Colorful Luggage.
By Elise Lentz.
Iām going to start this packing tips article by borrowing a line from one of my favorite movies The Birdcage: āWell, one does want a hint of color.ā
Elise at the Amsterdam train station. * Photo: Tim Lentz
As tour leaders, one of our many tasks is being responsible for the movement of luggage. For us, it is typically accounting for the groupsā luggage being moved from a hotel to the cruise ship. It is not uncommon for us to handle 100+ pieces of luggage in a single move.
Tim and I have often commented, āIf we had $1 for every black bag we have counted over the years, we would be gabillionaires.ā And YES that is a real word.
It would never fail, that after we accounted for all 100+ bags (which were strategically stacked like a life-sized Jenga game), Mable would approach us demanding that she needed to get something critical out of her bag. It shouldnāt surprise you that my first reaction starts off with my eyes rolling into the back of my skull. This is then followed by the phrase ālady, youāre kidding meā¦ā screamed loudly inside my head.
This exchange is then finished with me actually offering a gentle smile. And in my most congenial tone I ask for a description of the bag.
āItās blackāā¦ REALLY!!! At that time my face writhes in agony as I realize Iām about to dive into the deep, dark abyss of black bags to look for Mableās needle in the proverbial stack of luggage.
So as I continued to think about this universal invasion of the black bags, my mind began to drift towards the dark side. I became curious as to what was the favorite luggage color of bag thieves? The answer was shockingā¦basic black.
I found an article by Bob Arno, author of āTravel Advisory: How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling.ā The article said that when police arrested a Phoenix couple for baggage theft from the Sky Harbor International airport, almost every one of the roughly 1,000 stolen bags found at their home, was black.
He further remarked by saying: āStealing black bags is a snap. If the thief is caught red-handed by the bagās owner, he only has to say āSorry, it looks just like mine.ā And heās out of there, scot-free.ā
I always hear travelers explain: āWell Black wonāt show the dirt.ā
Ok fine, but that logic doesnāt stop you from buying a white pair of sneakers, does it? People, itās a piece of luggageĀ meant to offer a utilitarian way of transporting your underwear. Which by the end of the trip will be dirty. So I ask you, do you travel with all black undies so they donāt show the dirt?
Because Tim and I have to transport a lot of work supplies, we donāt travel light. It looks like we are running away from home and itās not uncommon for us to travel with four large hard-sided bags, two carry-on bags and two backpacks. We have been told that we stand out in a crowd because our multi-hued ensemble looks like the Easter Bunny puked all over our luggage. Sorry, but we swear by colorful luggage.
Elise & Timās colorful collection of luggage.
It is true, when we shop for a bag we look for the brightest, boldest color available. I want to be able to quickly locate my bag. Whether it is coming off the luggage carrousel in the airport or it is a part of the mĆ©lange of bags lined up in the cruise ship terminal, the sooner I spot my bag, the sooner I can relax knowing all of my āgearā has arrived.
As you know from my previous article ā āSome Like it Hardā ā we are also hard-sided luggage fans. It canāt be too hard or too bright for me. And while we are at it, letās add into the mix ā CHEAP.
We typically pay less than $100 per bag and we frequently shop at the discount department store chains like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross. Now I know what you are thinkingā¦ āWhy wouldnāt professional travelers invest in high-end quality bags with lifetime warranties?ā
Well, to start, our luggage typically travels on a plane or cruise ship. It is rare that our bags get damaged while sitting in the closet.Ā So, before you file your damage claim with the manufacturer, you need to identify the perpetrator of the damage. Typically manufacture warranties only cover manufacture defects. The loving, gentle caresses bestowed upon your case by the under-paid, under-appreciated airport baggage handler are not going to be covered by most manufacture warranties.
Additionally, our schedule does not warrant the three weeks (or more) it may take to send our bag to a repair center and wait for its return. So, we chalk up this unpleasant annoyance to just being a part of the job hazard. When damage (beyond our standard home repair of Gorilla Tape and super glue) happens, we hop in the car and drive to TJ Maxx (or similar) and buy another bag. Once back home, we celebrate the arrival of our brightly-colored, new member of our family, with a tasty beverage.
Have we ever filed a damage claim with the airlines? No. However, if you are so inclined, give it a try. If the airlines canāt repair your bag (which is the cheapest option for them), you may be entitled to a reimbursement based on the value of the bag minus its depreciation. If you calculate that the airlines reimbursement value exceeds the value of your time and sanity ā go for it!
Bob Hope once said āI love flying. Iāve been to almost as many places as my luggage.ā
Luggage in a water taxi on route to Venice. * Photo: Elise Lentz
Join us next time when we will share some tips on increasing the odds of you getting your colorful luggage back after the airlines have sent it on an itinerary that is different than yours.
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HEIDI SARNA
