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Irish Mirror

National

Michelle Cullen

How to prevent your luggage getting lost as over 4,000 bags stuck at Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport has seen its fair share of chaos over the past couple of weeks as airlines struggle to cope with Covid-related absences and staff shortages.

Problems have also affected baggage handling companies, with around 4,200 lost bags currently waiting to be reunited with their owners at Dublin Airport, according to an Oireachtas Committee meeting.

Representatives from daa, Aer Lingus, and baggage-handling companies Swissport and Sky Handling Partners (SHP) appeared before the Oireachtas Transport Committee on Tuesday morning.

Sky Handling Partners director Darren Moloney admitted that their standards "have simply not returned to pre-pandemic levels".

In light of the current situation, many passengers will be trying to do all they can to prevent their luggage from being lost.

Here are some useful tips that could help.

Make sure your bag is tagged properly

This one seems simple, but ensuring your bag is tagged correctly is important.

This means getting rid of old tags, ensuring the current tag is in an easy-to-read place and checking the tag once the check-in agent has fastened it to your bag.

Get hi-tech

Using a GPS-tracked tag is an increasingly popular way to locate lost luggage.

There are many different gadgets available, but generally, they include a small tag or device and a smartphone app through which you can track your bags.

This will help airlines return your bag to you quickly if it gets lost.

Make clear where it's going and who owns it

As well as an ID tag on your bag, it's a good idea to put some details inside the case as well, such as your contact details and itinerary for your trip.

The more information your baggage provides, the easier it will be to get it back to you.

Baggage handlers will sometimes look inside bags to find out where it's going and who it belongs to.

Printing out your itinerary and laying it on top of your clothes could make all the difference.

Check in early

If you're the last one to board the plane, your bags will likely be the last ones loaded.

Once you've dropped your luggage off at the check in desk, it has to get to the loading bay. If you've left it until the last minute, your bags might not get to the loading depot in time, and there's a chance your luggage will not get loaded.

Make sure your luggage is in good condition

Remove or secure any long straps that could get snagged as your baggage moves around.

This is particularly important if you're travelling with a large backpack.

If your luggage is streamlined, it stands a much better chance of making it from A to B with you.

Make your bag stand out

After a long flight, most people just want to grab their luggage and get out of the airport as soon as possible. In a rush, a case of mistaken identity can occur.

To avoid this, make sure yours stands out. This can be done by adding a few coloured straps or luggage key chains, or locks.

Keep your valuables on you

Keep all valuables in your hand luggage where you can.

This means if your luggage does get lost, at least your valuables are safe.

It is also a good idea to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers you for lost baggage as well.

Avoid tight layovers

Give yourself and your luggage time to get aboard the next plane by picking flights with a longer layover.

If you're booking two flights separately, make sure there's plenty of time for you to get off one plane, collect your baggage and check in for the next one.

Opting for a direct flight may be more costly, but it is the safer option.

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