Keeping Your Luggage Safe
We’ve all seen the way airport employees treat our checked-in luggage – it’s thrown around and dropped so often that most people now know not to put anything expensive or breakable in there.
The Condé Nast Traveler spoke to a real-life Airport Baggage Handler in America, and got some expert advice on how to keep your luggage and belongings safe in transit! While some of this advice may be US focussed, most of it is global.
Get a suitcase with a handle on the bottom
A handle on the top and the bottom makes the suitcase much easier to lift, pass around and place in hold. It makes movement easier for the baggage handler, and means your bag faces less bumping around.
Check your zips are zipped
Luggage is often shoved in together in holds, and not positioned as delicately as you might like. If your zips aren’t all the way done, stuff may spill out – Zack particularly recommends not putting liquids like shampoos in external pockets, as they tend to either fall out or get crushed, oozing liquids everywhere.
Buy structured luggage
Those incredibly lightweight, thin bags are great for backpacking but not for handling. Without protection from thicker fabric or a supporting structure, most of your stuff will be crushed.
Four wheels are the new two
Baggage handlers don’t waste time extending your luggage handles. With four wheels they can easily push the baggage across the floor safely – two wheeled luggage tends to be thrown or dragged in a rush.
Keep your luggage tags small
Large tags and zips are inconvenient and likely to fall off, causing problems with debris. According to Zack, the large plastic tags are the worst while card-style clear sleeves are the best.
Keep strollers and car seats contained
Loose straps are a constant problem for baggage handlers, so wrapping them up in plastic or bin bags makes everyone’s lives easier. Most airports now have shrink wrapping facilities. You should also note that items with awkward straps may come out last, so that the machine can be shut down if anything gets stuck.
Don’t be fussy
If you buy a designer set of luggage, don’t expect it to be treated any differently. Luggage is designed to protect its contents – so if there’s dirt on your expensive bag when you get it back from the hold, don’t complain. It got there.
It’s easy to get frustrated about luggage arriving lately, or slightly bruised, but the truth is that baggage handlers have a tough job – not just physically but mentally, as they often have to rush to get all luggage on safe. The important thing is that your luggage arrives and nothing has been stolen or broken; so make things as easy as possible on your luggage handlers!