Call call luggage luggage - suitcases, duffels, luggage, carryon, checkthroughs - every traveler bags to carry around. Here are some tips for a happy armed, no matter where the journey leads.
Luggage Set
Too many bags, or too little? More items of luggage you have (and small), the easier it is to lose one or more, though. On the other hand, if all jam in a couple of huge bags that will be impossible to lift, and the loss of a bag could make a bigDent your holiday. Try to find a middle ground.
Carryon luggage. Even if your carryon can agree on the scanner at the security check, can still be felt in the head or under the seat storage areas. Check with your airline before flying to the specific maximum size - some were larger than others in the form of grants. You are generally allowed one carryon bag plus one personal item such as a purse or briefcase and shopping bags do not count toward the deductible. Federal AviationAgency has useful information on this and other related topics at [http://www2.faa.gov/index.cfm/apa/1079]
Stowing strollers. Parents often ask about checking strollers before they fly. Strollers and infant carriers can be taken to the gate, and checked as you board the plane. The item(s) will be waiting for you when you disembark.
Visibility at the carousel. Sometimes it seems that everyone buys their luggage at the same store, and half a dozen people scramble for the same bag when it emerges at baggage claim. Distinctive luggage tags, stripes of colored adhesive tape, and/or colored baggage straps (available at all luggage stores) all help make your bags unmistakable.
Label your luggage inside and out. Every bag should have a luggage tag. The airline will supply a paper tag if you need it. Include some form of identification inside the bag, too, in case you lose the outer tag.
Checked baggage inspection. As we mentioned in a recent article, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) now inspects all checked airline luggage. In many cases, the luggage goes through a scanning device, but at some airports all luggage must be hand-inspected. The TSA asks that you not lock your bags, as the locks will be removed if they have to inspect your luggage by hand. If you just want to hold the zippers closed, even a simple twist-tie will work. To reduce the possibility of casual theft, buy plastic cable ties at the hardware store -- you'll need a stout scissors or clipper to open them, though (round-nosed scissors are now allowed in carryon luggage). To read more, visit the TSA's consumer web site at http://www.tsa.gov
Split your contents between several bags. If you lose a bag, the airline usually returns it to you within 24 hours, but what happens if your cruise ship departs a few hours after you land? Divide your belongings between several bags, so if one bag is lost, everyone still has at least a few items to wear when your ship sails.
Create an inventory. Make a complete list of the contents of each bag and carry the list on your person as you travel. If a bag is lost or items are missing, the list will make a loss claim much easier. To be even safer, leave a copy of the list at home, too.
Rolling; rolling; rolling. How did we travel before the days of wheeled luggage? A new set of wheeled bags may be one of your most savvy investments. Tall people should beware of short wheeled bags with short handles, though -- they can be murder on your back.
Copyright © Jennifer Marx, PassPorter Travel Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Packing for the Perfect Trip: Luggage Tips and Reminders
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