Images of thousands of suitcases piled up at airports and reports of baggage not arriving at holiday destinations have increased while demand for travel has boomed following the Covid pandemic. Online searches for ‘’BA lost luggage’ have risen by 500 per cent, with ‘luggage tracker’ surging by 400 per cent surge amid recent reports of airport chaos.
Airline passengers have ditched carrying bags that need to be checked-in instead relying on carry-on suitcases to avoid baggage collection delays and the risk of luggage disappearing. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the airline is responsible for luggage and therefore liable for any damages, loss or delays caused once it is checked in.
Adventure travel specialist The Bucket List Company has compiled a list of guidelines to help minimise the chances of luggage going missing and advice on how to prepare if the worst does happen, so it does not impact a trip completely.
- Put a GPS tracker inside luggage to track the location of luggage. This way, if the worst-case scenario does happen, it should be easier to locate bags and get them back sooner.
- Always remove old tags from bags. This will ensure the wrong tag is not scanned, instantly reducing the chance of belongings getting lost.
- Put your information inside luggage, including a home and destination address, with telephone numbers. These steps will make it a lot easier for luggage to be returned if lost.
- Have luggage that stands out, such as a distinctive suitcase or a bright piece of ribbon around the straps, makes a bag easy to identify if needed.
- If taking multiple bags, split up essential items equally between cases, as the chances of losing all luggage are much smaller.
- Always carry valuables in hand luggage, including money, phone, and ID, as you will need these if your luggage goes missing.
It’s down to the individual airline to decide how much it will reimburse passengers for essential supplies. Some airlines offer a daily allowance while others will have a fixed amount they will pay.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
