Taking extra precautions in terms of baggage handling and baggage problems can make a difference when traveling. Know your rights and travel smarter.
Between the time passengers check in their luggage and the time they claim it at their destination, it may have passed through a maze of conveyor belts, baggage carts, and forklifts; when airborne, it may have tumbled around the cargo compartment in rough air. In all fairness to the airlines, however, relatively few bags are damaged or lost. With some common sense packing and other precautions, checked baggage will probably arrive safely and baggage problems can be avoided.
Some items should never be put into checked bags in the cargo system—money, jewelry, cameras, medicine, liquids, glass, negotiable securities, or any other things that are valuable, irreplaceable, delicate, or of sentimental value. These and anything else absolutely needed for a trip should be packed in a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat. Remember, the only way to be sure valuables are not damaged or lost is to keep them with you.
Some seasoned travelers recommend carrying enough clothing and personal items with them in carry-on luggage to last 48 hours.
In this 4,500 word chapter, we’ll help you avoid major baggage problems with the best baggage tips available. Read the chapter to learn:
- Baggage check-in time limits and excess charges
- Special requests for your baggage including boxes for bulky items and garment bags.
- Size and weight limitations, and excess baggage charges
- Government airport security regulations and baggage checks
- Sports and Musical Equipment rules
- Rules for Hazardous items
- International flight baggage rules
- Baggage liability limits and insurance
- What to do in the case of dammaged or delayed baggage
For lost luggage claims, it’s important to note that airlines don’t automatically pay the full amount of every claim they receive. They use the information on claims forms to estimate the value of lost belongings, and like insurance companies, consider the depreciated value of possessions, not replacement costs.
Read the chapter for in-depth information on baggage handling issues.
[…] 2015, the rate of mishandled bags by the largest U.S. airlines was 3.24 bags per thousand passengers (0.324 percent), but as almost […]