During the festive season, travellers are being urged to keep a vigilant eye on their luggage as mishandling rates soar by around 30% over Christmas, compared to the annual average.
Travel gurus at My Budget Break have uncovered that Google searches for ‘lost luggage’ have spiked by 17% in the past month, indicating a surge of concern among passengers over misplaced bags.
To shed light on the reasons behind disappearing luggage and how to safeguard your belongings this Yuletide, the experts have called upon aviation and baggage specialist Caroline Vandy.
Contrary to what one might assume, the uptick in lost luggage isn’t solely due to the increased volume of Christmas travellers.
In fact, several elements contribute to the rise in missing bags, such as heightened baggage handling due to more connecting flights, staff turnovers during the holiday season, and adverse weather conditions, reports the Express.
Caroline notes that when storms disrupt flight schedules, connection times are also impacted, which can result in a higher likelihood of luggage going astray.
She points out that “all of these factors come together to form a consensus within the aviation industry that the festive season sees a higher incidence of baggage mishandling due to these compounded pressures of increased travel and operational demands.”
Paul Scott, the founder of My Budget Break, adds: “Luggage also tends to have a higher value than other times of the year as Christmas gifting ramps up.”
According to one expert, “I suspect this is one of the reasons why we have spotted an increase in popularity for Apple AirTags at this time of year too, with 200,000 Google searches already this December for the piece of technology.”
This small gadget can provide peace of mind for holidaymakers by helping them track their luggage and locate lost items.
Choosing direct flights and reducing layovers can also help to prevent lost luggage. By opting for non-stop flights, you’re minimising the risk of your bags going astray.
Another option is to have gifts delivered directly to your destination, rather than packing them in your luggage. Many companies offer gift wrapping or discrete delivery, ensuring your presents arrive safely and on time.
Shipping gifts ahead of time can also help to avoid issues at airport security. For example, if you have a present that contains more than 100ml of liquid, it may be confiscated at airport security if you’re only carrying hand luggage.
Sending gifts separately can avoid delays or mishaps at the airport.