When Luggage is Lost

Lost luggage isn't a once in a lifetime event - it can happen more often than you would like to imagine. And when it does, you entire trip can suffer (or even be ruined), and you may have to say goodbye to possessions that can never be replaced. This "fact of traveling life" is the main reason that so many travelers today pack all of their essentials in a carry-on bag they can keep under watch – and under control for the entire trip. This is especially true for business travelers for whom lost luggage is more than an inconvenience – it could mean a missed deal or lost contract.

While a portion of all lost luggage ends up being simply gone forever, you may be reunited with your missing bags eventually – but don't count on it being soon. By the time the airline discovers where your week's worth of clothes went, it may be all the way in Canada ... while you wait it out in sunny Australia. And the inconvenience of your lost luggage isn't necessarily going to be top priority to a large airline. For all these reasons and more, you want to plan ahead for any possible luggage mishaps.

The simplest (and most effective) way of guaranteeing the travel items you need are safe and sound is to never let them out of your sight in the first place. Invest in the largest carry-on that the airline allows and make sure everything that you can't live without is in there. Naturally, you'll want to keep important travel documents easily accessible in your carry-on, but you will also want to consider using that bag to hold other expensive or emergency items such as:

- Electronics that have personal information on them (digital cameras, laptops, organizers)
- Receipts, reservations, and other important papers that are hard to replace
- A spare change of clothes (n case you never see your luggage again!)

Of course, there's more than one way to protect yourself against the pain of losing hundreds (or thousands) of dollars worth of belongings when you travel; purchase a good travel insurance policy. These convenient coverage plans will cover replacement costs if your luggage is lost forever, and some even reimburse your expenses you incur while waiting for that lost bag to find its way back.

From a big picture perspective, travel insurance won't even add a significant cost to your overall trip. And more importantly, any premium you pay ahead of time will certainly be worth the hassle of not having to come up with the money to buy incidental items from toothpaste to disposable cameras. Your policy will ensure that all those costs are covered.

This is especially true for business travelers, whose clothing and business equipment might cost a significant sum of money to replace on short notice. It's easy to see how travel insurance is a smart bet for those who have to be sure to dress smartly in order to impress clients and prospects while traveling.

It's true that some things can never be replaced – important and sentimental parts of your wardrobe, cameras that have traveled with you around the world, or unique items you've acquired abroad may be lost to the mists of memories. But with travel insurance, at least you'll be able to fill those voids with new possessions, rather than being left in a difficult position with no resources to replace your lost items.

Lost luggage isn't simply a possibility – it's likely a probability that you'll have to face at some point if you're a frequent traveler. Protect yourself with a good travel insurance policy, and you'll thank yourself for a smart decision (whether your luggage is lost or not).