10 Tips for getting your bags arriving the same way they left

Having now spent some time working for the airport and watching how we deal with peoples luggage it has prompted me to write some tips for helping to ensure your luggage makes it on your trip with you.

Having been on the end of lost luggage on 2 occasions I can tell you its not fun.
They may seem obvious but its worth writing anyway.

1. Don't check bags, take carry on. Where ever possible you should find out the size and weight limit of carry on allowances. That way you don't need to worry about Igor dropping your bag of the trolley on the way to the plane (trust me it happens every day) or the Albanian guy throwing your bag from the back of the truck onto the reclaim conveyor.
2. Cut of the loose straps. Straps and long cloth handles not only cause bags to get jammed in conveyors, they can also get caught on any number of things. I have seen many a bag ripped to shreds because the straps got caught. I know our pretty back packs have all these nice tie down bits but they are just waiting to get stuck.
3. Don't pack breakables, or pack them very very well. I have seen a guy throw a bag from 2m onto a conveyor, bags fall of trucks bags get jammed in machines. When you pack, be confident that you would be happy to lift your bag above your head and drop it.
4. Use hard sided (clamshell type) suitcases. These type of case go through all systems most easily as they are uniform don't have bits to get caught etc. If possible get a rough sided type, the glossy smooth ones tend to slide around like on ice.
5. Check in early - The earlier you check in the more chance your bag will get through the system on time. All bags get screened and if yours has additional screening it might take an extra 20min to make the plane.
6. Make sure your bags are in good condition, daily we have bags bust open because they are so full and so old and worn they just burst at the seams.
7. Put some extra ID in your bag. infact put heaps of tags and information in all the little pockets. I could collect thousands of luggage tags laying around. They rip off, fall off etc. Then when your airline tag goes as well we dont know who owns it, and then it gets sold off eventually. This happens heaps, we have the tags missing and then we dont know who owns the Borat swimmers inside.
8. Dont be afraid to use the Oversize or out of Gauge. If your bag is big or a backpack or a surfboard or they suggest maybe it should go into oversize. DO IT. The oversize systems are much simpler and easier because they have to deal with weird and wonderful items. The worst thing you could do is insist your big bag goes down the normal line.
9. Be prepared to have your bag arrive late, I know of instances of 5000 bags in 3 days not making their flight. All those passengers would have had to wait who knows how long to get them back.
10. Have travel insurance. If your bags dont show up on time, you will be compensated by the airline and also by your travel insurance, if its lost you will get some money back. 

Some things to keep in mind, most baggage systems are very old, imagine a 30 year old Volvo, state of the art when installed, but it just doesn't run right any more.
Bags come in all shapes and sizes and materials, its very hard to design machinery that can handle all of these variations all the time.