When traveling by plane, you have to go through many stressful moments before you can leave the arrival airport with a clear head. These include the various checkpoints, where you're likely to go through the metal detector several times. Or waiting patiently for your hold luggage on the conveyor belt. Your bag doesn't show up and you don't know what to do?
How does airline baggage work?
When it comes to transporting your belongings by plane, everything has been optimized: as a general rule, you are allowed to travel with one cabin" suitcase and a hand luggage with you, while larger baggage items (up to 20 kg) are carried in the hold. In the interests of space, each passenger is limited to one piece of hold baggage, unless you pay a supplement for each piece added. You drop them off at the airline counter, and a team of baggage handlers transports them along with all your other baggage to the airport tarmac. Your baggage is always checked in according to your ticket, and the plane doesn't leave until you're on board. In fact, to avoid any risk of attack, planes may be delayed if the passenger corresponding to the baggage does not show up. If necessary, a bomb disposal team is called in.
How can luggage be missing?
There are several reasons why your luggage gets lost. The first is short turnaround times between two aircraft if you have a correspondence. It's best to choose routes that are operated by the same airline and have more than one hour of connecting time. If your luggage may be missing, it's also because it can get damaged. Bags with straps, handles or shoulder straps can get caught on conveyor belts and deteriorate.
Likewise, the label is important: if it tears or is illegible, your luggage will automatically be put aside and could get lost. Make sure your baggage is impeccable, both in terms of labelling and appearance. Check the list of items not allowed in the hold, and wrap your bag in the protective covers available at airports to prevent damage.
What should I do if my luggage is missing?
Most of the time, it's just delayed baggage in the hold of a later flight. You can locate your baggage with the baggage tracing system World Tracerused in many airports. By entering the code mentioned on your receipt when you dropped off your baggage, you'll immediately feel reassured that it hasn't been lost.
If your bag doesn't appear on the conveyor belt, even before checking World Tracer, go to the airport baggage department, which will give you a baggage irregularity ticket (or PIR) to keep. If your baggage is lost, you can claim compensation from your airline. Send the PIR voucher, along with the baggage tag given to you at check-in, all tickets for items purchased to compensate for the loss of your baggage and a letter listing what was inside.
Some travellers are also starting to take advantage of new technologies: the Apple Airtags are flourishing in luggage, enabling owners to track their journeys all over the world, as long as the luggage is close to someone who can relay the signal.
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