If you are a long-time world traveller, you have probably dealt with lost baggage at least once. If not, then either you haven’t travelled that much yet, or your first time to arrive baggage-free at a location is yet to come… or maybe you are God’s favourite, who knows! In any case, there are some precautions, which you can take in order to ease your situation in case the worst happens.
Here’s my story. A couple of years ago I planned a summer graduation trip to South Korea and Japan. I booked the plane tickets months in advance to get the best rates; I had accommodation reservations and daily itineraries all covered. I even had checked the weather forecast and prepared outfits for each day of my stay. After all I was going to Seoul- one of the trendiest cities, where looks are very important.
So imagine my disappointment when I arrived at the airport and headed to the baggage pick-up line, only to find out that my suitcase was missing. I had hopes up until the last moment, but my enthusiasm gradually went from 100 to 0, when the line suddenly stopped moving right under my nose and my stuff was still not there.
The flight attendants from my flight, who were standing nearby, approached me kindly and offered assistance immediately. Kudos to the staff of Qatar Airways for the professionalism, as they really provided timely and adequate help! They started asking me questions about the dimensions of my suitcase and showed me a colour scheme, so I could point out which shade most closely corresponded to the colour of my luggage. Luckily I had taken a photo of my suitcase in advance and could immediately provide them with a visual idea of what to look for. They saved the photo, made a few phone calls and soon after discovered that the suitcase never left the airport of my own country. The other issue was that there was only one transfer from home to Seoul, which could deliver my baggage, and it was going to leave the following day, meaning I would have to manage at least 24h without my precious travel essentials.
So far so good, I left my phone number and email, as well as the coordinates of my hotel, where my baggage was to be delivered the next day, and headed to the hotel. The moment I left the airport and stepped outside, a realization hit me. I had just arrived at a place where the temperature was 35°C and the humidity - 90%, with nothing but my wallet, passport, keys, camera and a package of crisps in my backpack (I’m a snacker, alright?!). And since the weather at home and the temperature on the plane were significantly lower than in the South Korean capital, even the clothes on my back didn’t match my needs. Not to mention that I was already wearing them throughout the whole 17h flight.
And there I was- in an urgent need of shower and rest, no toothbrush or a change of underwear in my bag; with the humid air turning to liquid at the touch of my skin and my thoughts clouded with despair…what a glorious beginning of my long anticipated journey. After the check-in at the hotel, I spent the first hour or so not exploring the city or catching a break, but looking for essentials, so I could spend the following night and day without standing out as the poorly dressed, smelly foreigner. Not fun, definitely not fun, although stuff like that happens. But hey, I learned some important things, which prepared me better for my next trips and I’d love to share them.
· Name tags and airport registration tags aside, it is advisable to put a lucky charm, a key chain, a sticker or any other distinguishing decoration on your suitcase, so it is easily recognizable. It doesn’t have to be something big and tacky. It’s enough to put something that stands out a little from the sea of black and grey suitcases.
· Always take a picture of your suitcase. This can save you the time and trouble of explaining what it looks like if it gets lost. And it can really help finding it faster.
· Pack in your carry-on a toothbrush, a deodorant, a change of underwear, a hairbrush, any medications and other essentials, without which you cannot last even one night. They don’t really take that much space and can you really do without them if you must?
· Know your rights in case of damaged or lost baggage. If you are unsure or feel like you wouldn’t bother researching, seek professional assistance. Here’s one example: AirHelp is an international company, focused on the protection of passengers’ rights. They have an extensive list with your rights during travel and comprehensive explanation, plus they provide personal assistance as well.
· Check the weather conditions of your destination and put on, place in your cabin luggage or simply carry in hand a jacket, sunglasses and a sunhat or a raincoat accordingly.
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