Hi, I have a small question, I am going to go on a trip soon in a months or two and I was wondering howmuch risk there is to lose lugage at the airport? I am probably going to stop in a few airports because it's half a world away (Belgium to Australia) and I think I'll be in Amsterdam - maybe Frankfurt - maybe Bangkok - Melbourne.
I am not sure because I still have to buy my airplaneticket and on most of them look like having different locations.
If somebody is very experienced with this maybe he/she can help me find the cheapest/safest-for-the-bag ticket to go with, I'm sure that I'll start in Amsterdam and land in Melbourne. I'm guna ask some friends at home to help me
but since this is a travelblog... I might ask some experienced people if they can tell me something very wise 😊 haha
I'm asking this cus my mom told me it's very dangerous and she summed up some things that cud go wrong and ofcource she got me worried now.
I know to keep the important stuff in an extra bag with me on the plane, I have to put my info on a tag on the bag, (first time in an airport so I'm clueless) and that I need to be carefull what to put in it, no locks either.
and like, If I do lose them... but I need to take my next flight who leaves before I can find it or report it properly to search for it, what do I do? I'm not guna have my bag with me, I won't have a phone so they can call me when found also. Just some few hints plz
Reply to this Hello Jeroen 😊
I think it is safe enough if you put your bag in a locker or check it onto your next flight before you leave the airport. Sometimes you can check the bags onto the next flight before you leave the airport. If it is a connecting flight the airline will probably do it for you.
It is wise however to realise that your backpack can be lost by the airline or stolen when you travel so dont leave anything valuable or essential in it. Put things like passport, money, credit card... in a money belt under your clothes. It is not really safe enough to just put them in a day pack or a shoulder bag.
If the airline lose your bag you can report it when you get to your destination. They will track it and usually deliver it to your hotel or hostel.
You are not allowed to leave bags unattended at any airport in the world. If it is not checked in or in a locker you will have to take it to he bathroom or for a walk or wherever you go at the airport. Try to travel light so at the times when there is nowhere to leave your bag or only expensive lockers then you can carry it everywhere without being too uncomfortable. I generallly travel with less than 10KG. In my opinion it is worth doing without some things for the convenience of travelling light.
Mel
Reply to this I agree with Mel. If you can check it in for your next flight, that's the best option. If you are traveling on the same airline or a related airline, this will often be done automatically - ask when you check in at your first destination. However, if you book each ticket seperately, it probably will not be done automatically so you will have to pick it up and recheck. I actually sometimes prefer this because then I know it's made it so far and I have seen it personally be checked in for the next leg of my trip. How long will you have in between each flight.
Also, if you want a little extra protection, you might want to look into travel insurance - this will protect you if anything does happen to it - they will insure it up to a certain amount for lost/stolen/damaged luggage. Just a thought. You might want to also make a quick list (mentally or actually on paper) of what you do have in your checked luggage so in case there is any problem, you can let them know exactly what was in there.
Reply to this Thanks for the replies,
just still a bit worried, if I got a connecting flight, does my bag go in a "special space" away from the single flights? because how do they know what bags to give back and what bags to change planes.
I rather do the each-flight-different-ticket idea also but I think it might turn out a bit more expensive.
Travelinsurance seems like a good idea.
Reply to this just still a bit worried, if I got a connecting flight, does my bag go in a "special space" away from the single flights? because how do they know what bags to give back and what bags to change planes.
When you check in your bag you will be given a ticket with the bag id on it. They will also put the id on your bag. If the bag goes missing you show the id and they trace it. If you have a connecting flight the airport staff will transfer the bag to the next plane for you. The id will also tell them which bags are to be transferred and which to be given back. They usually get the bags to the destination for you but occasionally lose them. When they lose them they generally find them within the next 24 hours and deliver them to you.
The each flight different ticket may work out to be more complicated and time consuming than you think. You will have to go through immigration, collect the bag, check in the bag again and go through immigration again. It would use up a lot of the time you could spend relaxing in a bar or cafe or taking a trip into the city.
I dont ever bother insuring my stuff. It can be replaced if the worst happens.
Reply to this Jeroen,
Each airport has a 3-digit code (e.g. here in Philadelphia, we are PHL). If you just have a connection and you are not actually stopping and staying in a city, then the when you check in at the first airport, your bad should have a tag with your the code of your final destination. This is how they know to check it through and not give it back at your connecting airport. This is the same tag that Mel described above with the tracking code.
I agree with Mel that a bunch of one way tickets might be more trouble than it's worth. Plus, if your ticket is done separately and there's a delay or anything and you miss your next flight, generally speaking they airline is basically not responsible for anything. However, if everything is all on one big ticket with several connections, they are more obligated to help you out if you miss a connection (that being said, this doesn't always happen!).
As for insurance, it really depends what you are traveling with. I mainly do it in case I have to cancel or interrupt my trip, or in case i need it for medical - not all medical insurances will cover you while traveling overseas. But it does also protect stolen or lost baggage as well. That's really a personal choice - depends on what you think the risk is of needing it. I guess I always figure, if I get it, the trip will probably go smoothly and I won't need it and for me, that's worth the cost! :-)
Reply to this Thank you that bag ID seems to be very helpfull, got me less worried now 😊 The "one big ticket" thing, you seem to have it right, it's easier to do it that way then standing in line each time. thx for the help
the travelinsurance is also for medical help when I'm traveling, I read that somewhere. Thats why I better get it because I'll be staying there for a year, a lot can happen in that time 😉
Reply to this Jeroen,
Check first to see if your health insurance covers you while overseas. If so, then you are already covered under medical. The only thing that travel insurance might cover that this wouldn't is medical evacuation which hopefully you won't need! But if your health insurance covers is, then that's the cheaper way to go, since you already pay for it!
Reply to this I never check my baggage anymore. I ship my essentials to my place of lodging via UPS so that it arrives when I get there. I started doing this after a lost luggage fiasco in Italy. Traveling this way has tremendously improved the quality of my experiences abroad.
Reply to this Judt to let everyone know that I have arrived at Melbourne and even tho I had to use three planes, my bags dropped back safe into my hands at the last stop, I'm happy 😊
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