Friday, July 5, 2019

The Luggage Lament: You take the high road, I'll take the low...

Steve's Journey in Red, his bag in Black
LUCY BURDETTE As you may have seen on Wednesday's blog, our good friend Steve accompanied us on the trip to Ireland and Scotland. He traveled on Aer Lingus from Miami and met us in Dublin.  After our visit there, he took a short hop to Edinburg, also on Aer Lingus. He was told when checking in that he could not carry on his bag, even though it was carry-on size. Unfortunately, he arrived in Edinburgh, but his luggage did not.  

He called the Aer Lingus help desk and after a long period on hold, was connected with an agent with a heavy Indian accent named Nathan. The suitcase had been sent to London. 

Steve was informed that the bag would be delivered by morning to our hotel in Peebles. It was not. 

Back on the phone with the help desk, this time he spoke with a man named Ethan, who also had a heavy a Indian accent. They assured him the luggage would meet us in our next stop. It did not. 





At this point, he was desperate enough to acquire temporary clothing. He found colorful bamboo socks at our first stop after Edinburgh, underwear which he declined to have photographed in the Straitraer grocery store, a raincoat in Peebles, a sweater in Moffat,—these were necessary purchases as our first week the weather was cold and rainy. 





Since we were taking a ferry to Northern Ireland for the next leg of the journey, the bag was promised at our stop in the Highlands. It did not come. He found t-shirts in Oban.




Fortunately, he found a pair of rinse-able travel pants at the green welly store, as our next stop might have been this clothing dumpster.  




By now Steve had spent hours on the phone talking to Nathan, Ethan, Norman, and Harvey.




Finally, the bag was retrieved and delivered by a good friend of our tour leader...eight days after it went missing.




And now Steve has lessons and tips for all of us travelers:

1.  Don’t listen to the agent at the counter who says you can’t check your carry-on. You can gate check it and collect it at the bottom of the stairs.


2.  You can get by with a lot less than you think.


3. Don't panic. They sell clothes almost everywhere.


4. Pharmaceuticals, electronics, and toiletries should be glued to your side--never checked.





5. Be persistent. Take notes.


And I would add--a positive attitude makes a big difference. Steve was a real sport! As the Scots would say, Dinna fash yersel. (Don’t upset yourself.) 

Any tips to add from your travel stories?

57 comments:

  1. Oh, poor Steve! While I don’t have a travel story to top that one, we did have a few of those lost suitcase episodes over the years. Fortunately, we never had to wait as long as Steve did for our missing suitcases to catch up to us.
    But we learned to anticipate the possibility of our luggage not getting to wherever we were going, so whenever we had to fly with the girls to a skating competition, we checked everything and carried on the ice skates and the skating outfits. We figured we could manage without everything we’d packed as long as the girls had skates and skating dresses . . . .

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  2. Wow! Steve sounds like a saint! I'm so glad I never had anything even close happen to me.

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    1. LOL, I'll pass that along that he sounds like a saint. He'll get a good laugh:)

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  3. We're driving two days each way to our daughter's wedding so we can take and bring home stuff AND carry our wedding clothes with us. No checked bags, no "the bride's mother wore a T shirt and gym shorts" scenarios, no fogged-in airports. The rubber band flights from Cincinnati mandate checked roller bags (we're allowed a carryon gym bag).

    Poor Steve. What a nightmare.

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  4. Poor Steve! Thanks for the tip about gate checking. I keep important personal stuff (meds, electronic, extra socks and undies) in my carry-on and I'd be screwed if I lost my thyroid med for a week.

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    1. Losing meds and absolute necessities would be a nightmare!

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    2. Blogger is letting me post today. Just to let me tell my "gate check" story. All the folks waiting in the boarding area for our flight from Fort Lauderdale were told "ALL bags must be gate checked". Grumble, grumble go all the folks who had to gate check. Arrived Westchester, the ONLY bags in the luggage compartment were the gate checked bags. Snafu in Fort Lauderdale never got regular checked bags on plane. JetBlue was on the spot and the my door the next day with no hassle. Yes, Lucy, your friend Steve is a saint...so much patience.

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  5. No tips. Losing my suitcase is one of my worst fears, although it hasn't happened yet (knocks on every speck of wood available).

    I always stash a clean set of underwear in my carry-on, too.

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  6. Oh my, Steve sounds like the very best of travel companions! Good Natured! And you have to admit, you have a very unique set of vacation snapshots. Not many people can lay claim to raiding a donation bin in a foreign country.

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    1. We did get a lot of laughs taking photos and thinking of how to present this blog. The rest of us laughed harder than Steve of course...

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  7. That's the worst, but he seemed to pull it off with a smile and a positive attitude - that is key in traveling.

    Let's see. Went with husband, four year old and 18 month old (in diapers) to Mali in West Africa for a three-week visit. I had packed younger kid's stuff with mine. Our suitcase did not arrive. I cut a towel into thirds and made that his diapers. Take one off, wash it, hang it to dry. In a place like Mali, it'll be dry in an hour. Then we went to the open market, bought cloth, and took it to a tailor (many lined up, all with treadle sewing machines). By the afternoon the guy had copied the dress I wore and made a little outfit for my baby, too - for five dollars! Women's underwear available, too. Air France finally delivered the bag a few days later.

    Same trip, I'm traveling home alone with my boys (husband stayed longer for work). We had to re-check our bags in New York - no problem. We get to Boston - one bag missing. It's not a problem when you're going home, but when it reappeared a week later, it bore Cyrillic baggage tags!

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  8. Microfiber. That's my tip. You could probably pack a change of undies, a t-shirt, and socks in a purse these days. Plus, what Steve said plus his sense of humor and going with the flow!

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  9. I've had a few lost luggage occurrences, but they've been more inconvenience than anything. However we have a few rules when flying.

    1. All medications in carry-on.
    2. Change of undies and shirts in carry-on.
    3. All electronics in carry-on.
    4. Julie carries the carry-on.

    See, isn't that easy? ;>)

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  10. Oh my but Steve took it in good humor - LOVE the photos! My husband absolutely refuses to check luggage on our way TO anywhere. He's more relaxed about it on the return leg. The last disaster happened despite not checking luggage--TSA, in their great wisdom at spotting terrorists, searched my husband's luggage... and neglected to put back the bag containing his medications. Turns out it's easy to find underwear in Mexico; not so easy to get a prescription written and filled.

    Traveling to Europe the luggage restrictions are much more stringent than US flights. Smaller dimensions. Something like 17.5 pounds max. And they mean it. PACK LESS!! For our 10 days in Tuscany I managed with carry-on. It's easier to do in the summer.

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    1. Didn't you and Jerry go to Australia with only backpacks??

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    2. I can live for two weeks out of a carry-on, but if traveling alone, I can't manage it. (see #4 above)

      I have several Eagle Creek clothing envelopes in a couple of sizes, and these allow twice as many items of clothing in a small bag as well as keeping stuff from getting wrinkled.

      https://www.eaglecreek.com/shop/organizers/pack-it-original-garment-folder-m-ec041190?variationId=010#hero=0

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    3. Hallie, I helped Youngest pack for her study abroad month in Kosovo, and we read and re-read the luggage size requirements and measured everything. We didn't have a scale at home, but the first stop was the bus station, where she weighed her checked bag and carry on. She had "tossable items" on top - things she would like to have, but could leave with me if necessary. Fortunately, she was under the max weight by several kilos.

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    4. Ann-thanks for the Eagle Creek recommendation. I've been looking at different ones on Amazon. I would prefer to buy things someone else "swears by."

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    5. Pricey but they work. Have had ours for decades now.

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  11. This piece is a good illustration of why I don't really ever see myself doing any travelling that includes me having to check a bag into the cargo hold.

    When I went to Philly in 2005, I mailed some stuff ahead of time to my friend's place so that even if the airline lost my stuff, I'd have stuff there just in case. And on the return flight, I had some stuff I bought at the comic convention I attended with me on the plane, refusing to check them because I'd spent a lot of money on some semi-irreplaceable items, I could replace clothes far more inexpensively.

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    1. Mailing ahead is a good option Jay, if you'll be in one place for a while

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  12. Poor Steve! I'm glad he and his bag were finally reunited. As for traveling tips, I agree with all the folks who pack their undies and meds in the carry-on luggage. I would imagine most of us could pack a whole lot lighter if we gave it some serious thought.

    The one important travel tip I have learned through hard experience is this: When traveling with percussionists, always check the baggage weight limits before you decide to cram a whole lot of can't-replace-'em-easily instruments into large travel crates.

    A few years back, my band was invited to headline an international conference in San Jose. The music we were playing involved a lot of unusual percussion equipment, and my tech team decided fewer crates would be easier to handle. But they forgot to check the weight limits on checked items. When they showed up at the airport, all the crates were overweight, and the airline refused to take them. After many frantic phone calls and much hair pulling, we finally had to Fed-Ex all the percussion equipment to California at the cost of several thousand dollars. I then spent most of the rest of my time in California visiting the great hardware stores of San Jose, trying to find additional crates so we could ship everything back home without exceeding the weight limits. In the end, we managed, but jeeze, it would have been easier if our tech director had checked the weight limits in the first place.

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    1. Always check! I fly with reasonable frequency (a few times a year) and always check what the current restrictions and the don't-pack-this list. Mailing stuff to your destination is always a good option - although I've noticed some higher end hotels are now charging a fee for packages. Travel has become a nickle and dime industry, that's for sure.

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  13. My beloved father-in-law made some remarks at the Houston airport many years ago. In essence he was grousing about tipping porters at the curbside check-in when he didn't think they did anything to warrant it. He and my m-i-l made it to Cleveland, Ohio. His bag took its own trip and eventually arrived. Let that be a lesson to you, to quote an oldie. As for us, if I'm traveling with my husband we check our bags. I always have a small tote to hold things I don't want to check. On my own I have a carryon I could haul onto the plane with me. My husband hasn't learned how to pack less yet. I dread going on an international trip with him, knowing he will bring too much!

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    1. Pat, maybe you can lure him into watching some YouTube videos on packing? I was lucky enough to learn how to pack from an expert - my mother could do a two week trip in Europe with a carry on and a slim purse, and still look chic every day - but if, as with many men, he prefers experts to advice from wives, there are dozens of packing tutorials online now.

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    2. Julia, fat chance! He is totally deaf to suggestions from moi! On our road trip just completed I had a carryon size suitcase and my tote with my laptop. He had a duffel bag, a backpack, another bag with laptop and stuff, exercise equipment, and then a bunch of hanging clothes. Which made me wonder what in heck he had in his duffel if his wardrobe was on hangers. We had to get a valet cart everynight at hotels to unload all his stuff.

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  14. Oh, poor Steve! I often think I’ll travel without a suitcase just a laptop bag with deodorant and a toothbrush and buy what I need as I go. Seems like it would be much easier! So glad it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the trip!

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  15. Steve is a good sport about this! I am so sorry this happened! After my luggage being "lost" by airlines several times, I NEVER check through my luggage. I always carry on. And thank you for the tips! If I ever am told that my bag cannot be checked through, I will remind them of that tip about the gate check in.

    Now I am not sure I want to fly Aer Lingus!

    Diana

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    1. Diana , it was just bad luck.I travelled on Aer Lingus without problems.

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  16. Lucy, I forgot to ask, if you we took the high road and you took the low road, who got to Loch Lomond first?

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  17. Lucy, what a great post!! And Steve was a good sport--at least in the photos!

    I always always carry on prescription meds and laptop, but have not been as good about carrying on personal stuff and change of undies and shirt. I learned my lesson when I flew to Raleigh for Bouchercon a couple of years ago, and my bag went to California. I managed to find some makeup at the Walgreen's in downtown Raleigh (the only shopping option) and a t-shirt at a gift shop. No underwear. Anywhere. Fortunately you can hand wash and dry even cotton undies with a hairdryer. My bag arrived the next day.

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    1. Amazing that Walgreens wouldn't have underwear! I'm realizing from all this that I have sometimes checked my prescriptions. Not any more...

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  18. Oh my -- I'm glad he managed and with good humor. In my Carnival Elation Tall Tale, I sometimes ask the children which parts they think are not true. They seldom question the part about lost luggage, which did happen to my friend, not me -- thank goodness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juo8AdIaOGk

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    1. I did, however, once had luggage checked only to Detroit, leaving me scurrying to retrieve and recheck my big bag TWICE en route . . . getting yelled at in Italy because it was too big for the security x-rays.

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  19. Steve must be really easy-going —or this experience taught him to be that way!

    I bring a large purse, into which I put medications, socks, underwear. Toiletries can usually be purchased easily if I get separated from mine. As much as possible, I hang on to my carry-on, which is usually a backpack these days. Most of my travel is by train so I can usually manage to keep it with me.

    I don’t have a horror story. However, my poor sister does. I usually take one vacation per summer with her and her family. I take the train to where they live in New Jersey, and then the next day we leave by car for Virginia. About 20 years ago, after we arrived at the vacation home we were renting in Virginia and unloaded the car, my sister begin looking for her suitcase. She asked her husband if he had finished unpacking the car, and he said yes. She said “where is my red suitcase?“ He said “oh“. She said “I left it in the living room with everyone else’s luggage. Didn’t you see it?“ No, he hadn’t. So she had no choice but to go out shopping. She borrowed some socks and I think maybe a shirt from me, but bought everything else. She took delight in telling shopkeepers why she needed to buy a little bit of everything! The women were horrified, the men sympathized with my brother-in-law. My nephew, who was about seven years old at the time, asked his dad “do you think mom will forget that this ever happened?“ His dad said “I don’t think so!” My nephew then asked “do you think maybe by the time I graduate from high school mom won’t even think about this anymore?” The dad said “Believe me, mom will never forget about this!” She hasn’t! However, the whole family laughs now, and every summer before we leave NJ, my brother-in-law puts her suitcase in the car first!

    DebRo

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    1. That is a horror story! It’s always good when you can laugh about it after the fact. Steve was not happy, but didn’t lose a lot of time being upset about the bag. And that in itself is a great lesson!

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  20. Cyd Redondo's motto is "Carry-on Only!" and, in solidarity as her author, I haven't checked a bag in over 18 years, even when I go to Australia for three weeks. Trust no one.

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    1. Hahaha! You and my daughter, Wendall. She doesn't check bags either. Of course, I'm the opposite. I have to worry about whether the bag I'm checking is going to be over the weight limit. I need to learn from you and Ashley and Cyd.

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    2. We never check either wendall. And Kathy, your suitcase is probably full of books! That might be why it weighs so much LOL

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  21. I would have demanded a refund for the price of the items I had to buy because my luggage was lost, and pushed hard to get it. I know that sounds...pushy and unfriendly but these bloody airlines need to have some consequences - however small - for their screw-ups. But then I don't fly, so perhaps I'm just whistling into the wind.

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    1. An airlines has completely mangled bags of mine, and they will replace them, but with very poor quality bags. They don't bend over backwards to help fix their own mistakes.

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    2. I’m certain that Steve will be following a claim for this! We had some luggage delayed it in Australia for a day or two. The Australian airline gave customer is $100 for each day their bag didn’t arrive. We are still wearing some of those clothes and number of years later

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  22. I never part with my medications. They are either in my carry-on or a large purse. And, although it's not much if my suitcase of clothes were to be lost, I include an outfit and underwear in my carry-on. Electronic devices go with me, too, and, of course, a couple of books.

    Poor Steve, Lucy. He certainly was a good sport. I'm not sure I could have been that congenial about it. I've been lucky in not having had luggage lost, but my husband has had his bag go missing a few times. Luckily, his luggage was found quickly. I never take it for granted when my luggage makes its appearance on the baggage carousel. I always breathe a sigh of relief.

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  24. My worst lost baggage experience was flying from Usumbura, Burundi to Kampala, Uganda with my family. I was 17 and we were going on safari in what was then the Queen Elizabeth Game Park. We arrived in Kampala with everyone’s bag except mine. Big problem as I was not a teeny tiny person. My mother and I scoured the rather meager Kampala shops and I remember a pr of orange Capri pants, a shirt and some panties. No bra! Luckily our friend with whom we are visited was my size and could help out. I remember my mum had a black, knit sack dress as they were called in 1960, and it fit me being knit so I wore it to dinner each night and felt very sophisticated. Yes my care was awaiting pickup when we returned to Burundi.

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  25. GOOD ADVICE!! And yes, I NEVER check a bag, never. Oh, what a terrible story. Ahhh...It's a miracle anything ever arrives anywhere, though. Once i did check a million years ago, on the way to Nevis. They lost it. I ended up buying a bathing suit and flip flops and a skirt. I wore jonathan's shorts and t-shirts, which hardly fit but who cared. When my luggage arrived, I was llike--what am I gonna do with all this? Life changing!

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  26. I traveled for over 25 years and only once didn't have my luggage, and that was arriving home and delivered the next day. This is all before 911 and I didn't need medications or have a cell phone. I don't travel now so don't have to worry. When I traveled we even got food on the airlines!

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  27. I took students to Washington DC for 10 years & the rule was-carry 1 set of underwear, pjs, 1 outfit in your backpack as carry-on. It paid off more than once.
    We were driving up to Vancouver, Canada one summer & my husband left his suitcase in the living room. He had to buy cheap replacement. We got a kick out of buying University of Washington gear for an Oregon State grad.

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  28. We also flew Aer Lingus from Hartford to Edinburgh through Dublin and we also had a luggage mishap, arriving home 2-1/2 days before our luggage. We may even have spoken to the same agents with American names and Indian/Far Eastern accents. On our trip to Edinburgh, we packed half of my things in his suitcase and vice versa, just in case. It was wet and cool in Scotland, and we were glad to have everything we needed with us. That strategy would not have worked if they'd lost the luggage on the way there since none of our checked luggage made the trip home with us. We have several stories about traveling on that airline, but I won't bore you all with them now. Suffice to say that TripAdvisor is probably the place to tell those tales.

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  29. We had a wheelchair not arrive at our destination. That was so stressful as Dad was 92 and needed it full time. Hint don't let them take it at the gate lounge take it to the plane door.They were great and even though we were 2hrs from the airport chair was delivered the next morning.

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