Losing luggage during a flight is unwanted stress and problems in any situation. But what about those who put their entire house in their luggage for the next two weeks? Do you think it doesn’t happen? Taras Pozdnii knows dozens of cases when people literally came to the tourist club “Kuluar” without a place to live – without tents and sleeping bags. And without backpacks at all, and in them boots, warm clothes, toothpaste and all the gear you need for a hike in the mountains. At a minimum – it is a lot of nerves, a change in the schedule of the route, the cost of buying new equipment. At most, it’s a disrupted hike if you can’t buy gear and your luggage never arrives.
So what should you do to avoid losing your luggage? We have collected 9 tips from Kuluar guides. And these people fly more than anyone else. Read, remember and use:
What should you do not to lose your luggage? We have collected 9 tips from Kuluar guides. And these people fly more than anyone else. Read, memorize, and use them:
Avoid short layovers at large airports such as Stockholm, Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Istanbul (Ataturk), London (Heathrow). If you can make it through all the stages of airport purgatory in an hour and a half, your luggage probably won’t. And here’s the catch – waiting for your luggage at the end point will take much longer than the plane during the transfer.
Most often the luggage stub is glued directly to the airline ticket. It can be lost or accidentally thrown away after the ticket has been used. But you should not do that! First of all, at some airports (Kathmandu, for example) they check them at the exit (it would be a good story to arrive and get in trouble with your own luggage). And secondly, in case of loss, with a stub is much easier to find luggage than without it.
If you want to keep your flight stickers as a memento, do not do it on your suitcase. Baggage can get lost just because you flew to London last month and never removed the tag.
Take personal and important things in hand luggage: a sleeping bag, boots, fleece, storm jacket (that is, all clothing that may be useful in the first days of the trek). Tent without arcs and stakes can also be taken (you will have a place to sleep, think twice). This is especially true for expensive and unique equipment, which is extremely difficult to find at the place of arrival. For example, eight-thousand-dollar boots, take them ONLY in your carry-on luggage!
If possible, arrive at the trek the day before you start. This is useful in terms of acclimatization, excursions, familiarity, and, of course, luggage that may catch up with you the day after you arrive.
Take all batteries and chargers only in your hand luggage. Your luggage may be gutted just because they suspect the presence of a “powerbank”.
As in kindergarten on the jackets of children – attach your data (name, phone number and e-mail) with its own separate tag, so that you can be easily found in case of loss of luggage.
It’s not to look at it during parting. Often no one is allowed in the luggage compartment, but you can show a photo to an employee and it will be easier to find your backpack!
Insure not only yourself against accidents, but also your luggage against loss. Or take pictures of its contents, so that you can then prove the real value of lost items and get appropriate compensation from the airline.
We’ve made an infographic with all of these tips. Print it out and keep it as a souvenir! You can find a larger version here =>
And fly hiking, even though it sounds ambiguous. The more you fly to walk for a long time afterwards, the healthier you’ll be!
