RICforme

So landed yesterday on the NRT-JFK flight and waiting for checked bag to get through customs. An HOUR later, handful of us still waiting on bags and I see a bag close to mine but still not claimed. My first thought was...surely someone didn't take the wrong bag...but yes it happened! Same black tumi suitcase, same dented DM tag on top, with the glaring exception of their tag said JFK final and mine said RIC final...guess it's time to buy the pink and green polka dot suitcase so no one mistakes my bag again!!! I'm probably more surprised that a fellow DM committed this amateur error, hope to see my bag later today!!!!

Often1

Elite is marketing hype. It doesn't mean "elite." There are actually people who don't fall for the marketing hype of FFP's who aren't as stupid as the guy who stole your bag.

HDQDD

"Bag switch on delivery" happens rarely but it's quite difficult to sort out, because you're dependent on the pax who picked up the wrong bag to return it.

The best thing you can do (besides just not checking) is A) Have an easily identifiable bag, and B) Get to the belt early, and watch others as they pick up bags. I've witnessed someone who thought my bag was theirs a few times.

DL-Don

Not exactly. The unclaimed bag that looks just like the OP's is at least a starting point for Delta to contact the owner and see if they claimed the wrong bag.

MSPeconomist

One woulld think that especially for arriving international passengers, people would be more careful. Who wants to take a stranger's bag through customs? Good luck saying that it was a mistake if the wrong bag contains drugs or something similar.

davetravels

Or, perhaps, simply, one or more of these:

Crazyhotelguy

I like these

FlyingWithers

I have traveled the world for decades and do not check anything for the reason you just noted.

I have a Tumi computer bag that fits on top of my Tumi 22 incher for above the seats.

My wife does the same. Our philosophy is that our stuff is easily cleaned or washing out or we can purchase anything we need when we arrive.

Best of luck.

sdadept

I picked up the wrong bag and took it home exactly once 20 years ago flying into FSM. The whole thing scared me to the point where even today if i'm %100 certain its my bag, I still find my name on the delta bag tag to verify it is.

us2

The other bag should have had the name and PNR of the other passenger. Let DL track them down.

As for differentiating your bag, I've found leaving the tops of a bunch of old pink tags does a pretty good job in making my standard black 22" Tumi that looks like so many others stand out.

RICforme

Thanks for the great tips, I'll definitely grab some unique bag identifiers for next flight! Good news looks like my bag is on the inbound JFK-RIC flight this afternoon! Now as long as my Cuban cigars were not taken, I'll be a happy camper. Sadly I doubt the 2,500 mile gift for bag delay will work here!!

chunky649

I put a colored luggage strap around my plain black suitcase. It makes identification/sighting easier, ease the load on the zippers (I usually load my cases to the max), and help deter casual thief.

Keep in mind that most people don't fly much, so after a 5-11 hour flight, it is easy for someone to get confused and pick up the wrong suitcase.

I am always fearful of luggage thief, and other people making mistake. When I do have to check luggage, I try to get to the luggage belt as soon as possible and position myself to see the bags come off the chute.

carnivaltime

[QUOTE=RICforme;25414346]So landed yesterday on the NRT-JFK flight and waiting for checked bag to get through customs. An HOUR later, handful of us still waiting on bags and I see a bag close to mine but still not claimed. My first thought was...surely someone didn't take the wrong bag...but yes it happened! Same black tumi suitcase, same dented DM tag on top, with the glaring exception of their tag said JFK final and mine said RIC final...guess it's time to buy the pink and green polka dot suitcase so no one mistakes my bag again!!! I'm probably more surprised that a fellow DM committed this amateur error, hope to see my bag later today!!!![/QUOTE

I traveled a lot in the last 9 months and was amazed at the number of passengers grabbing other people's luggage only to find out it doesnt belong to them. I would often shake my head thinking "cant you put something on your luggage to identify that it yours" then again I have lime green covers that I have put on my luggage handle(bought at marshall) and a couple of times I have seen fellow passengers aiming to pick it up. My sister recently bought bright blue luggage and usually its the only suitcase of that color on the carousel.

DeepUnderground

I use this one on all my luggage. Made of metal.

catmndu

I use this one and it's only $2 per pair. At least I have a place to complain if someone takes my bag

http://www.flyertalk.com/store/