Baggage Problems and How to Handle Them

I recently saw several videos concerning theft of baggage at our busiest airports, and it reminded me that I haven't covered the subject in recent years.  I consider myself a true expert on luggage, since I worked nearly thirty years for American Airlines with most of that time spent in baggage services.

Yes, I was that guy you came to when your luggage was not on the carousel with the rest of the incoming baggage, or if it was damaged.  And, in rare instances, there were items of value missing from your luggage, which you probably didn't discover until after you got to your hotel or your home.  Then you also came to see me, or my counterpart.

When pilferage or damaged contents is the problem, more often than not, you don't discover it until you arrive at your hotel or your home.  Then you phone the toll-free number for the airline and are given another phone number to call to report the missing item or items. 

I guarantee that you will not be satisfied with the handling of the claim or the settlement, if there is one.  The reason I'm so confident is that there are lots of items that should not be packed in checked baggage, such as cash, jewelry, prescription drugs, and fragile items of any nature.  Whenever those are involved, your chance of getting satisfaction is next to nil.  You might get a partial settlement, but it won't be to your liking.

In my experience, most theft of contents occurred because the owner didn't take proper precautions to lock the luggage.  If they did lock it with one of those combination locks with the 3 adjustable number wheels, they never reset the combination from the factory setting of 0-0-0.  That is just plain ignorant, because it is so easy to reset it to your own combination, and anything that delays the would-be thief will probably deter the crime.

Here is my recommendation for setting up your combination on that wheel lock.  First, choose a number that is higher than 500 on a 3-wheeel, or 5000 on a 4-wheel lock.  It makes it harder to find the combination when the perpetrator starts at 0-0-0 and goes up through the numbers - the common way to 'break' the lock.  I know from experience, because I sometimes had to do this with unclaimed luggage to search for interior identification.

Here is how to reset the factory setting of 0-0-0:  First, open the lock and turn the hasp 180 degrees so that it is opposite the lock mechanism, then press it down.  That frees the wheels to be reset and now you can set a new number on each wheel.  Once you have the new combination set, pull the hasp back up, turn it back 180 degrees and push it down to engage the lock.  Spin the wheels to lock it and then turn them to your new combination to assure yourself that it opens again - trust me, it will.

My next recommendation is that you put a copy of your itinerary with your home address inside the baggage.  Place it in an inner pocket, if possible, so that it is easily seen by the baggage service person when the suitcase is searched for identifying contents. If it ever does get misrouted, lost or stolen, you have a much better chance of recovery with that interior identification.  The itinerary might even get the bag to you while you are on the trip, and it is easy to print or hand write it to place inside. 

My final tip is that you use a suitcase that doesn't stand out.  I know that Louis Vuitton, Zero Halliburton or Tumi are wonderful status symbols, but they are also the primary targets for theft just because they are likely to contain expensive goods as well.  Good old Samsonite, or a comparable brand is preferable, unless you want to be a victim of luggage theft.  However, don't buy a flimsy and inexpensive case either, because it probably won't withstand the sometimes rough handling that checked bags can get. 

Use these three tips and you will probably never be one of those unlucky people who lose valuable or sentimental possessions on a trip.  There is no guarantee that your luggage won't be misrouted, but tip number two, the interior itinerary and identification will get it back to you in the least amount of time.  Of course, the best way to insure that personal and valuable items won't disappear is to put them in carry-on luggage and keep them with you at all times.

Bon voyage!