It does not happen every time travelers go on trips, but oftentimes luggages are lost. Let’s look at few tips that will help travelers with their bags.

The best way to avoid losing luggage is to keep it as a carry on, but nowadays this has become difficult with all the new airport rules; in fact, airlines usually allow two bags as carry-on, one for a small luggage and one for a purse, or tote. In any case, voyagers should check the airline’s rules.

Before checking in a bag, travelers should label it inside and out; labeling bags is not very important to the folks looking for the lost luggage, but it becomes very helpful when the luggage is claimed. The outside tag holder should be used, if the bag has one available, and tags provided at the airline check in counters should also be used. After tightening the tag's elasticized string around the bag's handle, it is recommended to keep the stubs obtained when checking in. In the carry-on bag, voyagers should keep their passport and items that they cannot afford to lose.

Bright tape might be helpful too; voyagers should wrap a piece of tape around something on the bag, like a backpack strap or handle strap, as this would make easier identifying the bag. The detail can also be listed as an identifying mark if reporting lost luggage.

It is also important to take a picture of the bag; it should be printed and kept inside the carry-on. Old tags from other airlines need to be removed. A lock should be placed on the luggage; there are locks that are Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved; some of them come with combinations.

Once landed, voyagers should go to the baggage claim as soon as possible; above the oval carousels the flight numbers are displayed. When the bags are dropped on the carousel, travelers should look for their color tags and obviously for their bag.

If after all these security precautions, the bag does not show up on the baggage carousel, travelers should immediately go to the airline’s nearby baggage office or window, and report it. Most of the time, the bag is just late and coming in on another flight. The baggage stubs need to be provided to the window clerk. The clerk will be responsible for tracking the bag on the computer first, using the stubs. If the bag is not on another flight, the clerk will start calling other departments to try to locate the luggage. Voyagers should try to give a complete description of the bag and provide them the picture previously taken.

The unfortunate voyager has to fill out a claim form with relevant personal information and a detailed description of the lost luggage.

If the luggage is indeed lost, the airline will try to replace the lost luggage itself with the closest match possible. Travelers have the right to be recompensed for the things they have to purchase during their traveling, such as clothes and necessary items, as well as the value of the items contained in the lost bag.

During the time in which the airline company is trying to determine if the bag is officially lost, it is fundamental not to lose the claim form, and to continue to check with the airline.