Holiday Travel: How To Prevent Lost Luggage On Your Next Flight

The Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday travel periods are among the busiest travel periods of the year. The Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday travel periods also have the highest reported incidents of lost luggage per passenger.

Prepared passengers can successfully survive the “Holiday Travel Lost Luggage Blues” by utilizing a few travel precautions:

• Check In On Time – An average of 75% of lost luggage is lost or delayed due to passengers checking in for their flight at the last minute. During holiday travel periods passengers the airlines recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to the flight’s departure for domestic flights and three hours prior to the flight’s departure for international flights.


• Voluntary Bumping – Airlines routinely overbook flights. When a flight is overbooked the airline may ask for volunteers to get “bumped” to the next available flight. Passengers should avoid taking another flight at all costs as changing airplanes at the last minute will require passengers to travel on a different flight from their luggage and makes identifying the passenger’s actual flight even more difficult.


• Luggage Tags – Each piece of luggage must be properly marked with clearly identifiable tags. Luggage that is separated from other checked luggage will be considered undeliverable without any identifiable tags. Sealed, water proof tags should be securely attached and include the passenger’s name and complete address.


• Overbooked Flights – Avoid overbooked flights especially during holiday travel times.


• Necessary Luggage – Passengers often check in additional empty luggage to bring back the holiday shopping purchases, gifts and treats that will be obtained on the trip. Only check in necessary luggage as unnecessary luggage utilizes valuable space that is needed by fellow passengers.

By heeding these travel precautions during peak holiday travel periods passengers will ensure luggage will arrive safely at their final destination and enjoy a happy holiday season.

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About The Author

Robert Bennett is the CEO of Forever Yours Transportation (FYT) the nation’s leading luggage delivery service.

Visit: www.ForeverTrans.net for more Travel Tips.