Airline Baggage – How To Pack For Success 2020
Airline Baggage – Between the times you check your traveling luggage in and the time you claim it at your destination, do you know what happens in between?
Have you ever waved goodbye to your luggage at the airport as if to never see it again?
I know I have, and no matter how much I prepare to avoid having airlines losing my luggage it always seems to happen.
This is the reason I decided to write this article, because on my most recent trip to Asia, in which I lost valuable camera equipment in transfer, and I never want other travelers to go through what I went through to get it back.
In this article, I will go over how to pack luggage for any type of travel to help you avoid any potential problems that may arise during air travel.
Side Note: In all fairness to the airlines, however, relatively few bags are damaged or lost.
With some common-sense packing and other precautions, your bags will most likely be among the ones that arrive safely.
Airline Baggage – How To Pack For Success 2020
Support Peek At This by using the links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. Thank you, we appreciate it!
Airline Baggage
Packing
You can pack to eliminate problems. Some items should never be placed into a bag you plan to check into the cargo compartment:
- Small valuables: cash, credit cards, jewelry, cameras.
- Critical items: medicine, keys, passport, tour vouchers, business papers.
- Irreplaceable personal possessions: manuscript, heirlooms.
- Fragile items: eyeglasses, glass containers, liquids (review the latest rules on liquids.)
Packing Your Carry On Luggage
Airline Baggage – Things like this should be carried on your person or packed in a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat.
Remember, the only way to be sure your valuables are undamaged or lost is to keep them with you. Even if your bag is unlost, it could be delayed for a day or two.
Don’t place perishables in a checked bag; they may spoil if it is delayed. It is wise to put items that you will need during the first 24 hours in a carry-on bag (e.g. toiletries, a change of underwear).
Check with the airline for its limits on the size, weight, or number of carry-on baggage. (There is no single federal standard.)
Click Here For The Latest TSA Guidelines On Packing
If you are using more than one airline, check on all of them. Inquire about your flight; different airplanes can have different limits.
Don’t assume the flight will have unlimited closet space for carry-on garment bags; some may have to be checked.
eBags Classic Packing Cubes for Travel - 6pc Value Set - (Black)
Pay Attention To The Weight Limits
Airline Baggage – If you plan to go shopping at your destination and bring your purchases aboard as carry-on, keep the limits in mind.
If you check these purchases, however, carry the receipts separately; they may be necessary for a claim if the merchandise is lost or damaged.
Don’t put anything into a carry-on bag that could be considered a weapon (e.g. scissors, pen knife).
Checked luggage is also subject to limits.
On most domestic and international flights, it’s two checked bags (three if you don’t have any carry-on luggage). Be careful of the airlines’ checked baggage fees.
There can be an extra charge if you bring more, or if you exceed the airline’s limits on the size of the bags.
On some flights between two foreign cities, your allowance may be based on the weight of the bags rather than the number of pieces.
The same two bags that cost you nothing to check when you started your trip could result in expensive excess-baggage charges under a weight system.
Ask the airlines about the limit for every segment of your international trip before you leave home.
Especially if you have a stopover of a day or two or if you are changing carriers.
Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale
Label Your Baggage
Airline Baggage – The bags you check should be labeled inside and out-with your name, address, and phone number.
Add the name and address of a person to contact at your destination if it’s practical to do so.
Almost all of the bags that are misplaced by airlines do turn up sooner or later.
With proper labeling, the bag and its owner can usually be reunited within a few hours.
Funny Luggage Tags Set of 6
Over Packing Your Baggage
Airline Baggage – Don’t over-pack a bag. This puts pressure on the latches, making it easier for them to pop open.
If you plan to check any electrical equipment, glassware, small appliances, pottery, musical instruments, or other fragile items, they should be packed in a container specifically designed to survive rough handling preferably a factory-sealed carton or a padded hard shell carrying case.
Side Note: Never Check In A Drone For Shooting Videos In Asia For Commercial Shoots!!! You Will Never See It Again! See below the drone I lost. 🙁
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Check-in
Don’t check-in at the last minute.
Even if you make the flight, your bag may not.
If you miss the airline’s check-in deadline, the carrier might not assume liability for your bag if it is delayed or lost.
If you have a choice, you will select flights that minimize the potential for baggage disruption.
The likelihood of a bag going astray increases from #1 to #4 below (i.e., #1 is safest): 1) nonstop flight 2) direct or through flight (one or more stops, but no change of aircraft) 3) online connection (change of aircraft but not airlines) 4) interline connection (change of aircraft and airlines).
Prepare Before Checking In
Airline Baggage – When you check-in, remove straps and hooks from garment bags that you are sending as checked baggage.
These can get caught in baggage processing machinery, causing damage to the bag.
The airline will put baggage destination tags on your luggage and give you the stubs to use as claim checks. Make sure you get a stub for every bag.
Don’t throw them away until after you get your bags back and you check the contents.
Not only will you need them if a claim is necessary, but you may need to show them to security upon leaving the baggage-claim area.
The Baggage Tag
Airline Baggage – Each tag has a three-letter code and flight number that show the baggage sorters on which plane and to which airport your luggage is supposed to go.
Double-check the tag before your bags go down the conveyor belt. (The airline will be glad to tell you the code for your destination when you make reservations or buy your tickets.)
Your bags may only be checked to one of your intermediate stops rather than your destination city if you must clear Customs short of your final destination.
Or, if you are taking a connection involving two airlines that don’t have an interline agreement.
Be sure all of the tags from previous trips are removed from your bag, since they may confuse busy baggage handlers.
Claiming your bags
Many bags look alike when you see travel luggage arriving at the baggage claim.
After you pull what you think is your bag off the carousel, check the name tag or the bag tag number.
If your bag arrives open, unlocked, or visibly damaged, check right away to see if any of the contents are missing or damaged.
Report any problems to the airline before leaving the airport; insist on filling out a form.
Open your suitcase immediately when you get to where you are staying.
Any damage to the contents or any pilferage should be immediately reported to the airline by telephone.
Make a note of the date and time of the call, and the name and telephone number of the person you spoke with.
Follow up immediately with a certified letter to the airline.
Airbnb & Hotel Tonight Coupon Codes
If you are looking for accommodations on a trip, I suggest Airbnb.
Join Airbnb with this link to accept Trent’s invite to join Airbnb and you’ll get CAD 45.00 towards your first trip of CAD 95.00 or more.
Check out HotelTonight – it’s an app for booking amazing hotel deals tonight and beyond. Use my promo code TRPEEK1 and you’ll get CAD 30 off your first booking.
Summary
I hope that the information I provided will give you a bit of a guideline on your airline baggage and how to pack for success on your next journey.
There are so many things to worry about when it comes to traveling, don’t let your luggage be one of them.
Side Note:
If you ever decide to make a purchase from Amazon, for ANYTHING, even diapers..you can help me without spending a penny to do so.
If you use my links to make your purchase (when you click a link here and it takes you to Amazon, that is using my links as once there you can buy anything and I will get a teeny small credit) you will, in turn, be helping this site to keep on going and keep on growing.
So all I ask is that if you find the free info on this website useful AND you ever need to purchase at Amazon, just use the link below.
You can even bookmark the Amazon link and use it anytime you buy something.
It costs you nothing extra but will provide me and this site with a dollar or two to keep on trucking along.
As a frequent traveler packing well is one of my weaknesses. Practice makes perfect so I’ll contnue reading blogs like these and don’t give up.
I am leaving next week for a two week adventure via train to New York from Seattle. I hope I practice what I preach. Thanks for the comment.