A suitcase that has lightened by 1-2 kilograms after the flight can spoil the impression of the whole trip. It is no less sad to see a soiled, scratched or torn suitcase with damaged or missing handles on the delivery tape.

Such situations happen quite often, and by no means every airline or auto company is willing to compensate for the damage. According to statistics, over the past year, about 6 passengers out of a thousand lost their luggage during the flight. The number of bags that came to their owners torn or soiled simply cannot be counted. The Internet is full of sad stories about baggage that was damaged during the flight. Here are just a couple of them.

“Tolmachevo, Novosibirsk. The bag went to the tape in an open form - top part torn, all personal belongings out. There were no valuables, nothing was missing. We wrote an application for compensation for spoiled pretty expensive bag... Answer: and you show a check for it, and then prove the degree of wear with documents ",- Svetlana Zakharenko shared with Aviasales.

“I often fly with different flights and airlines. But one problem always remains the same everywhere - damaged baggage. If the cases do not damage it, they will stain and spoil the whole view for sure. While waiting at the airport, I got into a conversation with the man next door and drew attention to his suitcase, he was in a case. It turned out that these are covers for Fancy Armor, which, in fact, protect against damage and dirt. Another plus is the color, the luggage can be recognized per kilometer ", - recalls Evgeny Ivchenko.

Here are some tips for those looking to keep their luggage and suitcase intact.

1) For short trips, a backpack, garment bag, or a shoulder bag will do the trick. If you are planning to return from a trip with new clothes or heavy souvenirs, choose a suitcase on wheels: this will save both your back and the straps of your backpack from excessive load.

2) Do not overload your suitcase with clothes and masterpieces of foreign gastronomy - this is fraught with torn off handles, as well as a banal excess that will have to be paid at the airport.

3) Another tip: when checking in for a flight, ask to affix a “Fragile” sticker to your baggage - this does not give a 100% guarantee against damage, but it will be handled more carefully.

4) Stick a bright tag with your data behind the suitcase - this will help the lost luggage return to the owner.

5) Luggage is often lost on transfers. If you want to keep your risk to a minimum, avoid transit flights.

6) If you are going to transport something expensive, be sure to keep your sales receipts. It will also be useful to remove your luggage on the camera before the flight.

7) Most easy way protecting a suitcase from damage is a polyethylene wrapping, but such protection has a lot of disadvantages: it looks unattractive and prevents the owner from finding his bag (it can be difficult to distinguish two suitcases wrapped in polyethylene). In addition, it is extremely environmentally unfriendly: after serving you only a few hours, plastic wrap is doomed to decompose in a landfill for several centuries.

The best alternative to disposable wrapping is a bright case, for example, from the collection

Every third traveler is faced with the fact that his baggage after the flight gets to him damaged. Anything that does not belong to carry-on baggage is sent to the baggage section of the aircraft. On the way, suitcases meet serious obstacles in the form of moving belts and unscrupulous loaders. They are exposed to shock, shaking and other mechanical stress. In addition to cosmetic defects, this leads to the failure of the main elements.

The most vulnerable parts of the suitcase

When purchasing luggage, you need to pay attention to the items that most often deteriorate.

List of major problems:

· Wheels. While moving along the conveyors, they come off, crack. It is better to choose a design with wheels that are recessed into the body. Less often, silicone wheels equipped with metal bearings break.

· Frame. The hard base cracks and bends, and the soft one is rubbed to holes. The best material recognized nylon, polycarbonate, ABS plastic. To prevent your luggage from getting spoiled after the first flight, you should choose products from trusted brands.

· Pens. Plastic parts often break on impact. It is worth choosing luggage with two handles for carrying: on the side and on top. They can be made of durable fabric. The handle for moving the suitcase on wheels must go completely into the body. Then it will not break if the suitcase is carelessly moved.

You need to purchase suitcases with quality certificates. Then there will be less unforeseen travel situations and you will not have to carry luggage due to broken wheels or look for packages to shift things that fall out of a leaky case.

Protection is never superfluous

The best tool that can protect a suitcase from careless airport workers, burglars and other troubles is a protective film. A similar service is provided at the airport. Typically, packing points are located near the check-in area. They work around the clock. If there are several such items, you can compare prices and choose the best way... Each of them offers additional bonuses. The cost depends on the size of the luggage and the region. On average, it is 400-800 rubles. There is such a service not only in Russia, but also in other countries, for example, in Australia, Brazil, Vietnam.

It will be cheaper to wrap the luggage yourself. This will require several rolls of cling film. It is very flexible and easily adheres to any surface.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Wind the first layer tightly around the body from top to bottom.

2. Roll the film, changing its direction by 90 degrees, close the top and bottom.

3. The film should lie evenly, wrinkles should be smoothed with the palm of your hand.

4. The reliability of the armor will depend on the number of layers.

5. Wheels, handles must be free from the film. To do this, it is cut with a clerical knife.

Foil must be wrapped around the entire suitcase. You shouldn't skimp on it. There should be many layers. Then you can not be afraid for external factors in the form of moisture, friction, throwing, dirt. Even a thief will find it difficult to open such baggage. It is quite difficult to crawl through all the layers of the elastic film.

If you can find a colored stretch film, that's great. Then the suitcase will be easier to find after arrival. It will be able to stand out from the rest of the bags.

If you travel regularly, you should consider purchasing a special reusable. It saves time on wrapping and protects your luggage on the go. Plus, the cover can be washed after every ride. It's more difficult to do this with a suitcase.

Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thank you for
that you discover this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and the goosebumps.
Join us at Facebook and In contact with

Losing luggage is a nightmare for any traveler.

site found 10 tips for you to push as far as possible to the scenario where you fly with your suitcase in different directions.

Get rid of old tags first.

If you are a collector who loves to watch a lot of pretty stickers from travel on your suitcase, you risk simply not getting it one day - after all, it will fly away on an old tag. Better to glue a business card with your data on the suitcase - this will significantly speed up the search for your luggage in case of its loss.

Register in advance

If you have very valuable luggage, it is better to insure it

As the user TheQuestion writes, there was such a case: “The passenger flew from the USA and carried 8 iPads in his luggage. There was no insurance, the value was not declared. The iPads were stolen. True, the passenger still received compensation - $ 30 ”. To avoid such situations, if you are carrying a very valuable cargo, it is better to insure it. Or at least take a picture at registration (as evidence).

Travelers are often overcome with excitement before the flight. Will I see my things as I put them in my suitcase? And will I see them at all? These questions are of particular concern to those transporting valuable and fragile items. It is unlikely that someone will give you an exact answer, so if you are worried about the safety of your luggage, you should take matters into your own hands. Thule brand expert Viktor Postavnichev shares tips to help you protect your belongings as much as possible from damage and loss.

Start with the right packaging
The first rule of packing your luggage securely is to fill the entire space of your suitcase. So things will definitely not move from wall to wall, which means that the likelihood that they will be worn out, beaten or broken is significantly reduced. However, do not rush to score travel bag unnecessary rubbish. The voids can be filled with newspapers - upon arrival, you will throw them away, and you will have space for souvenirs. And try not to overload the suitcase with heavy things, because in most cases, when loading, employees will throw it from place to place, and the impact force depends on the weight and, as a result, the likelihood of damage.
The order in which things are folded also matters. Place heavy objects against the walls so that they do not damage lighter ones. Place really fragile items in the center and surround with soft clothing.
If possible, wrap glass bottles in thick cardboard. For this, for example, an old shoe box is suitable. Just cut out a piece of cardboard that is slightly longer than the bottle - to cover the bottom - and it should be wide enough to wrap the bottle at least twice. You can fasten the structure with ordinary tape.

Prepare "documentation"
This item will be especially useful for those who plan to transport valuable cargo. In fact, the safest thing to do is to take things with you in your carry-on luggage - this way you will be sure that nothing will be damaged or lost. If the suitcase is sent as luggage, no one will give you a 100% guarantee of its safety. The best thing you can do in this case is to prepare documents that will help you to compensate for losses in case of trouble.
Minimum plan: take photos of the contents of the suitcase before the flight. So it will be easier for you to prove the loss, but the amount of compensation, if any, will be at the discretion of the carrier. The next level of preparation is the preservation of sales receipts, which indicate the value of things. Now there will be no doubt that the broken vase really belonged to the Ming Dynasty, and was not bought in the local market.
You will have to pay extra for the maximum possible safety of things. One of the options is to check in valuable items in baggage with a declared value (however, not all airlines have such an option). To do this, you need to draw up a special document and pay the fee right at the airport, at the check-in counter. Thus, the airline assumes responsibility for the safety of the baggage and will be obliged to return the money to you in case of damage. Finally, it is best to take out insurance for especially valuable items.

Go for the trick

Do you want your luggage to be handled more carefully? During check-in, ask to attach a “Fragile” (fragile) sticker to the suitcase, even on both sides, so that employees will notice exactly. Some airlines even load fragile cargo separately and place it in a special compartment.
The last tip is useful for those who are just planning to buy tickets. When choosing a transit flight, remember that it takes time for airport staff to transfer baggage from one aircraft to another. Therefore, it is advisable that the transfer lasts at least 1 hour - this way the luggage will have less chance of being lost.

If something still went wrong
Suppose that all the precautions taken did not help, the baggage was still damaged, and you decided to contact the airline with a complaint. Remember that your claim has an expiration date. For domestic flights, you can, in any case, file a complaint with the carrier within six months of arrival.
For external flights, more complex rules apply. If your baggage is damaged, you can file a claim no later than 14 days after receipt. If baggage is delayed, the airline will accept the application within 21 calendar day from the date of receipt. In the event of a loss to file a complaint, you have 18 months from the date the baggage was scheduled to arrive.

One of the most important procedures when traveling by plane is packing your suitcase at the airport. Though given task, at first glance, it seems quite simple, it is rather difficult to cope with the packaging on your own, so many travelers order paid service baggage packing, which is provided at each airport. A properly packed bag or suitcase is a unique opportunity to simplify the process of checking things or transportation, as well as to prevent the fact of theft, because unprotected luggage is so easy to open and get all the most valuable from there.

Each airport has its own baggage packing rules. For example, sturdy suitcases with a solid frame and a combination lock are not necessary for winding, because they are almost impossible to damage or break. Soft bags need to be packed properly, and open bags with things are not taken into luggage at all.

Why do you need to pack your luggage

At the check-in desk at the airport, baggage is accepted only if its wrapper is strong and does not raise suspicions that the suitcase may be damaged during transportation or loading. Even if the suitcase has a solid frame, and it meets all the requirements put forward, it still makes sense to securely pack such a luggage bag for several reasons:

• A packed bag can easily withstand the careless attitude of porters at the airport, withstand various mechanical damage, fabric tears, scratches on plastic and impacts;
• High-quality packaging is a guarantee of reliable protection against unauthorized burglary: it is difficult to reach the contents in the bag under a thick layer of film, so even the smallest outer pockets will be safe from thieves;
• Protection from dirt, plastic baggage packaging allows you to keep the suitcase intact without any scuffs or stains. That is why you need to properly wrap even the strongest bag with special elastic plastic wrap in order to limit the risk of contamination when falling from the transport belt.

Important! The bag should not be full of things to the stop, because the suitcase at the airport goes a long way, and the movers do not stand on ceremony with other people's suitcases, so a strong load or blow can lead to the fact that the fastener will open or break, and all the contents will end up on the floor.

Cost of paid baggage packing

Many busy travelers who do not have time to pack their luggage on their own are interested in the question of where you can order a paid service for packing suitcases at the airport. Each air port has special packaging machines located near the entrance or passages to the check-in counters.

Also nearby are check scales for checking the weight of luggage, weighing on them will allow you to avoid further unpacking the suitcase when overweight. In some airports, this service is provided free of charge, in others it is paid and often costs 50 rubles (while the automated scales work for about 30 seconds, with systematic weighing, you can find out the weight of 3-4 bags at a time).

Useful advice. Also, luggage can be weighed before packing at unattended check-in counters.

Baggage packing at any airport can be done both independently and with the help of experienced staff who will give the necessary recommendations. The packing racks have all the materials and instructions for proper wrapping.

How much does paid baggage packing at the main Moscow airports cost:

• Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo - the price of wrapping one suitcase varies between 350-500 rubles for luggage weighing up to 32 kg and 700 rubles for over 32 kilograms;
• As for the question of how much it costs to wrap a suitcase at Domodedovo, here a lot depends on the airline the passenger flies to. For example, people who often travel with Aeroflot can pay with bonus miles, this service will cost 2,200 bonuses if you contact PACK & FLY. At the same time, for each piece of baggage, Aeroflot passengers can receive an additional 50 miles to their bonus account. For travelers flying with other airlines, baggage wrapping will cost 500-600 rubles per unit, and the wrapping procedure itself will take only 1-2 minutes.

At Domodedovo airport, packing racks are located on the ground floor of the passenger terminal and they work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This service is provided by several companies: PACK & FLY, Truestar, VEKS UPAK. The company PACK & FLY is especially popular among passengers, which provides discounts on club cards, as well as to customers of UTAIR, S7 airlines free packing of suitcases for WWII veterans, the possibility of buying special protection against burglary, and many other advantageous offers.

Additional Information. An excellent alternative of the PACK & FLY company will become TRUSTAR GROUP. Their counters are located near the check-in point for the flight in the passenger terminal of Domodedovo airport. Here you can pack a suitcase on a plane for 500 rubles, get special protection against unauthorized opening, a small sticker that allows you to quickly find your luggage if it is lost and weigh the bag for free.

Rules for self-packing a suitcase

For those who want to save money on baggage packing at the airport, you can try to do it yourself. The main thing is to adhere to some basic rules and buy necessary materials... When self-wrapping a suitcase, you must use cling film sold in any store household chemicals, and scotch tape. The first thing to start with is to put things right inside the bag so that fragile things are not damaged and the suitcase is not stuffed all the way. To do this, you need to put all heavy and bulky items on the bottom (books, shoes, clothes), the rest of the miniature gizmos must be distributed on the sides and additional pockets, if any. For convenience, you can put each item in a separate plastic bag, this will greatly simplify the screening process at the airport.

1. The first thing to do is to press the free edge of the cling film against the bag;
2. Second - it is necessary to make a full turn with the second hand so that the polyethylene sticks tightly to the surface of the bag or suitcase;
3. Then it is necessary to make at least 5-10 full-fledged windings along the entire length of the baggage;
4. Roll up not only one side, for the sake of reliability, it is recommended to do the same manipulations with the other side;
5. To provide better protection, it is necessary to wrap not only the body itself, but also the handle with the leg, and then make small holes for the accessible operation of these parts;
6. The slots for the wheels and the handle should be secured with duct tape to prevent damage to the packaging at the airport when transporting baggage.

If the passenger wrapped the suitcase on their own with cling film, then such baggage will differ from others in the transparency of the packaging, because the polyethylene used at the airport is much denser and not transparent. Despite this, it is worth marking your bag and placing a sticker with personal data and a contact phone number under the last packing layer, this will help in finding your luggage if it is lost.

A little advice. If you often fly by air and are wondering how to pack your suitcase, then the best solution would be to purchase a reusable, aesthetic and reliable luggage cover. An indispensable attribute can also be a fastener belt, which protects the suitcase from breaking. If it is damaged, you can easily calculate the fact of theft and file a complaint in time.

Damage to the suitcase during the flight

If the bag or suitcase was damaged during transportation due to the fault of the airport employees, and there are visible signs of break-in on the luggage itself, then each passenger can claim compensation.

To do this, you need to do the following manipulations:

• Record the fact of burglary immediately upon detection at the airport;
• Submit information on checked baggage (boarding passes, baggage tags, etc.);
• Find a representative office that is located at the airport, or employees of the airline that flew;
• Fill out a form with a claim, indicating the amount to be compensated and detailed personal data;
• Put stamps and remove copies of documents that will remain with the airline employees.

After that, it remains to wait for a call from the representatives of the air carrier. On average, compensation is paid in the amount of $ 10 for each kilogram of baggage weight.

When wondering where to pack your luggage, at home or at the airport, you should start from your own skills and financial capabilities. If the passenger is sure that he will be able to reliably wrap the suitcase, then it will be possible to save money on this service. Special equipment at the airport and baggage wrapping specialists will be able to guarantee the safety of the bag and reliable protection of the packaging material, so professional packaging is more reliable, albeit costly.

Video