Check-in
Don't check in at the last minute. Even if you make the flight,
your bag may not.
Make sure that you get a claim check for every bag that you check.
Don't throw them away until your bags are returned. Not only will
you need them if a claim is necessary, but you may need to show
them to security upon leaving the baggage-claim area. Don't leave
them in the seat-pocket on the airplane.
Verify that the agent checking your bags attaches a destination
tag to each one. (Remove tags from previous trips to avoid confusion.)
Check to see that these tags show the correct three-letter code
for your destination airport.
Know where your bags are checked to. They may be checked only to
one of your intermediate stops rather than your final destination
if:
* you must clear Customs short of your final destination, or
* you are taking a connecting flight involving two airlines which
don't have an interline agreement (e.g., Southwest Airlines does
not transfer bags to other carriers).
If you have a choice, select flights which minimize the potential
for baggage disruption. The likelihood of a bag going astray increases
as the following numbers get higher:
1. nonstop flights
2. through flights (one or more stops, but no change of aircraft)
3. online connections (change of aircraft but not airlines)
4. interline connections (change of aircraft and airlines)
Buy "excess valuation" from the airline if your property
is worth more than the airline's liability limit. This limit is
usually $3,000 per passenger for domestic flights ($2,800 for flights
before February 28, 2007), or 1,000 "Special Drawing Rights"
per passenger on most international trips originating in the U.S.
See www.imf.org for the value of the SDR.
Your chances of recovery can be improved depending on where and
how you bought your airline ticket. Some credit card companies and
travel agencies offer optional baggage insurance; some others provide
it automatically.
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