Critical items: medicine, keys, passport, tour

Critical items: medicine, keys, passport, tour
vouchers, business papers.

Irreplaceable items: manuscript, heirlooms.

Fragile items: eyeglasses, glass containers,
liquids.

Things like this should be carried on your person or
packed in a carry-on bag that will fit under the seat.
Remember, the only way to be sure your valuables
are not damaged or lost is to keep them with you.
Even if your bag is not lost, it could be
delayed for a day or two. Don't put perishables in a
checked bag; they may spoil if it is delayed. It is
wise to put items that you will need during the first
24 hours in a carry-on bag (e.g. toiletries, a change
of underwear).
Check with the airline for its limits on the
size, weight, or number of carry-on pieces. (There is
no single federal standard.) If you are using more
than one airline, check on all of them. Inquire about
your flight; different airplanes can have different
limits. Don't assume that the flight will have
unlimited closet space for carry-on garment bags;
some may have to be checked. If you plan to go
shopping at your destination and bring your
purchases aboard as carry-on, keep the limits in
mind. If you check these purchases, however, carry
the receipts separately; they may be necessary for a
claim if the merchandise is lost or damaged. Don't
put anything into a carry-on bag that could be
considered a weapon (e.g. scissors, pen knife).

Bring toiletries and a change of underwear in a carry-
on bag, in case your checked luggage is delayed.

Checked baggage is also subject to limits.
On most domestic and international flights, it's two
checked bags (three if you don't have any carry-on
luggage). There can be an extra charge if you bring
more, or if you exceed the airline's limits on the size
of the bags.
On some flights between two foreign cities,
your allowance may be based on the weight of the
bags rather than the number of pieces. The same two
bags that cost you nothing to check when you
started your trip could result in expensive excess-
baggage charges under a weight system. Ask the
airlines about the limit for every segment of your
international trip before you leave home, especially
if you have a stopover of a day or two or if you are
changing carriers.
The bags you check should be labeledù
inside and outùwith your name, address and phone
number. Add the name and address of a person to
contact at your destination if it's practical to do so.
Almost all of the bags that are misplaced by airlines
do turn up sooner or later. With proper labeling, the
bag and its owner can usually be reunited within a
few hours.
Don't overpack a bag. This puts pressure
on the latches, making it easier for them to pop
open. Also, lock your bags. The locks aren't very
effective against pilferage, but they help to keep the
latches from springing.
If you plan to check any electrical
equipment, glassware, small appliances, pottery,
typewriters, musical instruments or other fragile
items, they should be packed in a container
specifically designed to survive rough handling*
preferably a factory-sealed carton or a padded hard-
shell carrying case.

Check-in

Don't check in at the last minute. Even if you make
the flight, your bag may not. If you miss the airline's
check-in deadline, the carrier might not assume
liability for your bag if it is delayed or lost.
If you have a choice, select flights that
minimize the potential for baggage disruption. The
likelihood of a bag going astray increases from #1 to
#4 below (i.e., #1 is safest):

1) nonstop flight
2) direct or æthrough' flight (one or more
stops, but no change of aircraft)
3) online connection (change of aircraft but
not airlines)
4) interline connection (change of aircraft and
airlines)
When you check in, remove straps and
hooks from garment bags that you are sending as
checked baggage. These can get caught in baggage
processing machinery, causing damage to the bag.
The airline will put baggage destination
tags on your luggage and give you the stubs to use
as claim checks. Make sure you get a stub for every
bag. Don't throw them away until after you get your
bags back and you check the contents. Not only will
you need them if a claim is necessary, but you may
need to show them to security upon leaving the
baggage-claim area.
Each tag has a three-letter code and flight
number that show the baggage sorters on which
plane and to which airport your luggage is supposed
to go. Double-check the tag before your bags go
down the conveyor belt. (The airline will be glad to
tell you the code for your destination when you
make reservations or buy your tickets.) Your bags
may only be checked to one of your intermediate
stops rather than your destination city if you must
clear Customs short of your final destination, or if
you are taking a connection involving two airlines
that don't have an interline agreement. Be sure all of
the tags from previous trips are removed from your
bag, since they may confuse busy baggage handlers.

Claiming your bags

Many bags look alike. After you pull what you think
is your bag off the carousel, check the name tag or
the bag tag number.

Remove straps and hooks from garment bags; they can
get caught in the machinery.

If your bag arrives open, unlocked or
visibly damaged, check right away to see if any of
the contents are missing or damaged. Report any
problems to the airline before leaving the airport;
insist on filling out a form. Open your suitcase
immediately when you get to where you are staying.
Any damage to the contents or any pilferage should
be immediately reported to the airline by telephone.
Make a note of the date and time of the call, and the
name and telephone number of the person you spoke
with. Follow up immediately with a certified letter
to the airline.

Damage

If your suitcase arrives smashed or torn, the airline
will usually pay for repairs. If it can't be fixed, they
will negotiate a settlement to pay you its depreciated
value. The same holds true for belongings packed
inside.
Airlines may decline to pay for damage
caused by the fragile nature of the broken item or
inadequate packing, rather than the airline's rough
handling. Carriers may also refuse to give you
money for your damaged items inside the bag when
there's no evidence of external damage to the
suitcase. But airlines generally don't disclaim
liability for fragile merchandise packed in its
original factory sealed carton, a cardboard mailing
tube, or other container designed for shipping and
packed with protective padding material.
When you check in, airline personnel
should let you know if they think your suitcase or
package may not survive the trip intact. Before
accepting a questionable item, they will ask you to
sign a statement in which you agree to check it at
your own risk. But even if you do sign this form, the
airline might be liable for damage if it is caused by
its own negligence shown by external injury to the
suitcase or package.

Delayed bags

If you and your suitcase don't connect at your
destination, don't panic. The airlines have very
sophisticated systems that track down about 98% of
the bags they misplace and return them to their
owners within hours. In many cases they will absorb
reasonable expenses you incur while they look for
your missing belongings. You and the airline may
have different ideas of what's reasonable, however,
and the amount they will pay is subject to
negotiation.

If your delayed bag is declared lost, you will have to
fill out a second form.

If your bags don't come off the conveyor
belt, report this to the airline before you leave the
airport. Insist that they fill out a form and give you a
copy, even if they say the bag will be in on the next
flight. If the form doesn't contain the name of the
person who filled it out, ask for it. Get an
appropriate phone number for following up (not the
Reservations number). Don't assume that the airline
will deliver the bag without charge when it is found;
ask them about this.
Most carriers set guidelines for their airport
employees that allow them to disburse some money
at the airport for emergency purchases. The amount
depends on whether or not you're away from home
and how long it takes to track down your bags and
return them to you.
If the airline does not provide you a cash
advance, it may still reimburse you later for the
purchase of necessities. Discuss with the carrier the
types of articles that would be reimbursable, and
keep all receipts.
If the airline misplaces sporting equipment,
it will sometimes pay for the rental of replacements.
For replacement clothing or other articles, the carrier
might offer to absorb only a portion of the purchase
cost, on the basis that you will be able to use the
new items in the future. (The airline may agree to a
higher reimbursement if you turn the articles over to
them.)
When you've checked in fresh foods or any
other perishable goods and they are ruined because
their delivery is delayed, the airline won't reimburse
you. Carriers may be liable if they lose or damage
perishable items, but they won't accept
responsibility for spoilage caused by a delay in
delivery.
Airlines are liable for provable
consequential damages up to the amount of their
liability limit (see below) in connection with the
delay. If you can't resolve the claim with the
airline's airport staff, keep a record of the names of
the employees with whom you dealt, and hold on to
all travel documents and receipts for any money you
spent in connection with the mishandling. (It's okay
to surrender your baggage claim tags to the airline
when you fill out a form at the airport, as long as
you get a copy of the form and it notes that you gave
up the tags.) Call or write the airline's consumer
office when you get home.