Unlike the others, I've had delayed bags on international flights 4 times: once to BKK, once to London, and twice on a recent trip to Iceland -- lost both ways, but both due to domestic Delta rather than the international part. Oddly, it was always the same bag, which I only used on international flights, and won't again.

Anyway, even with this experience, generally you will be ok with checked bags. If they get delayed, they'll usually catch up in a day or 2, and that is the key. Carry-on a change or two of versatile clothes, small amounts of necessary liquids, and relax and have fun.

Of course, I will never check bags myself on an international flight again.

Not just small, but anything valuable. Never ever check laptop, camera, jewelry etc. If I don't need the cables for my electronics I will stick them in the checked bag.

Never ever put your home address in or outside your bag. It is the first thing bag handlers look at and then they try to figure out if your house is empty while you're away. You could come back to an empty house.

If you need to put an address down then leave your office address or your destination hotel address.

Locking your bag does not matter. If they want to get in it they will. A soft bag can be cut open. A hard case bag with non TSA locks will have it's locks broken. Customs have the right to open your bags even without you being present should they suspect anything. They can not be held responsible for broken locks. TSA locks are not widely in practice in Europe.

And on your laptop, keep scanned copies of passport, ID etc incase the originals are lost/stolen at your destination.

Enjoy the trip.

That's why I wrote "name and phone number", not address. Probably should have written "name and phone number of a cell phone that you will have on the trip".

The reason for the odd colored zip ties or TSA locks with indicators is not to secure the bag (since baggage locks provide no real security), but to make the fact that it has been opened by someone else more obviously visible when you pick it up. That way, you can check to see if anything is missing or added before you leave the baggage claim area.

You and I both know the above but a "chacked in bag newbie" may not. My post was not a stab at you but just to add more detail to your very sound advice.

:-)

Thanks guys! And Emma, even though tlj said it, yea, I probably would have mistakenly put my address there if you didn't detail it again...so thanks for reiterating!

I think, just to be safe, I am going to sew on the outside of my bag a white piece of fabric with my name and cell number embroidered on it. It will be indentifiable and won't be easy to fall or rip off. It's an idea! =)

Flyertalk Luggage Tags stand out on the belt, bright yellow and relatively uncommon and all.

I've got one on my carry on, but, how very, very sad FT tags are "relatively uncommon".

The OP is going nonstop to BUD, and I assume maybe returning the same way. On other carriers, you may encounter different rules outbound and return. For example, I take NW to AMS and catch a KLM Cityhopper with my carry on. Returning, when I go to check in at TXL for the local KLM back to AMS, they tell me my carryon is too big and I must check it. Which means I do not see it again(hopefully) until I get to customs back in the US. Euro airports and airlines have tighter size and number limits for carryon than the "carry on everything" attitude in the US. FRA has a sizer in front of the security entrance that most US sized carryons will not fit through. The 9 to 10 inch limits for depth allowed by US airlines WILL NOT fit. I think LH has a 8 inch limit--there are almost no rolling carry on bags sold in the US that are only 8 inches deep.

If you only carry one bag and hope to carry it a whole trip, just in case carry a folding tote or small backpack inside prepacked with your valuables, laptop, camera, medicine, things you need in cabin (NC headphones, inflating neck brace, etc.) so you can easily separate them from your clothes, without having to repack your bag on the floor of the check in lane, and without forgetting anything.

Even with only a carry on outbound, I carry a folding bag to use as my carry on for the return. You always return with more stuff (souvenirs, bottles of wine and beer, gifts) than you left with. Since you cannot carryon liquids anymore, I pack the liquids, gifts and goodies in my carry on for protection and check it. If it gets lost, the biggest loss is not the contents but the Eagle Creek bag itself.

Enjoy Europe.

Interesting points! THanks~