Airlines around the globe mishandled about 1 percent of the 3 billion bags checked last year. Airlines in the U.S. alone lose roughly 10,000 pieces of luggage a day. Although airlines claim to return roughly 98% of lost luggage within a few hours to a few days, it makes traveling, and more importantly, enjoying your vacation, difficult.
So, what can travelers do to avoid lost luggage? The simplest solution is to ship it directly to your location, eliminating airlines altogether. UPS and FedEx are more reliable than the airlines, and they have much better tracking technology in place.
You should also note that if your bag is not on the carousel, wait around. Frequently, bags that don't make the right flight end up on the airline's next flight. If all else fails and your luggage is lost, be sure to file a complaint with your airline immediately. Some airlines will only have a small window of time for filing one.
For more expert advice on how to avoid lost luggage, check out RTM's Airline Rules Section.
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