In the normal course of air travel, luggage will encounter some disturbances as it is moved on conveyors, loaded on carts, and transported to and from the aircraft. Rain, snow, strong winds, or intense sunlight may also be encountered between airport terminals and aircraft. Once luggage has been loaded in the aircraft bins, it will shift about during takeoff, landing, and in turbulence. A little advance planning and careful packing can protect luggage.
When purchasing luggage, select pieces that are lightweight, roomy, and durable. Material and design should be able to keep contents dry in adverse weather. Be sure that each piece has a secure lock. suitcase with wheels or a baggage caddy will help make trips through airport terminals much easier.
Travel light. Less luggage means less need for Skycaps and easier trips through airport terminals.
Prior to packing, make a list of everything you want to take and check off each item as it is packed. This will help make sure you don't forget anything (it's no fun to discover your toothbrush is still at home when you need to brush your teeth). It will also serve as a handy inventory list should your luggage become lost and you need to file a claim.
For each ticketed passenger, most airlines allow 3 pieces of baggage (1 checked & 2 carryon, or 1 carryon & 2 checked). Maximum allowed weight is 70 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches--height, width, and length combined. Try to limit your carryon luggage to one bag that will fit underneath your seat. The maximum size allowed for any carryon piece is 16x10x24 inches -- height, width, and length. Overhead bin space is very limited and once it has been filled, any carryon that will not fit under your seat must be checked.
Keep your jewelry, keys, wallets, eyeglasses, tickets, money, passports, cameras, and other valuables with you in your carryon luggage. Also carry on any medication that you may need during the trip.
Always put your name and address on the outside of all baggage, both checked and carryon. We recommend placing your name and address on the inside as well, since outside tags can come off. Be sure to remove any old destination tags from your luggage. You certainly don't want your bags to end up in the wrong city!
Put cosmetics, shoe polish, nail enamel, liquor, perfume, and anything else that might spill, break, and stain your clothing into reclosable plastic bags or unbreakable containers.
Placing garments in plastic bags (such as those that come from a dry cleaners) before folding and packing will help to prevent wrinkling. Rolling up pants, t-shirts, etc. like a newspaper will lessen wrinkling. Placing rolled up socks and other soft clothing items inside shoes will save space and help the shoes keep their shape.
Purchase travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries or place just the amounts you will need of these items in small containers to take with you. Carrying around several big bottles can get awfully heavy; plus, they take up lots of space in your luggage.
Fragile items may be included in your carryon allowance and brought onboard the plane. If you decide to check a fragile item, it's important to make sure it is properly packed to withstand the normal rigors of air travel. Fragile articles are accepted as check baggage only at the Customer's own risk.
Don't overpack your luggage. Overpacking can wrinkle clothing and cause baggage to rip apart or pop open during handling and transport. Don't take the chance of losing items you have packed. If your bag cannot be easily closed, take something out!
Remove hooks and straps before checking luggage. These are easily caught in baggage handling machinery, which can cause extensive damage to your bag.
Be sure to lock your luggage prior to checking it in, and keep the key with you.
When checking luggage, allow sufficient time for it to be placed on your flight.
When you've checked your luggage, make sure you receive a separate claim check for each piece of baggage you've checked. Check to make sure that the city shown on the claim check(s) matches your final destination.
All carryon luggage is subject to inspection at the security checkpoint. It could be required that gifts be unwrapped for inspection, so it's best to wait to wrap them until you've reached your destination. The following items are considered dangerous and are not allowed in carryon luggage:
      · knives, including hunting and cooking knives
      · handguns and rifles, including compressed air and CO2 powered weapons
      · mace or tear gas
      · billy clubs or nightsticks
      · any hazardous material as defined and regulated by Federal law
      · balloons filled with helium gas
Never pack anything considered a hazardous material. Seemingly harmless materials can be dangerous onboard an aircraft. Leave home any flammable liquids (paints, solvents, etc.), household items that contain chemicals (bleaches, drain cleaners, and the like), matches , and other flammable or potentially toxic materials. Variations in temperature and pressure can cause such goods to leak or ignite.
When leaving the aircraft, check to make sure you have all your carryon items with you.
When claiming your checked baggage, check the claim check number and name tag to make sure it is yours. Many pieces of luggage look alike, and you don't want to walk off with someone else's.
If your luggage is damaged or does not arrive as scheduled, immediately notify the airline. Most airlines' liability for loss or damage of checked luggage is limited to a maximum of $2,500.00 per ticketed passenger. If your baggage is valued at more than this amount, you may purchase excess valuation insurance at time of check-in.
Most airlines will not be responsible for money; jewelry; cameras; video and electronic equipment, including computers; silverware; negotiable papers; securities; business documents; samples; items intended for sale; musical instruments; paintings; antiques; artifacts; manuscripts; furs; irreplaceable books or publications; and similar valuables contained in checked or unchecked baggage.