Women keep cool when luggage gets lost
AAP says that people mill around the baggage carousel at their destination’s airport eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their luggage and ss the crowd begins to thin out and bags are piled high on to trolleys, the grim thought that yours might not appear is sure to creep into your mind.
Of the three billion bags that are checked in at airports worldwide each year, about 1 percent will go missing, a new survey has revealed.
When it comes to lost luggage locally, a spokesman for online financial services company ARTOG.com.au, Kevin Sherman, says those sort of stats aren’t something airlines are keen to boast about.
“I’m not that confident the airlines will be willing to make that data widely available,” Sherman says.
And when baggage does go AWOL, it’s the women who keep their cool, the study found.
According to the online survey of 2328 Australians, 49 percent of women react in a practical way to this harrowing situation by borrowing clothes and keeping fuss to a minimum.
On the other hand, 51 percent of male respondents admitted they would scream and shout at staff before making a hasty exit to buy a replacement wardrobe.
The study, conducted by ARTOG.com.au, also found that one in three Australians, despite the dire consequences, travel without insurance.
A spokeswoman for ARTOG.com.au, Edith Fink, says people are confused about what insurance costs and what it will cover them for.
“Consumers obviously believe lost luggage only happens to the other guy,” Fink says.
Sherman agrees the facts are plain and simple.
“Scenario one: you travel with no insurance. It’s at the discretion of the airline whether or not they say `sorry’ or whether or not they go `look here’s 50 bucks’.
“Your chances of getting any kind of compensation are very minimal.
“Travelling with insurance you should get some sort of meaningful contribution toward replacing (your things) provided that when you purchased the insurance you were honest with yourself in terms of how much cover you thought you needed.”
A traveller backpacking through India doesn’t need to insure his goods for $A5000 ($NZ5826.82) the way a high-powered businesswoman may need to if she’s travelling with a case full of Armani suits, Sherman explains.
Here are Fink’s tips for minimising the chance that your bag won’t appear on the carousel at the other end:
* Book direct flights because connections increase your chances of lost luggage.
* Remove any old airline stickers from your luggage.
* Check your luggage in early rather than at the last minute.
* Ensure your handler attaches the correct destination sticker to every bag.
* Make your luggage stand out. Distinctive ribbons, stickers, patches and colourings will make sure your bag isn’t another black suitcase.
* Put your name and contact details on the outside and inside of every bag.
* Pack your valuables in your carry on bag.
* Ensure you have adequate travel insurance.
A Report by The Mole from AAP
John Alwyn-Jones
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