Clark Howard's Tips

October 2, 2007

It's been 28 years since Clark checked in a suitcase when he was traveling on a plane. That was 1979. Clark doesn't like the process of watching the carousel go 'round and 'round and hoping to see your bag.

He was recently on a flight where the attendant had a sense of humor and announced, "You can claim your bags on carousel whatever and they should be there by tomorrow."

The loss rate of baggage has more than doubled over the past few years. In fact, people now ship their luggage via UPS in advance of their trip to ensure it gets to where they're going. Some ultra high-end hotels now are used to getting UPS packages with people's belongings; they even hang their clothes up in the closet before they arrive.

If you do decide to check in luggage the next time you travel, be sure you don't pack anything the airlines deem to be valuable or they won't cover it in the event of a loss. So don't check in jewelry, electronics, computers or medication that you need on a daily basis.

Always keep one change of clothing in your carry-on in the event that your luggage is lost. And bear in mind that you're also allowed to bring a computer bag or purse in addition to a standard carry-on case.

Consumer advice courtesy of