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it behind!"

3. Know where your luggage receipt is and guard it carefully. The receipt tag is very important if your bag goes astray. It is also vital if you have asked for your bag to be "transferred" to other flights as, for security purposes, the onward airline may need to match your receipt before your bag is loaded.

4. Learn to pack. By rolling clothes tightly instead of folding them, you can get more packed. For many short business trips, it is possible to pack everything in cabin baggage if using an airline with a sensible carry-on allowance (one roll-aboard plus one briefcase). If you have checked baggage and there is more than one person travelling, mix each others clothes in different bags that way if one bag goes astray, you still have clean clothes!

5. Label your bags. It is worthwhile investing in permanent luggage tags (such as those available from www.crewtags.com) with your name, email address and international phone number. A sheet of paper bearing your name, home address and phone number placed inside your checked baggage is useful as a "last resort" identifier for the airline.

6. If your bag does go missing or is damaged, report it before leaving the airport. Many airlines have a policy that their liability ends once you walk away. Many airlines also offer small cash awards for essentials toothbrush, razor etc if your bag is delayed. Accept the fact that, despite the airline telling you they will probably get it to you next day, it might be a good few days before you see it!

All things considered, if you take sensible precautions and know what to do when things go wrong, you should have a stress-free trip.

Learn more about this author, Ian Sterrett.
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