Just in! Midwest Book Review:
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Traveling across the country or around the world hasn't been this difficult since the days of covered wagons and tall masted sailing ships. At least back then it was easier to keep track of your luggage! Focusing specifically on the subject of travel luggage, "The Empty Carousel: A Consumer's Guide to Checked And Carry-on Luggage by Scott T. Mueller is an indispensable travel guide for airline passengers traveling today's airlines in an era where there is an average of 10,000 lost luggage pieces each day in the USA alone! In just ten compact chapters of tips, trick, techniques, and practical advice, readers will learn what they must do to insure the safety and retrievability of their luggage with respect to baggage check-in and proper identification; luggage and locks; preparations for packing; luggage damage and insurance coverage; luggage thieves; domestic vs. international compensation for lost or damaged luggage; luggage security at the airport carousel; where luggage goes when it disappears; filing luggage claims with an airline; and 'Make the Best of Your Travel Experience'. Informed and informative, "The Empty Carousel" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone traveling today's airlines, foreign or domestic!
Reduce the pain of traveling Lost baggage claims are skyrocketing. In 2006 more than 240,000 bags never found there owners. Over 10,000 bags are lost every day in the US alone. More than 1 million pieces of luggage were lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered by U.S. airlines from May to July 2007, according to data from the bureau of Transportation Statistics. Scott T. Mueller has worked in the airline industry for almost twenty years. He was the system manager for baggage services for one of the largest domestic airlines in the US for five years. Very simply, he'll confirm your worst fears about how your baggage is handled by the airlines. And then he'll give you the very best advice on what you can do to minimize the risks and reduce the pain. It's all detailed and presented succinctly and clearly in his new book, The Empty Carousel: A Consumer's Guide to Checked and Carry-on Luggage. Very simply, the baggage handling system is a nightmare for the airlines. Like it or not, it's complex, and daunting. “When you check your baggage, you are gambling that whatever is in your luggage is going to arrive safe. Luggage is often lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered.” Lack of proper identification is the number one reason why bags are not reunited with their owners. Here are just some of the valuable tips Mueller offers up to minimize the risk of a problem: 1. The name on the bag has to match the name of the person traveling and the name, address and telephone number must be written clearly and 2. The name tags must be sturdy and attached firmly enough to withstand getting caught and pulled in mechanical belts and stresses the baggage 3. In addition, you should put a legal size sheet of paper with your identification and itinerary into a plastic zipper locking bag and place it inside your luggage right on top, so that it is clearly visible when someone opens your bag looking for identification. Your name and telephone number is good enough for the airline or a law enforcement inspector to locate you. 4. You should also add a colorful and unique visual means for identifying your luggage and distinguishing it visibly quickly and reliable from other people's luggage of the same color and appearance. Add a colorful or unique ribbon, rag, or 5. When you check in, make sure that you ask the airline to check your bags all the way to your destination. According to Mueller, Making sure that you follow these steps does not guarantee that your bag will not get lost. “But it will improve your chances of avoiding a problem,” he said. Another tidbit that most travelers don't realize these days is that you can buy and use a US Travel Safety Administration approved lock. This way you can lock your luggage and inspectors can still inspect your bags without causing dame to the lock or the bag. If you don't use a TSA approved lock, you should just use a zip tie to secure the luggage zippers. Get more information on TSA approved locks at www.tsa.gov Mueller says that his most important advice to travelers is really simple. “If you can't replace it, live without it, or seal the deal without it, don't pack it.”
By Scott T. Mueller List $12.95 ISBN-10: 097912090X ISBN-13: 978-0979120909 This little book is packed with valuable information and helpful advice Scott T. Mueller has worked in the airline industry for almost twenty years. He |
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