HOW TO AVOID LOSING YOUR SUITCASE

How is it to lose your suitcase?

See how well a trip can begin: You prepare your stuff the night before, you pack all your goodies, you zip up your suitcase, you place your lock and your tag, you check-in electronically so that you’re ready, you wake up early, full of zest for your trip to Budapest (that you have been looking forward to), you reach the airport, you check-in your suitcase, you board the plane, you tie your seat-belt, and you take off.

You reach Belgrade, you run to make the connecting flight, you make it, you’re glad, and you become even more eager to land to Budapest.

And eventually you do land, and what joy, what longing! You see the light of the conveyor belt blinking, and the siren wailing, and you’re thinking “come on, let’s get it over with. The city awaits!”

No. Wrong thinking. Everything’s wrong.

Disaster! The suitcase never made it to Budapest. After eight years of continuous travel, my turn had come. I, the organized one, the proper, had lost my luggage. Not even my mother would believe me. Unfortunately, this happens when airline companies cater to the traveler, with such responsibility and prudence, but not to their luggage. Things get harder if you arrive late at night. All shops are closed. You get the picture.

Next move: Lost and Found

If I told you it was my first time at that desk, would you believe me? It’s as if things started happening to me in order to share them in this blog. So here I am, then, to describe my horror, but also to offer you some solutions available at night. Because, you see, you may be getting ready for a wonderful night in Paris, or a walk in London, but your suitcase may have different plans – it may be traveling to Japan.

I have two lists for you. The first is a list of precautions and the second a list of solutions.

First List: Better safe than sorry

I take it for granted that you have a locket and a tag with your name. Granted.
Don’t put valuables, like jewelry or official documents, in your suitcase.
Tie a ribbon or put a sticker on your suitcase - anything that will make the description of your suitcase easier at the Lost and Found.
Carry in your handbag whatever you think you might need during the first night, especially if you are on a night flight. If you are a woman, think this over twice.
Never throw away the barcode sticker they give you when you check in, and which corresponds to your luggage. You might never be able to retrieve your luggage without it.

Second List: Deal with the disaster

At the Lost and Found desk, give your contact details carefully, including the address of your residence during your trip, and leave a detailed description of your suitcase.
If your suitcase arrives the next day, they will most probably send it to you with some private handling company. However, because this might take long, get on a train, grab a taxi, grab a boat and get to the airport to collect it yourself. Your trip cannot begin unless you do.
Keep the contact details of the Lost and Found, find the contact numbers of the airline company at your travel destination, and ask the hotel staff to assist you, if need be.
Don’t forget your rights, and remember that some times only pressure can set processes in motion.
If you need to stay overnight without your suitcase, and you don’t have back up toiletries (same way I didn’t), search for 24-hour shops in the city.

As you can imagine, I experienced a complete disaster. I was forced to do everything on the second list, and collected my suitcase the following day. What did I lose? My good mood for many hours. What did I gain? A face allergy caused by some demake-up wipes I bought in Budapest. I’ll be fair, though. They are all they had, and they did end up comforting me somehow.

Every trip may include something unexpected.

Pieces of luggage often go missing, or are delayed. If that happens to you, I couldn't ask you not to lose your calm, because you will lose it, one way or another. I would simply ask you not to forget your rights amidst your panic, and since unavoidably you will lose your good mood, I hope you are in good company – because good company can save the moment and bring your good mood back. Take your time to sulk, mourn for your lost luggage, or stay up all night waiting for it, but don’t forget that even that is an experience – and a trip can offer you many. We’ve said that before.

In Budapest I had a great time and you can check my 10 things to do in Budapest article here. If you don't know where to stay, again I am here to help; check my Buda or Pest article here.

Have you ever arrived at your destination without your luggage?
Tell me your tale of horror!

Maria Kalymnou

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