Ivana De Domenico Talks About Dealing With Lost Luggage

Vacation is a greatly anticipated form of leisure because it is an escape from the hassles of everyday life. However, one major hassle that can ruin your entire vacation is your luggage being lost. When you are on vacation, your luggage is your entire life; it contains your clothes, toiletries, and other valuables. If it is lost, you are left with only the clothes on your back and the few items you were able to put in a handbag and/or carry-on. In order to avoid your entire vacation being ruined, it is imperative for you to take the appropriate actions to find it or be compensated for it.

Courses of Action to Take to Deal with Lost Luggage
• Track Your Luggage if You Are Able To
Some airlines allows you to track your luggage via their website and/or mobile app. If you do not receive your luggage when you are supposed to, you can easily find out its location. Being cognizant of the location of your bag is extremely helpful because it enables you to know if your luggage is really lost and will make it easier for it to be returned to you.
• Go to Your Airline’s Baggage Office and File a Claim
This is the most critical course of action for you to take when your luggage is lost because it informs the airline that it was lost. It is imperative for you to file a claim right away because many airlines have requirements about the time frame in which you can file a claim. The claim will consist of a description of your luggage, contents inside the luggage, and where it can be delivered one it is found. You may be able to receive up-to-the-minute alerts on the status of your baggage, which will render you peace of mind.
An important tip for filing a claim is to not exaggerate or lie because the airline can deny your claim based on fraud.
•Be Educated on Your Rights
After you have filed a claim, you have the right to be compensated for the airline’s mistake of losing your luggage. It is your right to be compensated by the airline for contents up to $3,000 dollars. It is also your right to be paid a stipend by your airline if your luggage cannot be found after a certain amount of time. It is helpful to have receipts on-hand, but if you do not, you will most likely receive a standard stipend such as $50 dollars each day your luggage cannot be found.

If your luggage is damaged and/or if contents is lost, the airline should compensate you for the damages or lost items. If you lose rented sports equipment, most airlines would cover the rental cost.

If you are not treated with quality customer service and/or not rightfully compensated, file a complaint to have the airline held accountable. You can also contact the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

A Problem that Can Be Solved

Though lost luggage is not the worst misfortune that can happen to you, it is a hassle that no one wants to encounter. In an ideal world, traveling for vacations would be hassle-free. If the misfortune of lost luggage happens to you, stay composed and take the appropriate courses of action.

About The Author:

Ivana De Domenico is a researcher, scientist, and world traveler dedicated to discovering the new and different. Fluent in five languages and having visited every continent except for Antarctica, Ivana likes to immerse herself in the locales she visits, becoming thoroughly acquainted with local culture. She enriches her trips through her passion for photography, and particularly loves sampling all the cuisine she can. Outside of her travels, she has published many scholarly articles with an emphasis on biological sciences. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.