The Early Show

The Lost-Baggage Blues

By Ellen Crean

October 6, 2006 / 8:21 AM EDT / CBS

When you travel, there are few things more bothersome than lost luggage. And the bad news is that the Department of Transportation's report for mishandled baggage in August shows that the numbers are up to 8.08 reports of mishandled luggage for every 1,000 passengers. That's an increase from 6.40 in August 2005, and 6.5 in July 2006.

The Early Show's consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen shared some advice on how to prevent lost bags, and what to do if they do get lost.

Pick easy-to-spot bags. A bright color can help.

Put your contact information inside your luggage. Make sure you have your name, address and phone number inside your bags, not just on the outside.

Get to the airport early. If you arrive late and have to run for your gate, you need to imagine that there is someone behind the scenes who is also running to get your bag into the system to get it on the plane.

Pick non-stop flights. Direct flights leave less room for error. Your baggage is going to one place, not making several stops.

Remove old tags and check new tags. If you do this, there is no confusion. Check your tags at the airport to make sure that airline personnel are putting the right tags on your bags and that the bags have your final destination on them.

If you get to your destination and find that your bag is missing, immediately go to the customer service department for the airline and report it missing. Ask the airline to reimburse you for things like toiletries and clothes for the day. If they lose something like your golf clubs, ask if you can rent and be reimbursed.

If your bag never shows up and is lost for good, you need to file a claim. The airlines have a cap on how much they will pay you for the lost bags. It's $2,800 per passenger for domestic flights. The airlines can deny claims if they fear fraud, and you need to provide receipts.

To actually receive reimbursement for your lost bags, you will have to wait six weeks to three months.

If you are really concerned, you can buy extra coverage from the airlines when you get to the airport. But you need to ask about it. Many credit cards offer some protection for lost luggage, but you have to use the right card when you buy the ticket.