by Betty Carew

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

We all go through the same anxiety as we travel, wondering if our luggage is going to end up at the same destination as we are. You can see it on the faces of everyone that stands around the carousel at the airport and when your luggage appears there is a look of relief; when it doesn't, your anxiety heightens to something akin to horror. Where does the unclaimed baggage go? Come with me as we find out the reasons we never see our baggage again and what we can do to protect lost baggage from happening.

Donated, Dumped or Sold

There are more than 40 million bags that don't reach their destination every year and this was just in 2007. Most luggage will arrive at your door within 48 hours but then again some don't. Each Canadian airport is responsible for any luggage that is not claimed. Many of the bags that are left at an airport are sold, donated or dumped. This happens all over the world. For example at Heathrow Airport in London, bags are auctioned off at Greasby's in southern London. In the United States they unpack thousands of bags every year and the contents are sold in the 40,000 square foot Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Ala.

World Tracer Used

The procedure when baggage is left at the airport is that for the first three days the airport tries to reunite it with its owner. When this does not happen the baggage is sent to the a central holding station where it is opened and searched to see if there is any identification in there to contact the owner. If not the description of the baggage is entered in a system that is called a World Tracer, which basically is a lost and found system that serves over 400 airlines.

Say Goodbye, after Three Months

If your luggage has been at a central holding and has not been claimed after three months, then hope is gone for finding it. This is when the baggage is sold, donated or dumped. It is estimated that lost luggage cost the airlines and airports approximately $3.8 million a year. That's a chunk of money for holding baggage that the owner has been waiting for just as long.

Take Precautions

There are some precautions that can be taken to ensure our luggage will end up at the right destination.

If you are planning on traveling, get to the airport in lots of time to make sure your luggage will be loaded onto the plane that you are taking.

Another thing you can do to help yourself is to tie some brightly colored ribbon around your luggage to make it a little easier to identify.

Place a copy of your contact information on the inside of your luggage as well as the outside; this could include your itinerary.

Make a list of everything you have inside your luggage. This will give the airport an idea of what to look for.

When you arrive at your destination and your luggage doesn't ,file your claim at the airport before you leave.

Always take any medication or things you know you will absolutely need in a carry on with you. You may also need this for any travel insurance you may have purchased in the event your luggage is never found.

This is a problem that many people go through every time they fly but with a little extra effort you can cut down on the chances of never getting your luggage back. This takes very little time and effort and can help your baggage to make it to your home and not stay sitting in some holding center waiting to be sold.

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