I recently interviewed my traveling buddy who has a sad travel story to tell but has learned from this experience and shares her tips with us.

Q. Thanks for sharing your lost luggage story with us. You are an experienced traveler. What happened when you reached Italy?

A. I went to the luggage carousel as usual. I was on one side of the beltway, watching the luggage come down the ramp and onto the belt. A blue suitcase that looked like mine came down the ramp, but as I walked around the belt to get it, I saw a young man pick it up and walk away with it. I didn’t react quickly enough and by the time I got around the belt to go after him, he was gone.

Q. How terrible for you. What did you do next?

A. I stood there with a deer-in-the-headlights look and finally tried to follow him, but he had left the luggage area and the doors to the arrivals hall are one-way so I didn’t catch up to him. We waited until all the luggage had been delivered and then went to the Lost and Found desk to start the paperwork for a lost luggage search.

Q. After the Lost and Found Department filed the lost luggage report, what was their advice to you?

A. The airport personnel assured me that the bag would probably be found within 72 hours and they would deliver it to me when it was found. I tried to tell them I thought someone had taken it, but they said that people take the wrong bags all the time and are usually brought back.

Q. Why didn’t you think this was a mistake that someone had just gotten the wrong bag?

A. Well, no similar suitcase was left unclaimed after all the luggage from our flight had been delivered, as would have been the case if someone had just picked up a similar bag.
I have concluded that my bag was a goner.

Q. How did you deal with this extremely distressing situation?
A. First of all, I realized that I did have a clean shirt and socks and underwear in my carry-on bag, I was wearing my good walking shoes and did have some toiletries as well. I knew I could survive a couple of days if I had to. Secondly, I looked up my travel insurance policy and found I would be covered for baggage delay and personal effects. I decided pretty quickly that I was not going to let this incident ruin my trip.
Q. What was the airport’s advice to you after they filed the lost luggage claim for you?

A. They said to keep checking their Bag Tracer site, to keep receipts for any purchases I made to replace what had been lost. I’ve also been fortunate that our tour director has made valiant efforts to get the airport personnel on the search.

Q. What did you end up buying?

A. I ended up getting a couple of shirts, pants, socks and underwear, beauty supplies, a windbreaker, and a lightweight duffel to hold everything. I decided not to get a new suitcase right away. Luckily I had a free afternoon in a large city early in my trip to get what I needed and I’m a bit of a minimalist anyway, so I was happy with what I got.

Q. As of this writing, (the 4th day) your suitcase is still missing. How has this experience changed the way you might approach packing for your next trip?

A. Everyone says don’t pack valuables in your checked luggage. I’ve learned that “valuable” is a subjective term. Nothing in my suitcase was of great monetary value, but I did lose a favorite jacket that I had gotten in England last year. And I have a hard time finding comfortable shoes, so I lost a pair that would have seen a lot of use on this trip. I could have easily carried those things in my carry-on tote bag. I will not put anything in checked luggage that I would really regret losing. And if an item is important to the success of a trip, like hiking boots, I won’t put them in a checked bag again.
Q. A lot of people say just to never check luggage. Do you think you will carry on exclusively from now on?

A. Sometimes it’s necessary to check luggage, but I have been thinking about this issue. The rest of this trip will give me the opportunity to test whether I can do a 2 week trip with only carry-on luggage.
Q. Do you have any other advice?

A. Here are my Top 5 Lessons Learned:

  • 5. Like I said earlier, don’t check anything that is essential to the success of your trip that won’t be easily replaceable at your destination.
  • 4.Don’t check important papers and meds.
  • 3.Take a photo of your belongings before you pack them.
  • 2. Buy Trip Insurance and know how to file a claim.
  • 1. Don’t let lost luggage ruin your trip. It’s just stuff.

Q. Great advice! Thanks for sharing your story today. I hope you do get your luggage returned to you!

A. I hope so too, but my trip will be fine, no matter what! I will be more thoughtful when packing for future trips, that’s for sure!