Luggage

Who knew there would be so much to talk about around luggage! Here's just a few tips...

Photograph your luggage ~ always take a photograph of your luggage before it disappears into the abyss of airport check-in. If your luggage is lost or delayed you will be asked for a detailed description and a photograph of it can be really helpful .

Unique luggage feature ~ if you can either buy a coloured or patterned luggage piece that stands out from the crowd but, if like most of us, your luggage is dark coloured then flex your imagination to give it that quirky, noticeable difference. It may be as simple as a ribbon around the handle or case, or a brightly coloured strap but these can come off or be removed. Spray painting a white or luminous shape/design onto your black/dark luggage would work! Luggage doesn't have to look nice and neat and smart - it has a job to do, and being seen & identified is one of them!

Name & Contact Details on Luggage ~ It's no longer advised to have your address on your luggage, not even the address of the place you are due to stay at. If your luggage was delayed or lost for longer than your planned stay, having the hotel address on there isn't going to help anyway.

All you need to have visible is your full name, email address and phone number (International code included).

For this I buy a small amount of stickers from my local sign writer. I make them just big enough to be seen and easily read. If your luggage is dark then go for stickers with black print on a white background. Make sure they are made with a vinyl coating and the sign writer knows they need to stick onto luggage. I place them on the top, on both sides, at the bottom, and inside too.

If they get damaged or fall off (highly unlikely that will happen to all of them in one trip) then simply replace with your spares.

Buying new luggage ~ this is personal taste of course but some advice I received from a long time luggage suppler was, if buying the hard shell type then polypropylene is the prefered option rather than polycarbonate or ABS. And buy bright and bold if you can!

Lost/Delayed luggage ~ If this happens for you then go straight to the Lost Luggage office and make sure they file a report and give you a copy, you'll need this report. Also be sure to keep your boarding pass (of the flight the luggage disappeared from), your baggage tag receipt that is often, but not always, placed on the back of a boarding pass. And when your luggage is returned to you keep the luggage tag from the luggage too! Keep receipts for everything you had to buy due to having no luggage. Some airlines ask for all this when you make a claim.

Luggage sizes ~ be aware that not all airlines accept the same size carryon bags. Some European airlines are very different to the sizes we are permitted here in NZ. Check on your airlines website before packing, it could save you an eyewatering extra cost of having to check it in at the gate!