Lost luggage, what to do?

You've just stepped off the plane and are in a new country, ready for a fabulous vacation! You can already imagine the wonderful people you'll meet, the food you'll enjoy, and maybe a few late nights and unforgettable stories.

Waiting near the baggage carousel, you are impatiently waiting for your suitcase... Time passes and the luggage for your flight stops. A terrible realization hits you: my suitcase disappeared !

We know it, the lost luggage, it's the worst!

But don't panic! We specialize in this area and we will help you find your suitcase.

Here are 3 things to do when your luggage is lost:

• Report it to the lost baggage claim counter (next to the baggage carousel)
• Get your checked baggage fees reimbursed by your airline
• Check your bank card's insurance for lost luggage.

In this article you will discover:

– What are the steps to follow to find your lost luggage?
– What to do with the airline?
– Our advice to prevent this from happening again

After that you will easily find your luggage and you will be able to limit the risks on your next trips!

What steps should you take if your suitcase doesn't arrive at its destination?

To begin, let's discover together the steps to take to save time searching for your lost luggage.

Our goal is to help you avoid getting carried away by your emotions.

1 – Stay calm! Panic won’t help you.

Yes, this situation is stressful and terrible, but you'll get through it. Chances are your bag got lost during an inter-airport transfer.

According to the 2016 baggage report from the International Society for Aeronautical Telecommunications (SITA), 79 % mishandled baggage are simply delayed.

Another statistic indicates that there is less than 2.5% chance that your bag is really lost (that is, it is never found).

Take a deep breath and steady yourself.

Also remember that airlines today have sophisticated methods for locating luggage. Stay calm, you'll get through this! 😉

2 – Go to the lost baggage claim counter

See you at baggage claim office from the airport to report and make a declaration of loss of your baggage.

Some airlines require that you report lost baggage within a certain number of hours, so don't wait.

Don't forget to mention the identification numbers of your tickets to make your claim. By completing a written claim, you accomplish two important things:

• This lets the airline know that it needs to locate your lost luggage.
• This creates a written record with a file reference which will allow you, if necessary, toget reimbursed for expenses for items you purchased due to your missing bag.

Ask a copy of the report, write down the name of the person who helped you, get a tracking phone number (useful for tracking updates), and keep your baggage tickets and boarding passes.

Here are some important questions to ask:

• Can you locate my luggage?
• What number should I call to contact the baggage service and get updates on my dispute?
• When can I expect to receive an update from your company regarding my missing baggage?
• If my bag is found, will your company pay to have the luggage delivered to my hostel/hotel?

3 – After the airport, what to do?

There's probably nothing else you can do here, so it's a good time to check into your hostel or hotel.

In the following days, you may want to buy some essentials – various toiletries and basic clothing – to replace the ones you are missing.

Ask your hostel or hotel where you can find these items cheaply or if they can provide them for you.

Don't forget to keep a list of expenses and keep receipts possible purchase so as not to have to negotiate with the airline for additional costs on compensation for loss of your baggage.

How to follow up with the airline?

After seeing the essential steps to follow to ensure you find your luggage.

Let’s take a look at the role of the airline and the steps to take.

Don't wait for the airline to call you, be proactive!

Do you make reimburse your baggage check-in feesYou paid that (ridiculous) fee to ensure you had your baggage when you arrived, but the airline didn't keep their end of the bargain!

You deserve to be reimbursed for this money for the damage you suffered. If you actually get it back, the amount will depend on the airline – but it never hurts to try!

You should also check with your bank, because it could reimburse your lost luggage. Just make sure you used their bank card to purchase the flight, then call your bank to inquire or request compensation.

Lost or delayed luggage? Here’s some advice from Team VelarTrip©

Finally, to prevent this from happening again, let's discover together our tips for significantly limiting the risk of lost suitcases.

1 – Keep your essentials close at hand

• Always keep important documents, chargers, adapters and other items in your hand luggage. universal electrical outlets for all your essential devices.
• If your bag is missing, you should at least a working phone and charged so that the airline can contact you when she locates your bag.
• Also pack some personal items that can help you for a few days, until you get to a store or (hopefully!) your bag reappears.
• It could be travel-sized toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, a small comb and brush, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a swimsuit (if you're going somewhere warm), socks, pajamas, and one or two sets of lightweight, layered clothing.

2 – Don’t lose your baggage claim tickets

If you tend to lose things or just want to be safe, take a photo of the tickets with your phone. Also take a photo of your bag, so that I can show any airline agent what it's like looks exactly like yours luggage lost.

3 – Keep proof of your personal belongings located in your suitcase

Before leaving for the airport, take a picture of what is at inside your checked baggage and/or have a list of the items you put in the suitcase before checking it in.

In the worst case scenario, if an airline actually loses your baggage, you'll know exactly what they owe you.

Never leave old things on your suitcase stickers or labels of luggage from the previous trips.

They contain route information and could send your suitcase elsewhereBefore packing your suitcase, check if there are any stickers or luggage tags left over from your previous trips.

Never pack anything sentimental in your checked baggage. The safest place for your belongings is with you.

While dealing with lost luggage is obviously not an ideal situation, we promise you'll get through it.

There are many preventative measures you can take to ease the stress of this situation, such as always traveling with an extra day's outfit in your carry-on.

So you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you'll have one less thing to worry about if your bag goes missing.

Ensure the traceability of your suitcases now!

As we've seen previously, the chances of your suitcase going missing are slim! By following our steps, you won't have to worry about getting your luggage back as quickly as possible.

But as you may have noticed, at the airport, many suitcases look the same. Sometimes the fault lies not with the airline, but with the travelers, because sometimes some on the baggage carousel bag mistake…

That's why we We strongly advise you to identify your suitcases as your own! At VelarTrip we recommend our collection of luggage tags and suitcase covers to make your suitcases unique!