European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 07, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Uvil Magazine tips for keeping tabs on Luggage keeping track of Luggage can be a confusing chore. Name tags help reduce the Chance Otam Loup. Co know your Luggage destination Madrid Spain los Angeles Paris de Gaulle London Heathrow ,frankfurt.- lax w. Ger. Chicago o Hare Munich w. Ger. New York . K. Bolyn Simross los Angeles times if you re gearing up for a visit to aunt Martha in Pittsburgh a ski trip to the Rockies or Caribbean cruise vacation better take some precautions to protect your bags although Youcan t prevent the airlines irom losing them you can do simple things to make it less Likely that they will vanish into lost Luggage land in modern air travel the no 1 problem is lost  said Dave Ellrey. Public a lairs director for the airline passengers of America a Washington based non profit consumer lobbying group the airlines have gotten belter with their on time standings but they re still losing baggage there s no indication that they re getting better at handling  but. Jeffrey conceded the return rate is better than one might expect ninety nine percent of All lost baggage is returned within 24 hours. So Only 1 percent of 450 million passengers a year travelling domestically actually lose their baggage and the airlines usually go out of their Way to bring it to you olten to your Doorstep " to protect themselves passengers should ensure their Luggage is locked and use care in packing valuables in suitcases they plan to Check Eltrey said thai s because in the lost Luggage cannot be Lound airlines normally pay up to $1.250 per passenger Tor bags lost on Domestic lights depending on the value of the suitcase and its contents. On International flights under Warsaw convention rules airlines must pay compensation of $9 07 per Pound of the suitcase with a maximum limit of $634 90 per piece of Luggage. This maximum can be lower Lor second and third suitcases. I would advise buying extra insurance on valuables Jeffrey said. It s not expensive about $1 for $100 coverage. Some airlines offer that themselves " passengers in the United states also can go to Mutual of Omaha counters in airports. It s also smart to ask what items an airline will insure in Case of loss. Some carriers will not pay for lost photographic equipment musical instruments jewelry or computers Jeffrey also recommends that skiers buy extra insurance for their pricey gear ditto surfers for a Board most airlines will provide bags for your skis Al no extra charge but they do charge to handle some sports equipment United airlines for example offers ticketed passengers free transport of ski gear Golf clubs fishing and Bowling equipment and sporting firearms but it charges $30 More for bicycles surfboards and scuba tanks sail boards Are $75 extra which Type of Luggage is Best for travellers the soft or hard sided models that s a matter of customer preference but Joe Hopkins of United airlines in Chicago says soft sided is not As durable hard sided provides More Protection " an american airlines representative agreed adding the soft sided Luggage will get damaged easier. But whatever kind they have they should have a durable name tag on each bag. With name and address it s not a bad idea either to have your name and address on the inside of the bag. Just in Case the outer tag is lost or destroyed " passengers also should remove destination tags from previous trips because they can confuse baggage checkers there Are other common sense precautions that can help prevent airline woes Dave Shipley a us air spokesman in Arlington a. Urged passengers to Check in Early Don t show up five minutes before your flight and expect your bag to make the same  he also suggested thai travellers examine the claim tags they re handed. Ust to double Check their bags Are heading where they re supposed to for carry on Luggage All airline representatives advised passengers against wrapping Gills before travelling unless they re something innocuous like a rubber doll or books and if you do wrap those presents before boarding a plane it s better to use paper not metallic oils. Electronic games especially should remain unwrapped airline officials said citing the destruction of a Nintendo game at los Angeles International Airport by los Angeles police department bomb squad which feared the game was an explosive device. If you re carrying gilts As part of your hand Luggage you just have to use Good judgment in what you  said United s Hopkins. I d recommend they wrap it after they get there. Say you re giving your grandchild a toy gun or electronic games when that is screened x Rayed by Security they re going to want to see it adds Shipley of us air All carry on must Box Rayed and passengers must unwrap presents if the Security agent requests them to. My Best advice is to put wrapped presents with the exception of electronic items in your checked Luggage not carry them on the  the Federal aviation administration recommends that airlines allow per passenger not More than two carry on bags which must fit in the overhead bins or beneath the seat once you arrive if the airline has damaged or loss your Luggage report it at once to baggage representatives before leaving the the Minal. Said Jeffrey of the airline passengers group each  he said has a different policy on the statute of limitations concerning Luggage some give you 90 Days to report it. Some give you two hours and you should get copies of All the paper work about the baggage names of people you spoke with and phone numbers so you can Call them  wednesday february 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13