Lamiya Walker, founder, and CEO of Housesitmatch.com shared tips with tourists on how to avoid losing luggage at the airport and still have enough for a safe trip. In her interview with the British Express, she talked about life hacks produced by numerous trips around the world.
The first of them is bright luggage labels and, if possible, covers for the suitcase so that it is not lost. This tip is especially true if you’re traveling with a “little black suitcase” that’s about two-thirds full on the luggage belt—and it’s very easy to get mixed up. “After once losing a small black suitcase at Milan airport on the way there, I now always make sure my luggage is marked. I got stuck at passport control and went to the baggage claim area in Milan later – as a result, I found an identical suitcase from the supermarket – with other people’s clothes and personal belongings, “she told about her own experience.
According to her, she was very lucky that the tourist who borrowed her suitcase found it, including her business cards, and as a result, was able to contact her. Because there was not even a hint of the landlady’s contacts in Mrs. Walker’s “lost” suitcase. As a result, they could meet in the evening and exchange suitcases.
As a result, the expert reminds us that many suitcases look the same, and it is easy to confuse them at baggage claim. Therefore, tourists would do well to purchase a bright luggage tag to make their suitcase more “individual”. And those who are particularly worried about the loss of luggage can separately take care of the cover for the suitcase – perhaps even by individual order, so as not to mix things up.
The second expert tip is to take a small transparent bag with you for all your documents on the plane. “I take a handy clear bag with me and keep it handy so I can put my passport, any printed tickets, and insurance documents in there. It’s best to have them close at hand in one place and separate so it’s easy to see what’s there for a quick check. Have you ever left passport control or inspection thinking you left your documents at the counter? If it was, the transparent bag allows you to check at a glance whether everything is in place,” said Ms. Walker. In the same bag at the hotel, you can put documents in a safe place, for example, a safe, she adds.
Another life hack is to get a “minimal” suitcase, with a handle, wheels, and, ideally, a belt. This is the best option for short trips without luggage. “Compact carry-on luggage allows for very quick disembarkation and boarding — both from airplanes and from trains and buses. For a short trip, a small suitcase in addition to a handbag and a laptop case is all I need for the necessary things on the road,” said the expert. At the same time, she reminded me that many low-cost airlines limit the volume of hand luggage, so a small suitcase is an ideal option. In addition, it is easy to lift it into the upper luggage rack on its own, the wheels ensure a quick transfer in any case, and if the suitcase also has a strap, it makes it easier to go up the stairs.