Why You may Want to Think Twice Before Checking Your bag

Sometimes it’s almost impossible not to check a bag, like, for example, when you’re going on a long trip. I mean, that’s certainly what I do when I plan on being out of town for at least a week. It's only natural.  

But, ultimately, the less you have to check a bag, the better. Why? There are several reasons:

Bags are less likely to get damaged

That video was taken at London’s Luton Airport of contracted baggage handlers seeing who could toss the luggage further. Needless to say, it has people pretty upset:

Luggage handlers at London Luton Airport have been caught on film hurling suitcases from an easyJet plane like rubbish bags onto a waiting truck.
Passenger Jonas Ozolins recorded the reckless workers unloading the bags and cases from a flight on March 13.
In the footage, the two men stand on the back of the truck, which will eventually transport the cases across the ramp to the airport terminal.

When you check your bags, you subject them to a lot of potential damage.

It happened to me recently, when I checked my bag with American Airlines. I got it back and the trolley handle was completely broken (see feature picture). I couldn’t use it. At all. I mean it was completely useless. To their credit, I reported it to American, and they ultimately shipped me a new bag.

The key to making sure you’re taken care of if your bags are damaged is to let the airline know right away.


Your possessions are always with you

This way, you don’t have to worry about your luggage getting damaged, or lost. Plus, it saves you time at the airport on the front end of your trip and the backend.


Bottom line

​Checking a bag is risky, and it’s probably best you always try not to. If you have trouble envisioning how that’s possible, there are several ways to improve your packing that may help. This is one of those ways that I’ve written about, and here’s another.

You may also like:
-Packing Tips That'll Save You Money
-Your Baggage is Damaged. What now?
-Learn to Pack Like a Boss