Amid flight cancellations, here’s how to track down your luggage at RDU airport

Troy March and his family were traveling from Colorado to their Raleigh home Wednesday when some of their luggage got stuck in Dallas.

Due to a delayed flight departure in Colorado, March said his family barely made it onto their connecting flight leaving Dallas, which caused the bag delay. Once in Raleigh, they found three of their five bags.

“The other two were snowboard bags that didn’t make it onto the same flight,” he said, noting that they carried equipment worth almost $5,000.

“All that stuff is expensive, the snowboards, the boots, and the ski jackets. All that stuff just adds up,” he said.

His family flew American Airlines. While the airline has not reported mass cancellations like Southwest Airlines, American reported some delays during the crush of holiday travel and inclement weather.

As holiday travelers make their way home or travel for the New Year’s weekend, they’re trying to navigate another problem: finding their luggage.

Unclaimed, delayed or missing luggage is building up at Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s baggage claim terminals as flights continue to be canceled and delayed through the new year.

Airline customers were thrown into a frenzy last week when Southwest Airlines began cutting flights in response to harsh winter weather conditions across the country before Christmas.

RDU reported dozens of flight cancellations over the weekend, leaving thousands of travelers (and their luggage) stranded. On Monday, nearly 50 southwest flights were canceled. As of Thursday, 31 Southwest flights were canceled coming in and out of RDU, according to the tracker on FlightAware.com.

Luggage claims are handled by the airline, not the airport, unless it was lost on airport property, according to a spokesperson for RDU.

In an email to The News & Observer, Southwest Airlines did not say how many customers’ luggage was misplaced. They said they expect flights to resume operating on a normal schedule beginning Friday and are continuing to work with customers to find their bags. The airline also made a promise to provide vouchers for hotels and food for displaced travelers.

In addition to filing for refunds for flight cancellations, customers can take advantage of claims and take other steps to keep track of their bags.

How to find or track your luggage

When your luggage Is missing, the airline is responsible for finding the items, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If you have checked everywhere for your luggage and have waited at baggage claim for it to unload, take action immediately and find your airline’s baggage claims office.

Most international airlines have tracking websites and mobile apps to help you check your flight status and check your bags.

The apps also help you to track your luggage. You can see when your luggage Is loaded and unloaded from the plane and when you can expect its arrival.

Other tracking devices like Apple Airtags are recommended by travel experts who say the tools help you keep an eye on your belongings.

March said he was tracking his delayed snowboard bags from Dallas through the American Airlines app and saw the bags were headed to RDU on Thursday afternoon.

Most airlines don’t really declare luggage lost until after five days, the Department of Transportation says. This can vary, however.

The most an airline can compensate a customer Is $3,800 per bag lost, according to the Department of Transportation.

Make a claim

Southwest Airlines recommends customers complete an online form to submit a baggage report claim. The form asks questions about the type of missing luggage, a description and where the bag departed from.

“Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance normally cover your property, too, even when you are in transit on public transportation,” the Travelers United group said. “Some very diligent travelers suggest travelers make a packing list that can be referenced if there is a need for insurance reimbursement.”

Other airlines like American, Delta, United and Frontier have similar claims processes and require travelers to report missing or delayed bags as soon as possible. Most airlines will deliver your luggage to your home or hotel.

Be sure to check your airline’s baggage claim office at the airport for more information on locating your luggage.

Try to plan ahead

Traveling through airports can be stress-inducing. There are long lines, TSA security checks, hundreds of people and screaming kids. The experience can be even more hectic with canceled flights and lost luggage.

Planning before you get to the airport can alleviate some of the worries, according to some travel experts who recommend:

1. Take a photo of all your bags and the items inside.

2. Make a note on the luggage marker or add an ID tag to the luggage.

3. Pack a change of clothes, toiletries and other necessary items in your carry-on.

4. Know your destination.

Be sure to ask what your airline can do

If you check a bag and your flight is delayed or canceled, there are measures to get assistance if they are lost, according to Travelers United.

This includes getting vouchers for toiletries and other items, receiving amenity kits, or compensation.

One problem travelers face is having to change airlines when traveling and losing track of their bags.

Airlines no longer transfer baggage from one airline to another. So if you flew out on Southwest and switched to an American Airlines flight, you need to check with the airline about what’s happening with your bags.

Stay patient and diligent

Typically, most delayed or missing baggage is reunited with owners within 24 hours, Travelers United said.

They recommend fliers act fast when locating missing luggage and work with airlines to ensure they are found.

You can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation if you are unsatisfied with the way the airline handled your missing items at airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint.