By Kim Bercaw
No matter how many times I hand over my trusty Tumi bags at airline check-in, I never seem to get over that slightly uneasy feeling that sits in the pit of my stomach as I watch them disappear down the conveyor. Off they go, to airport Neverland, and into the hands of baggage-handling strangers. It’s similar to the feeling I get when I drop my kids off at summer camp. In both cases, I take a deep breath, say a short prayer and hope they’re at the designated pick-up location when I arrive to claim them.
The whole baggage handling process is pretty miraculous, really. According to Wikipedia, the odds of a bag being lost en route are less than one percent. But when something does go awry, a trip can turn into a tragedy faster than you can say “airline-issue overnight courtesy bag.” Last year, after being separated from my checked bag in Atlanta, I came dangerously close to wearing a complimentary XXL Delta Airlines logo t-shirt to a dinner party.
The best way to minimize the M.I.A. baggage blues is to always pack the essentials in your carry-on. Obvious choices include toiletries, a change of clothing and any medication you might require. If you’re me, you also bring along a 27-year old pillow known affectionately as “James.” (But that’s another post entirely, suitable for a blog about unnatural childhood attachments.) The point is, carry on anything you consider vital to your happiness should you be without your luggage for a few days.
Lost baggage is by no means limited to portable, densely packed containers of clothing and accessories. According to the London Heathrow Lost Property Office, items recently recovered at their airport include a samurai sword, a prosthetic arm, a coffin, a puffer fish and a stuffed fox. One elderly gentleman even came to the office to turn in a pair of false teeth he had found on the baggage claim conveyor and mistook for his own. Interestingly, it had taken him a few hours to figure out the teeth were someone else’s.
Do you have any lost baggage stories? Share them in the comment section below!
For a few more hilarious tales of lost luggage, read this Daily Herald article.
Ten years ago, we were off to our first cruise on the Radisson line. We flew from MSP to IAH and transferred for an overnight flight to Lima. When we arrived the next morning a few bags came out and then tables were set up to take claims for “delayed luggage.” They obviously had left a good many bags in Houston. When they asked where we were staying we said we’re not. We are leaving on a cruise ship that afternoon so we gave them our itinerary. On board we explained our problem and the concierge was most helpful. We did have a change of underwear but no other clothes. One bag arrived two ports later; it contained most of my wife’s clothes. I was able to wear a few of her plain blouses even though they buttoned funny. The next night was a formal night and the crew got me a tux from the orchestra. The pants didn’t quite close, but the cummerbund covered the gap. Some small luggage locks served as cuff links and we got along fine. Two ports later a second bag arrived; but it had been shipped to the wrong port so it was forwarded to our ship by cab at my expense. When we returned Bob Gaston reimbursed us for that expense. (Need less to say, we still book our travel through Bob.) The last bag, containing my tux and sport coat never did arrive. (Continental finally gave me some “complimentary” coupons. I try not to fly on Continental any more.) But we were determined not to let the baggage “delay’ ruin our trip and it didn’t thanks to the ship’s crew and fellow passengers who offered us replacement gear. (We also continue to cruise on Radisson/Regent.
Creative solutions—especially luggage locks as cuff links! I’m glad it didn’t ruin your trip, and it’s nice to hear that so many people were helpful. I’m sure the cruise staff has many stories of the unique fashion of travelers with lost luggage!