Where Do All The Missing Bags Go? by Lyn Thomas

You check in at an airline desk, but usually give little thought to your luggage. You really expect it to arrive on the same flight you do, at your destination. Wrong! Stolen, lost, delayed, or damaged luggage remains a major problem for both travelers and airlines.
While 33 million pieces of luggage were mishandled in 2008, it was a great improvement on 2005, when the United States airlines alone lost 10,000 bags a day on average. That works out at between 4% and
9% per one thousand passengers. The worst record since 1990. The airlines said it was caused through a surge in the number of passengers, airline budget cuts, backed-up flights and tighter inspections of luggage.

Bloomberg reported in March 2009, baggage mishandling at 14.28% items per 1,000. A decrease from 18.86% per 1,000 in 2007. Approximately 5.7% to 6.73% were never recovered.

Barry Maher was one such victim. Last April Delta Airline lost both his bags on a flight from Ontario, Cal., to Roanoke, Va. Maher was forced to go out and buy a shirt, slacks and underwear so he could give a speech. His luggage arrived at his hotel just in time for him to start for home. On the flight back, Delta lost both bags once again. Mayher said, "Delta's staff was uncaring".

There has been very little change to the airline's baggage handling systems. Airlines claim they cannot afford to put in RFID (radio frequency identification) tags for the two million pieces of passenger's luggage per annum. There is no sharing of information between different airlines, even when a piece of luggage is transferred.

When London's Heathrow Terminal 5 opened, there was a backup of 20,000 bags. Some were sent to a sorting facility in Italy. While there is nothing you can do about losing baggage, there are some things you are able do to keep the damage to a minimum:

•Do not put hard to replace, or expensive items in your luggage, without insurance •Place prescriptions and travel documents in your hand luggage, particularly jewelry and cash •Paper and slide on identification labels can be easily removed, so opt for something more permanent, such as supplementary identification on the inside of your luggage

•Make yourself a list of the things you pack in each bag •Travel as lightly as possible - buy toiletries when you get there, use wash and wear clothes and mix and match outfits - many airlines now charge for the second piece of baggage •If your bags do not arrive, report it immediately. Get a phone number and name to phone back if necessary

•Refuse to fall for those time sensitive connections - it is asking for bag problems •Wherever possible go for carryon luggage only •Make sure you have some emergency clothing in your carryon luggage •Demand cash from the airline for some basic supplies, such as toothbrush, toothpaste and razor.

Luna Laboo now bids for lost luggage, displays it online and attempts to reunite it with its owners. "I found an auction where the luggage was being sold off, unopened", says Ms Laboo.

Airlines usually allow three months for the lost bags to be claimed, then they are sent to an auction house, or given to charity. The question however needs to be asked, why can't airlines do what Luna Laboo is doing? Photograph the case and put it online? Surely it would be cheaper than paying out for the lost bags?