Lost Luggage? Ended Up Where?

Problem
You've lost your luggage. Where has it gone? You flew one way and your luggage went the other way? If you never found it, where did it go?

Answers
If you passed through the UK, apparently your luggage ended up in an auction house in Bristol.

It is estimated that 'only' 3% of the public lose something. That means of 100 people on your plane, 3 have lost something.

Solutions and Suggestions
Lost luggage shouldn't ever happen. My view:
How do you find it at an airport? I make a policy of buying suitcases in bright colours. I learned that on 9/11. A bomb threat was made to our plane. Our luggage was offloaded onto the runway. Each passenger had to claim his or her luggage. I was faced by yards of black suitcases. Where was mine?

This proved a good system. We were standing at Changi in Singapore, scanning the carousel, no luck. As we turned away to walk to report the loss, I was saying, "It's a bright pink - look, over there!" My bright pink bag had been moved to another area, with unclaimed and oversize luggage.

A bright blue ribbon on a yellow suitcase will help you spot your luggage on a carousel. But it won't get your lost luggage back.

I remember being told that you should not write your surname and address on a suitcase tag, because it alerts potential thieves to the fact that you are away and they could burgle your home. Let's do some lateral thinking.

Your Frequent Flyer number could help the airline locate your luggage. But luggage is handed over to other organizations, such as the baggage handlers and the Lost Property office.

May suggestion: Each piece of luggage should have your face and a number on it. You should have a microchip in your suitcase, like a dog, to reunite with the owner.

What's your suggestion? Reply to me, or write your own suggestion on Facebook.

Useful Websites
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/44907638/summer-getaway-what-happens-to-lost-luggage

https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/lost-property

https://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/terminal-facilities-and-services/lost-property

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_luggage

See the story of how I lost my passport and recovered it here:
http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-airports-should-do-differently.html

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Travel Tip - labels and ribbon for bags and duty free purchases

My family has lost duty free items left behind on planes. We got back a children's game. But we lost duty free chocolates. And probably wines.

Sticky Labels
I always put labels on phones and umbrellas, even handbags. You can use sticky labels or tie on labels. You may wish to put your destination address rather than your home address.

Ribbons and String
I try to attach extra duty free bags to my main bag with a string or ribbon. You could also write your name and mobile number in pen on the bag. Or fill out an extra paper baggage tag when checking in and carry it with you to attach to your coat label or purchases.

A small piece of string or ribbon is very handy. You can use it to mark black suitcase, show which duty free bag is yours, tie an umbrella to your carry-on bag, or tie on a hat which blows off in the wind.

I pack spare airline labels inside my hand luggage to quickly attach them to a new suitcase. If your luggage goes missing and you buy a new suitcase you might need that spare label.

Security of Labels and Names and Addresses
If you are worried about security, at least write a name or nickname on the label. That way if you leave your umbrella behind at a party or book group meeting, the host/hostess can narrow down the one to one or two people.

Wishing you safe journeys and safe arrivals with all your luggage and gifts.

Angela Lansbury B A Hons is a travel writer, author and speaker who has travelled to more than 50 countries.