Avoid Losing Luggage: Best And Worst Suitcase Colors
Just over a week since the global outage that led to widespread airline cancellations, some passengers are still searching for their lost luggage, resulting in large piles of unclaimed bags…
Just over a week since the global outage that led to widespread airline cancellations, some passengers are still searching for their lost luggage, resulting in large piles of unclaimed bags at various airports. However, outages aren’t the only reason for missing luggage.
One common travel issue is losing your luggage, which can involve hours of back-and-forth with customer service with no clear timeline for retrieving your bag. While mishaps can happen, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of your luggage going missing. Best Life magazine has some expert tips on how to avoid losing your bag, starting with your suitcase color.
Suitcase Colors to Always Avoid If You Don't Want to Lose It
Many travelers choose dark colors like black, navy, or dark gray for their luggage because they show less dirt and scratches.
The outlet spoke with a person from Ryanair and they suggest making an effort to help your luggage stand out if a darker-colored suitcase is your only option. “If your only option is a suitcase in one of those three colors, the airline suggests attaching a colorful luggage tag or ribbon ‘so that there's no confusion on arrival,’” they said.
If you’re looking for specific suggestions and better visibility, the co-founder of the travel site The Vacationer told the outlet that going for colors like beige or white, or light shades of red, blue, pink, or green is best. They said you'll be able to spot it much more easily and so will an airline if your suitcase ends up getting lost.
From my own experience, I prefer packing light and using only a carry-on to avoid the risk of losing my belongings. Of course, this isn’t always practical.
Some travelers use Apple Air Tags to keep track of their checked luggage. While this doesn’t help if your bag ends up far from home, it can provide some peace of mind.
This did work for a woman in Florida earlier this year. CNN reported that a Florida man was charged with felony grand theft in Broward County after an airline passenger scheduled to fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport tracked her stolen luggage to the man’s home.
If your luggage does go missing and you have travel insurance, you should be eligible for reimbursement. Many airlines also offer compensation for costs related to delayed or lost luggage. In most cases, you would just need to file a claim through the airline.
Take a look at more of their tips here.
