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.

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". :D

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. :td: 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~