You’re all set on having the best trip of your life. And you can’t wait to get out of the airport and embark on your adventure. You can’t help but to imagine of all the places you’re going to visit, all the food that you’re going to savour once you step in the city, all the multiracial and varied cultures and so much more. Now, you’re still waiting for your luggage, everyone else already got theirs. But where is yours? It’s okay, maybe it was a wee bit delayed.
Hours passed by and you’re getting anxious. Everyone already left, and you’re the only one still standing at the baggage claims area. Hoping that your luggage will come by but to no avail. Now you know for sure that your bag had gone missing. The worst part is, all of your keys, private informations and secret cash stash are inside! Now what are you going to do? Well, here are what you need to do when your are faced with the misfortune of having your luggage missing in airport:
Follow These Steps
1. Calm Down
First thing first is to regain your composure. It’s easy to lose your focus when your mind is all cloud up in frustration, worries, and even anger. Take a few moment to calm yourself down. There is still a possibility to find your luggage if it’s missing in the airport. It’s not the end of your carefully planned trip yet. Take a deep breathe and relax. Calm mind will help you think rationally and wisely.
Credit: Depositphotos.com
2. Check Your Luggage Tag Number
Next thing is to check your luggage tag number. You can check this on your boarding pass or the sticker that they paste on your boarding pass later when you were checking in your luggage at the counter. Airlines track and pair up all the baggages with their passengers with a unique code numbers. Double check that you have the number written somewhere in your boarding pass and you’re good to go for the next step.
Credit: https://haqiba.qatarairways.com.qa/baggagetracking
3. Report at Baggage Claims
Once you are sure that your tag number is intact, proceed to the Baggage Claims Desk and file a report. The receptionist will ask you about the details of your luggage and also the content of the luggage itself. It will also be handy if you have a picture of your luggage as most luggages found are similar or identical. After you’re done with filing a report, make extra copies for claiming reimbursements.
Credit: http://www.ukpoints.com
4. Follow-Up with the Airlines
Be vigilant in your search for your luggage. Keep up to date with the progress by follow-up with the airline. Your case is likely to be a priority for the baggage claims department, as well as hundreds of other people that have the same fate as you. It is a good practice to keep in check with the staff yourself. Be stern in searching, but don’t be rude to the staffs as they are working all their might for the searches.
5. Track Your Bag
If you’re unable to check up with your airlines, don’t give up just yet. Head on over to your airlines website, and click on Baggage Information section, then Travel Info, and lastly to Mishandled Baggage, in order to track your baggage whereabouts online. Just fill in a few informations such as the file reference number and also the name of the passenger. You can also log on to a global tracing and baggage matching system at www.worldtracer.aero/cgi-bin/filerequest.exe?tran= .
6. Keep the Receipts
After all of the steps is done, all you need to do now is wait for the airlines staff to do their job. In the meantime, it has already been a long journey for you. So, go ahead and take some rest in your hotel and before that, stop by the store to buy necessities such as clothes, toiletries, and whatnot that you will need for the night. Don’t dispose your receipts as you need them to claim with the insurance company.
7. Additional Report
If your waiting comes to no avail until after 30 days, you can also file a report with the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM). As long as your flight is to or from Malaysia, you can file a complaint with MAVCOM regarding the case of luggage missing in airport or got lost while on-flight, damaged bag and so on under the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC) – Part III, Paragraph 13: Air Passenger’s Rights.
Lesson Learned
Tag Your Luggage
Be sure to tag your luggage with your contact informations. It doesn’t have to be a fancy luggage tag, a simple one would do the job too. Put informations such as your name, phone number where they can reach you, and also your address. This is to ensure that if you ever face the predicament of having your luggage missing in airport, someone could still contact you in order to return back your valuable belongings.
Make Some Time
Spare some time to make a list of things that your packed up in your bag. This is to ensure, if it were to be missing, you are able to claim some of your belongings with your travel insurance. Take pictures of your bags too so it’ll be easier to recognise. It sounds tedious, but you will be glad you did it, if the unforeseen were to happen, at least you know what is missing, if you ever get your luggage missing in airport that is, and what you can claim for reimbursement.
Pack Spare Clothing
Everyone packs up their clothes in their luggage, but it is wise to put a spare (or two) in your cabin bag as well. If the case of luggage missing in airport were to happen, you would at least have a change of clothes to freshen up yourself in. It wouldn’t take much space at all. The best of all, you would not be stuck wearing the same clothes all day.
Start Claiming Your Rights
Insurance Company vs Airlines
Did you know that you can claim reimbursements from both your airlines and your insurance company? Generally, you can. If it caused from the airlines negligence, commonly the airlines and also your travel insurance policy would reimburse the passengers when the misfortune of luggage missing in airport happens to you.
Just head on to their respective website or ask help from their representative and agents. Prepare a few documents such as the complete Lost Baggage Report, receipts of purchase during the whole period you lost your baggage, and also flight itinerary with the responsible airline.
Travel Insurance
Now you know exactly what to do if faced with the predicament of having luggage missing in airport. Don’t worry any further as PolicyStreet is offering 8 Travel Plans for Smart Travellers. With our Allianz Travel Care Travel Insurance, get reimbursed up to RM5,000 if your belongings ever goes missing in the airport.
Get our premium package cost starts from RM16 for 1-5 days. You can purchase for yourself or for your family with the entry age starts from 30 days old. Also, get your medical expenses abroad reimburse up to RM300,000. Visit us at PolicyStreet.com for more info.
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