Has anybody seen my bags?

What you can do if the airline looses your bags. The best thing is to minimize the chances your bag will be lost. Check in early. When you check your luggage check and make sure you have the correct number of claim checks and they list the correct destination. Always leave plenty of time for connecting flights, preferably a minimum of 2 hours. The more time the better.

If the airline looses your bags there are a few things you can do help you get them back. Hopefully you placed a copy of your itinerary and your contact information on the top of our clothes. If the airline finds a bag with no tag they will open it. This will let them know who it belongs to and how to get in touch with you.

If your bags are missing report it to the baggage claims office immediately. You need to have an accurate description of your bags and their contents. Don't leave the baggage claim office without the phone number to that office. The 800 number may be in India. You also need the file number and a copy of the report. You also want to get the phone number of the delivery service the airline uses to deliver the bags when they are found. Call the delivery service and establish a relationship. You want them to deliver your bag early, not at the end of the day.

The best way to prevent lost bags is to ship them using FedEx or another delivery service if you are flying domestic. Customs delays and requirements make overseas shipments impractical.