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get lost and damaged. Once that bag leaves your side, there is no way you can control what happens to it. While the airline wants all their passengers to have their bags, things happen.

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES WITH YOU
You should never, and I mean never put medication or valuables in any bag you plan to check. NEVER. When that bag leaves you, anything could happen to it. It could fall off a baggage belt and get overlooked. The flight could be so packed that the airline is forced to leave your bag behind and send it on another plane. Or your bag could be looted. Some doofus might put your bag on the wrong plane. Although you can be pretty sure that your checked bag will make it with you to your destination, there are no gaurantees. Pack nothing in your checked luggage that is either valuable or critical to your health.

IF YOU CHECK A BAG, PACK EXTRA CLOTHES IN YOUR CARRY-ON
On the offhand chance that your checked back is parted from you, you should at least have some toiletries and clean underwear for yourself. Most bags are returned with 24 hours, but there are cases where bags don't show up for days... if at all. There are rare cases where bags stay lost forever.

In general, airlines don't offer much in the way of compensation if your bag goes missing. If you're forced to buy new undies, don't expect the airline to cover the tab. At most, they might pay a percentage of the cost for necessities.

DON'T BUY AN EXPENSIVE NAME BRAND BAG
There are two reasons why you shouldn't check in, say, a Louis Vuitton bag. One, the bag could draw attention from thieves. Two, checked bags get rough treatment. Ever see that TV commercial where a gorilla manhandles bags? That's not too far off the mark. Bags are not handled gently. Bags fall off carts and baggage belts. Bags get left out in the rain. Bags get stacked on top of each other.

Even at the best of times, it's not practical for the guys on the tarmac to baby your bag. They are going to solidly toss your bag into a cart, yank it out again, and toss it onto a conveyor belt. They don't have the time to be gentle. Given all this, I'm frankly amazed that so many bags come out of the whole experience in good condition!

That's why the airline won't pay for scuff marks, small holes, or other minor damage. As far as the airline is concerned, a bag's only purpose to protect your stuff. So if your bag comes back to you in less than perfect condition, well, as long as it's still a serviceable bag, the airline probably isn't going to pay for

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