e-Help Report - Lost Luggage
What Do You Do When An Airline Loses Your Luggage?
Tonight we began a new segment called "Help Me Howard's E-Help".
You send us your consumer questions and we'll answer them for you.
Our first question was from Curtis on Staten Island, who wanted to know:
"What can I do when the airline lost my luggage and seems negligent in finding it?"
We asked Conde Nast "Traveler" Magazine about this problem:
The first thing you need to do is go straight to the airport's customer service representative and file a claim. Do NOT go home and do it later, do it as soon as you arrive and realize your bag is missing. The customer service baggage claim handles all baggage that travels thru that airport, so all airlines are covered by them.
They will ask you specific details about your bag; size, color, etc. And for your contact information. Be clear and concise, do not panic, this is where you need to keep a straight head in order to give them as much information as possible to find your bag.
Before you do go home make sure to get their contact information, along with your claim and reference number.
Less then one-percent of all bags are lost temporarily. Most are found and returned within 24-hours. If you are enroute to your vacation and the bag doesn't arrive with you, give specific information to the customer service rep as to where you will be staying, including a telephone number.
After five days your luggage is classified as officially lost and that's when you file another claim with the airline that you flew, in order to be reimbursed for the items lost. Be aware that in order to be reimbursed for specific items lost, you have to have a receipt proving that item was in your bag.
Don't expect to be reimbursed for a pair of designer jeans that you say were in the bag, but have no proof. That's why its best to travel with clothing and items that you can afford to lose. That doesn't mean you should expect to lose them, but if your luggage does get lost, you're not losing your favorite, one of a kind item of clothing. If you have to bring that favorite pair of jeans, either wear them onto the plane or pack them in your carry-on.
Always carry valuables like cameras, ipods, jewelry, computers, wallets, etc with you. Keep them in your pocket, your purse or in a carry on bag, but never, never, never pack them in your checked luggage.
It's also suggested that you take pictures of the contents of your luggage before packing, that can help you create an itinerary, or jot everything in your luggage down on a list. Either one will help you report what you lost to airport officials. If you must pack valuables, its recommended that you take out additional insurance on them and look for those special counters where they can "shrink wrap" your luggage, with all items inside. (this must be done after security checks are made and costs extra).
Most airlines have a reimbursement limit on how much they will pay you for the loss of your property, so find out in advance what that is. It can run from $ 3,000.00 to a few hundred dollars. Filing a declaration and paying for additional coverage can get you as much as $ 5,000.00 for a lost bag. But each airline is different, so look into what each one pays beforehand.
There are things you can do to make sure your bag is less likely to get lost. Tag your luggage with your contact information inside the bag and outside. Include your home address and your vacation address as well. In a sea of black suitcases, tie a brightly colored ribbon on yours to make it stand out, or place a colorful sticker on it, to make it easier to find... and remember never, never, never ever pack valuables in your checked luggage, always carry them with you.
