Packing Tips For Safety

ID Your Bags - Inside
INSIDE of every bag you bring, carry-on or checked, place your name, address, phone number on a card inside a small ziplock bag. You wouldn't believe how many of those nametags fall off the outside of bags. If the airlines find your bag, they will search the inside for ID.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Tie a colorful ribbon on each of your bags for quick identification at the baggage claim. So many black bags ... so little time!

To Do, or Not to Do?
Leave a name, address and phone in your luggage, but DO NOT put your HOME address on the identification. Put your work address and phone only. Luggage thieves will know you're not home, know your home address, and you may come home to an unhappy surprise.

Prioritize
You want to pack everything but can't. Make 3 piles: necessities, almost necessities and luxury items. Take all the necessities, none of the almost necessities and one luxury item. It will be all you need.

Two-Part Suitcase
If travelling for two weeks or less, always opt for a 'two-part' suitcase (the type with a larger bottom bag WITH wheels, a telescoping handle, and a detachable smaller top bag). Every airline I've flown will consider these a carryon. You can put the larger bag (clothes and things you are not likely to need) in the overhead compartment, and the smaller bag (snacks, books, money, gum, passport, etc.) with you on your lap or under the seat. You NEVER have to worry about lost, damaged, or stolen luggage again! You'll thank me when you breeze right through the airport, passing by all the unfourtunates waiting at the baggage claim wondering when (sometimes if) their bags will come through. This also saves you time so you won't be late for your connection.

Visible and Unique Luggage Handles 
A great tip that I use is to wrap brightly colored electrical tape (red, blue, yellow, etc.) around the handles of your checked luggage. The first thing a person grabs from the carousel is the handle of the suitcase and if it is a bright color they will realize that it is not their bag. I have found that this works better than ribbons - which tend to fall off. If you really want to be able to see your luggage, try the new flexible plastic suitcases (from Samsonite) - they come in bright neon colors. They are cheaper than regular hardside and work just as well (if not better) because they don't crack!

Protect with a Towel
Line the bottom of your suitcase with a towel and when you have finished packing place another one on the top. This will prevent any clothes being torn should something happen to your case. Alternatively use your towels to split sections of your case ie: Nightwear, underwear, day clothes - which will make it easier to unpack.

Recycling Your Clothes
Bring Febreeze for clothing when going on trips! It allows you to wear articles of clothing several times.

SaveTime by Cutting Down on Laundry
Long flights overseas, and making connections, can be stressful. Consider wearing a grimy, old t-shirt under your regular shirt, and simply pitch it on arrival. It protects your overshirt, and saves laundry. Also consider doing the same by packing old underwear and socks. It may sound gross, but it works and is a real timesaver!

Shower Caps
save the free shower caps from hotel rooms and when you pack shoes on the next trip place them in the shower caps - they keep clothes from getting soiled. Best of all, it is cheap and you can recycle the old ones.