- Succinct advice based on years of experience
- Helpful tips for ensuring your luggage stays with you
- Good strategies for recovering lost luggage or collecting a claim
- Short on pages (80) and large on font size; could qualify as a long article rather than a book
- Book assumes you'll check your luggage rather than striving for one-bag carry-on travel
- Millkot Publishing & Marketing, Longwood, Fla.
- Publication date 2007
- 80 pages
If you've done even a small amount of airline travel, chances are you've arrived in a destination to discover your luggage is elsewhere. Most of the time, the bags are found fairly quickly.
But if you are outbound and left without extra clothing and incidentials, you'll be spending money on things that you shouldn't have to buy. On international flights, it can take days to reunite bag and traveler.
Scott T. Mueller knows about these frustrations. He spent 20 years in the airline industry, including tenure as system manager for baggages services at a major carrier. He's seen about every lost baggage situation imaginable.
In this very short book, he covers prevention and recovery strategies, including identification steps at check-in, proper packing, damage, thievery, security and claims once your luggage is gone.
Some of his suggestions will seem rather basic for the experienced traveler. For example, he recommends you pack nothing that can't be replaced or could be essential on arrival (diamond rings, prescription drugs, sales presentation, etc.).
Mueller also covers the security considerations that have developed since the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Did you know that many budget-strapped airports no longer can afford security people to ensure claim tickets match what's on the bags leaving the carousel? He also says many security cameras around carousels are frequently turned off unless an active case is being worked.
Budget travelers should take these tips under consideration as they attempt to minimize the risk of losing luggage. It is even better--if possible--to take a small carry-on bag and bypass the claim area altogether. This is a sound strategy on which Mueller does not focus.
Remember too that overweight luggage will also cost you time and money. But if you must bring a lot of things and check them, this book is an excellent resource.
