Navigating Baggage Switches: A Guide For Airport Travelers

Changing baggage at the airport can be a stressful experience, especially if you have a connecting flight to catch. In most cases, if you have to change airports, you will be responsible for transferring your luggage, which means collecting your bags and re-checking them at the next airport. This can often be a hassle and may not be worth the time and effort, especially if you are tight on time. It is important to note that if your luggage is already loaded onto the plane and you need to make a change, it is unlikely that the cargo will be removed to search for your bag unless there is a safety concern. In the event of a flight change, your bags may be rerouted to follow your new itinerary, but this is not guaranteed.

If you have to change airports, you will need to collect your luggage and take it with you

If you have checked bags and end up changing your originating flight due to delays or a missed connecting flight, your bags will likely continue on to your original final destination. If you have changed your final destination, your bags may or may not be rerouted to your new destination. It is difficult to determine what will happen in this case. If your bags were already loaded onto the plane, the ramp crew will not be told that the plane has been rerouted, but the expedite office will be informed. A bag change order can take around two hours.

If your bags do not arrive at the baggage claim of your new destination, you should file a delayed bag claim, and your bags will be delivered to you. You can also try to recover your checked bag before your rebooked flight, but this is not recommended, as there is a greater chance that your bag will get lost somewhere in the airport.

You can add extra baggage after booking a flight

If you've already booked a flight, you can still add extra baggage. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

• Go to the TravelPerk homepage and click on 'Trips'.
• Find the relevant trip and click 'Manage trip'.
• Select 'Add or change extras'.
• Go to 'Bag Selection' and click 'Add'.
• Choose the type of baggage you want to add, then click 'Add baggage'.
• Once the extra baggage has been added, a notification will be sent to the person who made the booking and any travellers.

Please note that for flights arriving in or departing from the US and Canada, extra checked baggage can only be added at the airport during check-in.

If the fare includes a carry-on bag, it will be automatically selected. If not, depending on the airline, you may be able to purchase one on the extras page. If available, additional checked baggage options will be displayed, or you can click 'Show more options' to see all available choices. Once you've selected the option that suits you best, click 'Add flight to trip'.

If you can't see any additional baggage options, the flight may not offer them, or they have sold out.

If you need to change your originating flight, your bags will likely continue to your final destination

Firstly, if your bags have already been loaded onto the original flight, the airline staff may not remove them, especially if the plane is about to depart. In this case, your bags will continue to the original destination. If you have a connecting flight, the bags may be rerouted to your new destination, but this is not guaranteed. It is best to inform the airline staff of your new travel plans as soon as possible so they can attempt to reroute your bags.

If your bags do continue to your original destination, they will likely be held at the baggage office or lost and found at the airport. You can contact the airline to arrange delivery to your new location, but this may take some time.

To avoid any issues, it is recommended to pack light and only bring carry-on luggage, especially if you anticipate any changes to your travel plans. This way, you can avoid the hassle and stress of dealing with checked baggage.

Additionally, it is worth noting that some airlines may have specific policies or procedures for handling checked baggage when a passenger changes their flight. These policies may vary, so it is always a good idea to review the airline's guidelines before your trip.

If you miss a connecting flight, your bags may continue without you

If you miss a connecting flight, your bags may continue to the final destination without you. This is because there are different regulations for domestic and international flights. For domestic flights, airlines should be able to transfer your bag to another domestic flight since all bags are screened. However, for international flights, federal regulations require airlines to offload checked bags if the passenger is not onboard. This regulation is known as Positive Passenger Bag Match (PPBM) or Passenger Bag Match (PBM).

If you miss a connecting flight, the first thing to do is not panic. Your bags are likely to be rerouted to your final destination, especially if you are flying with a major airline. For example, Delta has invested in bag-tracking technology, and its Fly Delta App allows passengers to track their checked bags in real-time. Similarly, United flyers can use the United mobile app to track their bags from check-in to arrival at the destination airport. If you are flying with an airline that does not offer this service, you can consider purchasing Apple AirTags to track your bags via Bluetooth.

If you arrive at your destination without your bags, go to the local baggage service office for your carrier. This should be located near the baggage claim area or the ticket counter. There, you can file a delayed baggage claim. If you are worried about your bags being lost, consider carrying only hand luggage.

If your bags are delayed, you can file a claim and they will be delivered to you

If your bags are delayed, the first thing to do is make a report at the airport. Visit the Baggage Service Office (BSO) and file a delayed baggage report. You will be given a file reference number, which you should keep, along with the baggage report, for tracking purposes.

If your bag is found within five days of your arrival, it will be delivered to you based on the information you provided in your baggage report, and no further action is needed. However, if your bag is not located within 21 days of your arrival, it is likely that the bag is lost. At this point, an airline representative will contact you to discuss a settlement and/or reimbursement for the loss.

In the meantime, you can request reimbursement for reasonable expenses caused by the bag delay. To do this, begin a claim and select "Out of Pocket Expense". The airline will review your claim and contact you about the next steps and settlements. It's important to note that you must provide legible receipts for any referenced items.

While waiting for your bag to be found, you can also request an overnight kit from the airline, which typically includes basic toiletries and hygiene products. Additionally, you can ask for an allowance for reasonable expenses to cover replacement clothing and other necessary items.

Frequently asked questions