Travel Tip of the Week

Lost Luggage (Part 2)

To quote the ol’ blues song, “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.”  And like a motherless child, you sometimes need to be reminded of the obvious.  Always label your luggage, including your carry on.   This is especially important if you end up having to check your carry-on bag at the gate due to a shortage of overhead space. Or maybe the airline is trying to actually adhere to its scheduled departure time so . . . the flight attendants tell a white lie and say there’s no more overhead space in an effort to save time and get your butt in the seat quickly.  Speaking of buts, don’t use your home address.  Instead, use your business address. However, if you are retired, you lucky dog, then use the address of a local friend or neighbor, with their permission of course.

As I mentioned in part one of the lost luggage travel tip, of the two million bags that are lost annually, some of them were “found” by unscrupulous airport personnel. This is called pilfered luggage or in street lingo, “I got ripped off!” In every occupation, there are dishonest workers and unfortunately, some of them work at your departure airport.  These unprincipled people probably know your city as well as you do and realize that when you board that plane headed on your cruise, they can easily cruise by your unoccupied house and to borrow from Morris Day and the Time, “ Swing by your crib, rip you off. O-le-O-le-O!”

And since we are playing it safe, it wouldn’t hurt to place a business card on the inside of your bags in case your name tag gets detached from your luggage.  But make sure it’s visible – like taped to the inside flap. By looking inside your luggage, (remember it’s not locked) an honest airline employee can determine that the bag is yours and hopefully reunite you with your suitcase before the end of your vacation or business trip.

Tags: Travel Tips