13 top tips to prevent missing and stolen luggage on your next flight

Here are 13 top tips to help you prevent missing and stolen luggage on your next international or domestic flight.


Luggage on the carouselI’m back home from the month’s long land and cruise vacation that I’ve been writing about. Checked luggage problems can hit any trip. They hit us three times, but fortunately, we were prepared, and they didn’t stop us from enjoying a great journey on land, air, and sea.

We had three almost-lost luggage incidents on our recent journey.

We got to Sydney, Australia, with no missing luggage. Two flights complete, but not without incident. After clearing passport control, I immediately retrieved my wife’s checked bag when we reached the baggage carousel in customs. Moments later, my bag shot out on to the carousel, but instantly another passenger grabbed it. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn’t trying to steal my bag, but there is a big blue tag on the top handle that says “LEVI” in big white letters and a big blue belt around the bag, differentiating it from other bags.

I asked him if his name was Levi. He said, “No.” I asked, “Then why did you grab a bag with a huge tag saying ‘Levi’ on it?” He fumbled for words, let go of the bag, and left me.

We even had a luggage problem at our cruise embarkation.

Hiccup two was at the Sydney Cruise terminal. We boarded the ship at noon for a 4:30 p.m. sailing. We had a leisurely lunch and went to our cabin. My wife’s bag was already there. By 3:00 p.m., I was starting to panic. No bag yet. Reception said all the bags were on board, but many were still being delivered. At 3:45 p.m. my embedded Apple AirTag was showing people were passing close to the bag every five minutes. I saw the head concierge who called housekeeping to check. They said that the bag was delivered. I called my wife who said it wasn’t there.

I went to the ship’s hotel manager. He had his personnel search across the ship. Sailing was 15 minutes away when an assistant concierge said she found it and took me to it. It had been shoved into a back room by mistake. As the ship’s gangway was pulled up, I was in our cabin with the bag. Whew!

At our home airport, it wasn’t announced that the flight’s luggage was sent to two different luggage carousels.

At the end of our trip we arrived at the carousel in our home airport to find my wife’s bag immediately. Ten minutes later, my bag hadn’t shown. Many passengers’ bags hadn’t arrived. The luggage carousel list on the wall display said we were at the only carousel for our flight, as did the airline app. My AirTag showed the bag was in the airport. Then I got a message from the app, TripiT Pro. There was a second carousel for our flight. As I arrived, my bag came out. We were going home with all of our belongings.

My over-the-top bag identifiers, Apple Air Tag, and cellphone travel app, TripiT Pro, had come through to help ensure we had all of our bags and belongings throughout our trip, despite the mix-ups and problems.

Here are my 13 tips to help keep your luggage as safe as possible and prevent missing and stolen luggage.

Booking only direct flights and avoiding short layovers when you have to connect will help you prevent missing or delayed luggage.

Get refunds in cash when airlines cancel your flightBook direct, non-stop flights, if possible:
According to SITA, almost half (46 percent) of delayed and lost luggage occurs due to luggage transfer problems. Booking direct, non-stop flights eliminates those problems, increasing the chance your bag will arrive safely. That’s how we handled all of our flights: no connections.

If you’re using connecting flights, schedule long enough lay-overs:
When booking connecting flights, choose long enough lay-overs to ensure both you and your luggage have enough time to get from one flight to the next. I try to schedule lay-overs of at least 90 minutes.

Don’t use flimsy luggage:
No one has to purchase expensive luggage to happily travel, but don’t buy a bag that’s so inexpensive that it can’t hold up against the rough treatment that checked bags endure during luggage handling at airports throughout the world.

Travel only with carry-on luggage:
It’s obvious, but if you can, pack light and take everything in your carry-on. We were away for a month, so carry-on-only wasn’t possible.

Removing old airline and security tags, properly identifying luggage, and making your luggage stand out are all essential measures to prevent missing or stolen luggage.

Remove old airline and security tags:
Old airline tags can easily point your bags to the wrong destination. Prior to leaving for the airport, make sure no old tags or stickers are on your bags.

Identify your ownership of your luggage inside and out:
Most travelers have one ID tag on the outside of their bag. I use two, as I’ve found that luggage ID tags are often broken off. To be safer, I also keep my business card prominently displayed inside my bag along with a full itinerary listing all contact information for my trip, day by day.

Make your luggage stand out:
Make it difficult for someone to steal your luggage at baggage claim by making your bags impossible to miss. I use bright neon color luggage belts on my bags along with big blue tags displaying my last name in white.

Make sure the airline baggage tags are accurate and safely stow your luggage claim stubs in case your luggage is missing or stolen.

Check airline baggage tags for accuracy before they’re attached to your luggage:
Incorrect airline baggage tags can send your bags to the wrong airport. More than once I’ve had a ticket agent begin to put the wrong tag on my bag. Check your tag’s accuracy before it’s put on your bag.

Keep your luggage claim stub until you’ve retrieved your luggage and checked its contents:
Your claim stub is your only checked bag proof and sole bag identification in the airline baggage system. If your bag is lost or delayed, you’ll need the stub to process a claim with the airline or insurance company.

Prepare for a luggage loss:
I’ve had bags delayed for days at a time while on journeys. It’s not fun! I’m prepared for delayed or lost luggage by packing all my valuables and breakables, plus essentials such as medications and a complete change of clothes, packed in my carry-on whenever traveling.

Check your bags early:
Air travelers who arrive at the airport with minutes to spare may find that their luggage misses their flight. I try to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to boarding domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Some airports may require more time.

Join Us

Use quality air travel apps on your smartphone to get tabs on your luggage and use electronic luggage trackers to help find your bags if they go missing or are stolen.

Use quality air travel apps on your smartphone:
Use your airline’s app on your smartphone to track your luggage. Get additional help from apps like TripiT Pro (I’ve been happily using this essential app for years.)

Use an electronic luggage tracker:
I’m an iPhone user. I insert an Apple AirTag into all of our bags to track them. In my opinion, the Apple “Find My” system is the best world-wide tracking system. If my bags are lost or delayed I can help the airline find my missing bags with the “Find My” app. I know from experience that Apple AirTags work.

While these tips might not prevent every missing or lost checked bag scenario, as my recent journey shows, they can go a long way to preventing many problems. None are costly and each is easy to implement.


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