'Worst-case scenario': How to make sure you never lose your suitcase again
Travellers are sick of losing their luggage, and will probably try pretty much anything to try and stop it from happening.
Globally, it's estimated about 36 million bags are mishandled each year, and roughly 1.8 million go missing entirely.
So 9Travel asked a travel expert whether there is anything you can do before you fly to make sure both you and your suitcase make it to your destination.
READ MORE: The suitcase that made travelling a million times easier
Millions of suitcases go missing each year around the world. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Melbourne-based travel and lifestyle photographer Rhiannon Taylor has done plenty of globetrotting over the years and unfortunately has had to deal with a few cases of missing bags.
"I've had lost luggage many times, and I will say most airlines are pretty good at recovering them," Rhiannon, founder of lifestyle website In Bed With, tells 9Travel.
"But the worst-case scenario is when you're hopping around regionally - I've been without luggage for days on end."
So can it be helped? According to Rhiannon, removing old stickers is the first step.
"I always peel off the previous flight's luggage barcode sticker. I like having the latest flight tags clear, front and centre," she tells us.
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Melbourne-based travel and lifestyle photographer Rhiannon Taylor has done plenty of travel. Supplied
She also says having a few unique tags on your bag can help so no-one else picks it up by mistake.
"Travellers are so on trend now and you'll see lots of the same bags in the same colour ways on the luggage belt so having some unique identifying tags really helps," Rhiannon explains.
"I actually had someone take my luggage recently by mistake because we had the exact same bag."
Checking in and dropping your bag in person at a counter, rather than using the kiosks to print your own tags where possible is something else she tries to do.
"I'm a bit old school and love to check in at a desk rather than self-check and bag drop - I feel the airline staff are far more proficient than I am and there's a better chance of it getting there," she tells us.
Checking in at a desk can help. Getty
Finally, Rhiannon says to use any and all tracking options available.
"Most airlines have live-tracking in their apps for your bags, so I make sure my luggage has been received and showing up in the app so I know they have them and they're on the way with me," she says.
And that's something luggage brands are also jumping on.
This week, July launched CaseSafe, the world's first fully-integrated July launched CaseSafe
The range was created in consultation with Google and Apple and allows travellers to track the location of their luggage from their phone via an integrated, trackable TSA-approved lock.
July has launched CaseSafe, the world's first fully-integrated trackable suitcase. Supplied
The trackable, battery-operated lock is compatible with Apple's 'Find My' and Google's 'Find Hub' networks.
It comes after July teamed up with Qantas earlier this year for a limited-edition run of trackable suitcases that sold out on july.com within 48 hours, so the desire amongst travellers to have extra peace of mind on their journey is definitely high.
When it comes to packing your suitcase before a trip, Rhiannon always makes sure to keep anything important in her carry on - just in case.
"Being a photographer, I keep the valuables with me on board rather than check them," she says.
"And I keep one full change of clothes in my carry on just in case I'm left high and dry in a city with no luggage."
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