On four occasions, BOH editors found themselves stranded without checked luggage. Each time has left us a bit wiser from the school of hard knocks. Whether caused by short layovers, interlining bags between airlines, or just plain bad luck, the risk of lost luggage is always present. Here’s what we discovered that has continued to work.
I’ve only experienced a lost bag once and it was many years ago, but since then I pack at least one days clothes in a carry on just to get me through. Fortunately I haven’t had to use any yet.
On the other side I once arrived at Lihue and thought I had lost my luggage. It turned out it had actually come in on an earlier flight and was sitting off to the side. Go figure.
I never have to travel with checked luggage and I never lose my carry on!
When packing we always put a couple days worth of clothes in our carry-ons.
We haven’t had lost luggage but they have been delayed several times. Like your writer’s experiences they were with shorter layovers & tighter connections. Luckily enough they were the return flights, & in each case we were reunited with our stuff within a day.
In one case our bags were delivered to our house in the wee hours. The phone rang about 2 am, the airline dude said he was outside in our driveway with our luggage. When we went outside he apologized & told us that the airline wanted all the stuff delivered then & there, we told him it was OK, actually good since now we had our stuff & didn’t need to wait around tomorrow, or technically later today.
May not work for a lot of folks, but I normally only bring a carryon to avoid this problem and get out of the airport faster. If I need something, I just buy it there. If I end up with too much stuff to fit at the return end I use the USPS single rate boxes to mail the excess home. Most hotels will also hold mail/boxes for incoming guests if you want to send things ahead. Just Don’t send anything of real value you can’t afford to lose…
Best Regards
In the summer of 2023, I traveled from HNL to TPE via NRT on Hawaii (HNL to NRT) then on China airlines from (NRT to TPE). From the get go, Hawaiian airlines departed 3 hours later than scheduled due to “paperwork ” problems. Needless to say, I missed my connection in NRT. At this point my mind was filled with scenes of checked baggage nightmares that happened throughout the US during 2022 and 2023. To my surprise, when I arrived at NRT, Hawaiian airlines already rebooked me to another airline with a later departure to TPE. Still I worried whether my bagge would make it since I am now booked with another airline. When I arrived in TPE, my luggage was at carriage bwfore I cleared immigration. Kudos to Hawaiian airlines and the ground crew at NRT. Leave it to the Japanese!!!
My experience with Lihue I blame on TSA bag screening. When they get a little busy, they tend to put some bags aside – presumably so that they can screen an earlier flight. I saw two of our bags put aside by the agent feeding the x-ray machine. I stood around and watched to see how long we would be shunted to the side. Finally I had to clear screening myself. Sure enough those bags went missing
In all of our trips to Hawaii only once did we have a lost bag. Way back in 1979 on Western Airlines from LAX – HNL. It was delayed, for some reason, delivered to our hotel about 8 hours later.
Today, all of our bags are marked with a fluorescent lime-green handle, even the carry-ons. It at least makes it difficult for someone to mistakenly taking the wrong bag. Why the carryon bags? I have on occasion taken advantage of the free gate check. My personal item is a backpack that always has personal essentials and at least a day or two of clothing.
I have to say that I am not in the camp of “Don’t check a bag — Ever.” I’ve been traveling by air for over 50 years. Yes, there are horror stories, but I think luggage delivery to the baggage carousel is probably more reliable now than when I first started traveling. I *try* to avoid checking bags if possible, but if I’m traveling far (call it 10hr elapsed time on one or multiple flights) or for 2+ weeks, then I’m probably going to check a bag. That being said, I always carry *at least* a couple of days “minimum” clothes in my carry-on. Also, I always wear shoes on the flight and never, ever, take them off to “stocking mode” until we are fully in flight. Takeoff is the most dangerous time for an aircraft, so one should always be prepared, with shoes on, to evacuate if necessary. Herman V’s comment is spot on. When choosing flights, I try my best to avoid very short layovers (call it less than 1 hour), to give my luggage a chance to make it to the subsequent segment.
Definitely best to use only one airline if you don’t keep your luggage with you, especially for tight connections. So far, my luggage arrived on time from DC to Maui with AmericanAirlines (mostly through Phoenix), but it does look very Hawaiian (ha, ha!)
Jeff, do you understand what happens when you go down an emergency slide?
Jim
I had to chuckle at the lost luggage article. 20 years ago, my bag did not arrive when I did. My husband was TDY so we flew separately. A 14 day stay ended with me getting my bag on the afternoon of the 14th day. I opened it, laughed and zipped it back up ready to leave the following morning. That trip taught me just how few clothes you need to take to HA, swimsuit or 2, couple pair of shorts, several tops and a washer in dryer where you are staying. I went back everyday to check the status and ended up being offered a job in relations. I was given $25 on day 2 for necessary items and never a penny more; times have sure changed in 25 years!
For the next 10 years I only ever did a carry on bag!!
PS: my husband took my bag with him on his military flight returning home.
So true, you really don’t need much when travelling to Hawaii and there is an ABC store at every corner once you get here ….
Rob, your monitor won’t let me suggest why it’s very important to wear good footwear when flying. Slippers, flip flops and high heals should never be warn.
Hi Jim.
It was Jeff, not Rob who made that blunder. And they weren’t those kinds of slippers. They were closed toe. Nonetheless, lesson learned. Thanks.
Aloha.
I agree that high heels are a bad idea, but many international airlines give you slippers (especially to 1st class passengers) so you feel more comfortable. I would never wear closed shoes when travelling to Hawaii. They contribute to lots of health issues (poor circulation, clogged arteries etc)
So where can the data be found to support your claim about closed toe shoes? Think about it, what kind of shoes are All of the flight crew members wearing and if you say open toed shoes then you would be wrong!
DVT’s have Nothing to do with the kind of shoes that you are wearing and there are plenty of simple exercises that you can do while seated to help prevent them from happening!
“Jeff only had slippers to wear on the flight”. IMO no passenger should be allowed to wear anything but closed footwear on any flight. I’m surprised the FFA has not cracked down on this matter.
Your personal safety is compromised should an emergency occur. Passengers way to lax on proper footwear in flight.
We have, for many years, gone to Hawaii for anywhere from 1- 3 weeks at a time with only ‘carry on’ bags. We typically stay in a condo, so have access to a washer/dryer. We pack our ‘favorite’ and ‘most comfy’ clothes and limit our shoes to 1 dress pair, 1 pair of thong sandals and we wear our Tennis shoes. I dressy outfit, the rest casual. 1 or two bathing suits. What does not fit into the carry on does not go on our Hawaiian vacation. :0) We also take a back pack for a few incidentals and snacks. I pack a small purse into my backpack. Everything then fits into the overhead bin and the backpacks go under our seats. Stress reduction 100%. I still laugh about our first trip to Hawaii, when we stayed at a hotel and the doorman could not believe we only had two carry ons. The couple unloading next to us had 4 or 5 large bags and a couple carry ons! We definitely prefer minimalist travel. But, do whatever floats your boat – as long as you make it to Hawaii.
Seen that! During my last trip in May, I was waiting for an elevator and when the door opened, a very stylishly dressed couple stepped out followed by a bellman dragging a groaning cart of at least 10 to 12 pieces of luggage. They each carried 2 pieces as well… Yikes!
Best Regards!
After 60 plus years of flying all over the world these are my simple rules.
1. Never Ever check a bag, only use carry on no matter how long the trip.
2. Always use non stop flights. When that’s not possible plan for a long connection, especially if in foreign countries.
3. Always fly premium economy or higher class of service.
Now, being retired I have more control and flexibility with my travels. If it’s not possible to follow these 3 simple rules, then we go by land (car or rail) or by sea.
If neither are possible or practical, then we don’t go! It’s that simple. I realize that if you are working or in an emergency you may have to break one rule or two. However, following these rules will make your journey so much more enjoyable and less stressful.
Years ago the airline lost our luggage, specifically the suitcase containing all of my toddler child’s clothes. That was the last time we checked our luggage and have happily traveled the world with carry on only ever since, even on trips of 2-3 weeks. The fact that STR’s and many hotels usually have laundry facilities helps a lot.
I have had bags delayed twice on Hawaiian on interisland. The second was weather issue which changed flights. So the delay was fair enough but there was total chaos at Honolulu and no one knew anything for 2 days. In the end I went back physically to HNL and found a great Hawaiian agent who went the extra mile and helped me find my bags so I could fly back to London with them. I wish they were all like that and not passing the buck as all the others did. United delayed my bags many times and British lost and damaged my bags repeatedl but as an AA loyalist for 20 years and 3 1/2 million miles I have never had a baggage issue with them and they email me when bags are loaded and unloaded. I also nothing but praise for the Japanese carriers.
I never through check bags other than international flights where you get your bags to go through customs. I also remove the bag id strips that they stick on your bags at check in. I also leave on all the Agriculture stickers on so they stand out.
Customize your luggage appearance- get creative i.e. add ribbons, tape, customized bag tags, something that will distinguish your luggage from other bags. Take off All old baggage tags, transfer tags, etc. that will confuse the baggage handlers (a moment of confusion and your bag doesn’t make it). Also put a 3×5 card with your name/address inside your bag.
American Airlines lost my checked bag on a direct non-stop flight from OGG to the continent. It was never seen again. I recommend to never be complacent about handing over your luggage, even without any plane changes! I still check a bag, but never with anything treasured inside.
Decades ago in a different life, while connecting thru DFW on a flight to Maui with hours between flights, one of my bags ended up in Brazil and it took 4 days for the bag to show up on Maui. The wild thing is that the airport codes were not even close to being the same so I give that one to the baggage handlers. 2 years ago while flying to Seattle, one of my bags was stolen outright by the ground crew. It was scanned coming off of the plane but never made it to baggage claim. The American baggage crew in Seattle gave me everything I needed to file a claim after returning from my cruise and in less than 3 weeks I was fully reimbursed for my losses. The one tip that I have is to place some of your things in your partners bag and vice versa as a just in case and Never pack any medications in your baggage. Considering that I have been flying by myself for over 60 years and those were the only issues that I have ever had I consider myself lucky.