Since it is getting to the holiday travel season I will pass on a bit of advice that I read on the Unclaimed Baggage website. When you travel most of us have our identification on the outside of our bags - but what happens if that tag rips off? Will anyone know that this is your bag? How will someone get it to you? One of the best things to do is to make a copy of your itinerary and include it INSIDE your bag. Make certain that you have a phone number where you can be reached on there as well. That way if your bag is "misplaced" it can be opened and not only will someone know who the bag belongs to BUT will also know WHERE that individual can be reached.

If anyone is unfamiliar with Unclaimed Baggage - that is where your lost luggage goes IF the airlines/rail lines/bus lines cannot find you. They sell the luggage, contents and all, to Unclaimed Baggage and they in turn clean all the clothes (except under garments and socks which I believe they discard) and sell EVERYTHING! I have purchased two very nice Skagen watches, name brand clothing, scuba gear, CD's, and other things at their store. They have uncovered some "intriguing" items...a 40.95 carat natural emerald, an authentic replica of a 19th century suit of armor, Hoggle from the movie Labryinth, a 5.8 carat diamond ring, and many other treasures.

Anywho - I thought I would pass that along bit of sage travel advice. Travel safe this season.

Oh, no! Not the "Island of Lost Luggage"!! LOL. You are so right, Mara...ID inside the luggage with itinerary (where to deliver, etc.) and contact numbers is the way to go. We even go so far as to place the information into a zip lock baggie to seal it.....just in case....one never knows if someone might need to determine who was on a plane, etc.

But, for "good thoughts" and hopes of being reunited with your luggage having information inside is the way to go.

Great tip! Carole

Excellent tip Mara. I finished packaging my daughter's Christmas gifts last night, and included a separate 'TO' label inside the box before sealing, but have never thought to do this with my luggage. In both cases we're trusting someone else to get our stuff to where we want it to go - so why not! Thanks!

(And I hope it's never needed, but after having just reading Greg's report, it sounds like it's good insurance!)

And I also never knew about the unclaimed baggage web site. I'll have to check it out!

Mara
Boy the stuff I forget - who's getting old? Not me.

I followed your suggestion for many years but gave up the practice. I started it at the suggestion of a friends mother, Marie, who worked at now defunct Pan Am. Her full time job was dealing with luggage and she once brought me to her place of work, a massive warehouse near JFK in NY that was chock-full of bags that had little chance of being reunited with their owners because they had absolutely no identification.
Marie suggested that the information be clearly written on a large piece of paper and that it be placed so that it will be the first thing seen by anyone who opened the bag,
I will be traveling to Bonaire for a first visit in less then 2 weeks - yahoo! I will be travelling on 3 planes with 2 carriers and greatly appreciate the reminder.
Thanks

Mara,
Our luggage was lost for a year and a day. Louie from Air Aruba found my address label. Read about it here in the archives.

Mare

I laminate our name, address and itinerary info and put 2 in each bag 1 inside in the mesh thing on the lid and the other on the very bottom.
I know it's retentive but I have waited for lost luggage before. Never a year and a day....wow

Wally? You, retentive?? Ppppsha!!!

I too include contact info on the inside of my bags (both checked and carry-on) as well as on the outside, although the outside is on a folded card that can not be read by the casual observer. I also never use my home address or home phone number, although I do use my last name (but not first name) and office address and a co-worker's phone number or the address and phone number of a nearby relative. Why advertise that you are away from home and tell anyone who might look that you won't be home until such-and-such a date! I also include my itinerary with both airline/flight info and hotel name(s) and phone Number(s).