid-priced bags that do not draw too much attention.
Make your bag easy to identify. Colorful ribbons or luggage tags will help you find your bag more quickly and reduce the chances of a stranger picking it up by mistake. Always verify each bag as you take it off the luggage carousel.
Always keep your luggage stub. This stub positively identifies you as the owner of your bag and will
speed the process of recovering it or filing a claim for lost-baggage compensation.
Call your credit card company before you leave. A simple but important pre-trip call to your credit card company, informing them of your itinerary, can save you the embarrassment of the company denying a charge because of suspected fraud.
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