Baggage Checking Newbie
 

I've traveled alone twice before for a little over a week on both occasions to Europe with only carry on.

This time I will be there for 3 weeks, and I don't think I'd manage to stuff enough in my carry on nor does the airline I am taking allow personal items (laptop, purse...) along with the c-on bag onboard.
I'm going on a small (183 passengers), yet full nonstop flight from JFK to BUD and I want to check my bag (1st time ever!) with my clothes.
I'm really uncomfortable with airports anyway, and checking is new to me. However, I love the idea of not fighting for overhead space and being a 5'2 weakling, lugging a 18-20 lb. bag and shoving it high up in the bin, with or without assistance, always makes me anxious.

Basically, I just want to know how likely is it that checked bags on an international nonstop flight are lost or delayed?
If so, what would cause a checked bag to be lost or delayed on a direct flight?

Any other checked baggage advice in general would be loved also.

Checking seems convenient to me [!!!!], however I don't want to purchase a new wardrobe in Europe if it mysteriously disappears.

I know people hate checking luggage, but unless I'm on a short non stop trip, I always do it. I absolutely can't stand wrestling with luggage and having to pare down my makeup and clothes would not work for me. I've only ever had luggage lost one time in my life.

I think it's really nice to be able to walk through the airports with nothing but a small bag.

If you are not transferring, your bags should make it (bags most likely get lost when transferring). That said, airlines can lose bags on non-stop trips so nothing's ever guaranteed.

You can help yourself with the usual contact info on your bags inside and outside, and make sure the luggage tags the check-in agent prints say BUD on it prominently.

FWIW, my partner and I flew YVR-YYZ-MXP earlier this year on a 4 week trip with only carry-on.

The only time I've ever had a bag delayed was when I barely missed a connection on US PHL-LGW and was rerouted on BA to LHR that left within twenty minutes of the US flight (so I didn't expect the bag to make it).

In contrast to what you see on the news, lost bags aren't a big problem (unlike poor reporting). Pack what you need for one day (medicine, toiletries, a change of clothes that is appropriate for the weather or what you'll be doing where you're going) and don't worry about it. It's actually pretty nice to move through the airport unencumbered.

1. Do not put any small valuables (e.g. electronics, cameras, etc.) in checked baggage.

2. Put your name and phone number on an outside tag and inside the checked baggage. If you can make the baggage visually distinctive, that is even better (there are so many similar looking black suitcases around).

3. Close the baggage with something that will indicate if it has been opened (e.g. distinctive colored zip ties, or the TSA locks with the indicator that shows whether a TSA key has opened it). If it shows signs of being opened (zip ties missing, lock missing, TSA lock with indicator showing that it has been opened) when you pick it up, check immediately (before going to customs) to see if anything is missing (or contraband has been added).

4. Keep the following with you (not in your checked baggage): important papers (flight and hotel documentation, passport, etc.), currency, credit cards, and ATM / debit cards, cell phone, medicine and prescriptions, clothes for the first day or few at your destination, small valuables.

All of the above are good recommendations, but I never remember to do 1 through 3.

What I am pretty fanatical about is that I ALWAYS check to make sure that they put the right destination tag on the bag.

It's a pity you're not flying BA via LHR...

And don't forget, if you're connecting anywhere in Europe you will need to check it anyway as security regulations mean you can only have one piece of carry on anyway.

I check it
 

I actually check my luggage on all international flights non-stop or not because it can be quite a walk to and from customs, the security where you cannot carry a lot of liquids in your carry-on bags etc. Even on a 45 minute or a 10 hour layover at an airport checking the bag in is the best way to go. Running with a bag through an airport to make your next flight is no fun. It just slows you down. And if the bag is lost it's the airlines responsibility . Think about bringing your suitcase into a bathroom stall or to a restaurant. You need to keep track of your bags at all times.

Now even on US flights i check my bags in because I can go to the curbside checkin and go to the gate. You could have a longer time at security because your bag is large and you might get secondary screening.

I've certainly done YVR-HKG and back with carry-on only.

I've done it so many times with seldom problems.

Thanks guys! I'm really considering checking my clothes now.These suggestions about protecting my items and making my bag distinct are very helpful

I guess my biggest concern was stolen bags (whether by mix up or purposely) because the fact that security usually doesn't compare your bag ticket with the item leaves it to occur.

That really bugs me. I don't want to waste time at Lost & Found but I guess, though it's not impossible, the odds of someone taking my bag of my used, average clothing would really be slim or a desperate person.

Thanks everyone!

One other thing to consider is that some items may be more critical to keep in your carryon on your outbound trip than on your return home. Losing a suitcase of clothes at the beginning of your trip away from home is much more disruptive than losing a suitcase of clothes on the way home (where you probably have other clothes that you can wear).

Only applies to flights from UK airports - which DOES include connecting flights.

All good points above. Just a couple of other common sense things...

When you check your bag, visually verify that the correct destination airport is listed on the tag the ticket agent affixes to it. Also when waiting at the carousel try and position yourself so you can see the bags actually make it onto the conveyor. That way you can be assured that someone else doesn't confuse your bag for theirs.