Why do smart people always take pictures of their luggage before checking in for a flight?

When traveling, especially abroad, you will have to prepare a lot of things and of course, the accompanying luggage is also quite cumbersome. An experience of travel enthusiasts shows that you should take a photo of your luggage before checking in at the airport. This small but important action can be very helpful in urgent situations.

Why should you take a photo of your luggage before checking in?

Currently, despite the improving quality of air services, incidents of damaged or lost luggage still occur worldwide. Therefore, you need to prepare for these unfortunate situations to increase the chances of finding your luggage or requesting compensation in case of loss or damage. Therefore, it is best, when arriving at the airport, before checking in, you should carefully take a photo of your luggage. If possible, you should take photos or even record a video of the inside of the suitcase. This will make the process of filing a compensation claim easier.

The photo will serve as evidence of the condition of your luggage before being checked in. It also helps authorities easily identify your luggage. Many bags and suitcases look similar, so the photo can help differentiate your luggage from others. The image can provide specific details such as color, shape, brand, and other identifying information like luggage tags or labels.

In the case of travel insurance covering lost or damaged luggage, the photo can be helpful in the compensation process. It provides tangible evidence of what you have. When disputes arise regarding damage or loss, a clear photo will expedite the resolution process and provide a more convincing argument. Therefore, based on experiences, it is recommended to take a photo of your luggage before checking in. It not only takes a little time but can also help you in rare situations.

Small tips to help you prepare your luggage when flying

If you are worried because you have too many things to carry and don’t know how to organize them, here are some small tips:

+ Prepare a suitable suitcase

Most airlines allow carry-on luggage weighing no more than 7kg and checked luggage weighing no more than 20 – 30kg. According to Vietnam Airlines regulations, each piece of carry-on luggage has a total dimension not exceeding 115cm (which corresponds to 56 x 36 x 23 cm) and the total dimension of both pieces of checked luggage must not exceed 273cm. Normally, rectangular suitcases can hold more items. If possible, choose ones with four wheels so that you can stack a few smaller bags on top and easily push them around the airport or on the street. + Make a list of items to bring

Before your trip, imagine everything you need to bring, from clothes, shoes, accessories to toiletries. It is best to organize your clothes for each day of the tour to avoid wasting time searching or choosing. Choose clothes made of lightweight materials to save space in your suitcase.

+ Prepare items before packing them in the suitcase

For underwear and swimwear, you should roll them up, wrap them in plastic bags, and put them inside shoes to save space. Shirts and pants should also be rolled up to avoid wrinkles. If you bring jewelry, you should keep them in separate boxes or put them in small plastic bags and remember to seal the bags tightly. Shampoos, lotions, perfumes must be stored in plastic bottles according to airline regulations and put in a separate plastic bag before placing them in the checked luggage. The remaining items can be packed in small plastic or nylon bags, both to differentiate between groups of items and to ensure that they fit neatly into the luggage.

+ How to pack the suitcase

To maximize space, you should arrange your luggage as follows: place jeans, skirts, and larger items at the bottom of the suitcase instead of folding and stacking them. Place lighter-colored clothes at the bottom and darker-colored clothes on top to avoid soiling due to repeated opening and closing of the suitcase. Then, arrange other items one by one. All small items should be inserted into the corners of the suitcase, which allows you to save a significant amount of space.

Note that the suitcase must be tightly packed without any gaps. If there is even a small gap, the items inside your suitcase will shift continuously, increasing the risk of damage. You can use newspapers to fill any gaps in the suitcase if necessary. Finally, use a small lock to secure your suitcase before checking it in to avoid losing any items inside.