Tips for Travelers with Special Needs

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What to Do if Your Luggage is Delayed or (gasp!) Lost

You're standing at the luggage carousel, watching the same baggage go round and round when you realized there are no more bags being unloaded and your bag is not there.

The first thing is not to panic; most bags are delivered to their destination within 24?48 hours. Here are some tips to help you and your bag get reunited as soon as possible.

Have your name and destination address both outside and inside your luggage. At least you'll have a fighting chance of being contacted if your bag is tagged with where your bag is going (not just your home address, but the address of your hotel/condo in Hawaii, with a contact phone number). While you're at it, get rid of all the old airline baggage tags to other destinations.

Know where the lost baggage claim counter is for your airline. While you are waiting for your luggage, make sure you know where you will have to go to file a claim; that way you can be the first in line if your bag did not arrive. If you flew on more than one airline, always go to the last airline you flew on; they are the ones to start processing your claim.

To wait or not to wait for the next flight. The lost luggage claims desk loves to tell people: "Oh, your bag will be in on the next flight." Smile, and politely ask them if they have proof that the bag is in the system and booked on that flight. If they can't guarantee it, you might want to proceed to your destination, rather than wait around the airport in hopes that the suitcase "might" be on the next flight.

Before you leave the airport (without your bag), be sure to get the following: a copy of your lost luggage claim form, the phone number to call to check on your luggage, an estimate on when they will have more information on when your bag will arrive, and what you should do if your bag does not arrive.

If your bag is lost, don't expect the airlines to write you a check for $2,800 on the spot. You will have to make a list of what was in your bags (no exaggerating here -- you probably did not have a couple of designer dresses in your bag to Hawaii); be sure to list the cost of the suitcase itself and any money you have had to pay out to replace items in the suitcase. Unfortunately, the airlines will only reimburse you for the depreciated value of your items, not the replacement value.