Act smart if your luggage is lost

Incidents of lost luggage in flights doesn’t happen very often. But it does happen occasionally. So, whether you are an international student travelling alone or a family with kids (on Egypt holiday packages);instead of feeling lost, take smart actions right away.

• Stay calm.
• Immediately, go to the baggage claim office of the airlines and file a report. Some airlines will reimburse your checked baggage fees once your luggage is delayed at least 12 hours after submitting the claim.
• If you are taking multiple flights, you have to report to the airline whose flight you took last. Here are some important questions to ask:-

1. Can you please drop the luggage to my hotel/hostel?
2. What number should I call for updates on my missing bag?
3. When can I expect an update from the airline about my missing bag?
4. If my bag is found, will your company pay to have the luggage delivered to me at my hostel/hotel?

• Don't forget to get your claim number and a copy of the missing baggage report.
• Keep receipts of expenses made on essentials for reimbursement by the airlines.
• Check your credit card benefits.
• Consider travel insurance claim and sometimes even homeowner’s insurance claim covers. Professional agents such as White Magic Travels will insist that you buy a travel insurance while booking Auckland holiday packages.
• Take photos of your luggage and the contents before taking Cancun holiday packages.
• If you don’t receive your luggage after a stipulated number of days, you have to make a claim.
• If the luggage is returned to you, check for any damage or missing items. If so, you have to make another claim.

Always keep the valuables like camera, money, electronics & essentials like chargers, medicines, toiletries, with you on any kind of trip (say, New York holiday package). The most important thing is not to panic.

Why do flights overbook and what should you do then?

Firstly, overbooking a flight simply means the situation when an airline accepts reservations for a flight more than its seating capacity. It’s airlines’ way to ensure that they have a full plane when it takes-off. Empty seats are a financial drain on the airlines.

Why do airlines overbook?

• To maximize profits. Overselling is a great way to avoid empty seats.
• No-shows. Passengers don’t show up for flights and don’t bother to cancel their flights to Alice Spring from UK, (say) either.
• Delayed or cancelled connecting flights. Airlines expect passengers from a connecting flight but due to too much delay/cancellation; may have to take off without them. Overbooking helps to fill up these empty seats.

Is overbooking legal?

Yes, over-booking is completely legal; helps guarantee the planes to be filled to their capacity, thus enabling maintain lower ticket prices.

How to airlines determine how much to over-book?

It’s based on extensive air travel statistical research (which is not fool-proof, though). Airlines invest in creating huge database of previous passengers’ records and past no-shows.

What should you do in case your flight is over-booked?

When statistics go wrong, airlines may ask for volunteers to be bumped off to another flight (say, flights to Lake City from London). Get off and be compensated with first-class flights/cash.

The best way is to prevent being denied boarding by checking in and picking seats early online (24-28 hours before departure) for your flights to South America from UK (for example).

Be polite and know your rights- If you are denied boarding, it’s your right to ask for compensation and a reasonable alternative flight option to get you to your destination. If you’re flying (say on flights to Orleans) out of the EU or on a European airline, familiarise yourself with the EU261 and know what you are entitled to.

Travel agents as White Magic Travels will help you in such circumstances.

Source: https://antalyahoneymoonpackages.blogspot.com/2023/01/why-do-flights-overbook-and-what-should.html