The flights are booked, the bags are packed and you’re ready for your next big adventure. But what if something was to go wrong and your luggage became lost or stolen during your trip? All those souvenirs, your clothing and those gorgeous gifts you brought back for the grandkids are gone. What would you do? It’s one of those stressful, but largely avoidable, situations. If you ever do find yourself in a predicament like this one, take note of these tips on what to do if your luggage is lost or stolen during your holiday – plus how modern tracking technology can help you avoid the problem altogether.

Prevent it before you fly: tracking technology worth using

Before you even get to the airport, a few simple pieces of technology can dramatically reduce the stress of lost luggage, or help you find it fast if something does go wrong.

Pop a Bluetooth tracker in your bag. Devices like an Apple AirTag, Samsung SmartTag or Tile are inexpensive, slip easily into a side pocket, and let you see roughly where your bag actually is via your phone, rather than relying entirely on the airline to tell you. If your bag ends up on the wrong flight or gets held up somewhere in transit, you’ll often know before the airline does – and can point ground staff to exactly where it’s sitting.

Use your airline’s own tracking feature. Most major airlines now offer real-time bag tracking within their own app, letting you see your luggage’s status at check-in, loading and arrival without needing to track down ground staff. It’s worth checking whether your airline offers this before you fly, and enabling notifications if it does.

Consider an electronic luggage tag. Reusable e-ink tags, used by some frequent flyers, update your flight details automatically via an app instead of needing a fresh paper tag stuck on at every check-in counter. Since paper tags tearing off in transit is one of the more common reasons bags go missing in the first place, a permanent, durable tag can meaningfully reduce that risk.

Photograph your bag and its contents before you fly. A quick photo of your packed suitcase, its exterior, and any particularly valuable items inside takes thirty seconds and can make an enormous difference if you ever need to describe your bag to lost-property staff or file an insurance claim.

Make your bag easy to spot. A brightly coloured luggage strap, ribbon or distinctive tag not only helps you spot your own bag faster at the carousel, it also makes it markedly harder for someone to walk off with it by mistake.

If your luggage does go missing

1. File a Property Irregularity Report before you leave the airport

If your bag hasn’t arrived, go straight to the airline’s baggage service desk before leaving the terminal and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). This is the official record that starts the airline’s search and compensation process, and it’s far harder to lodge convincingly after the fact. Get a copy of the report and its reference number before you go.

2. Alert the authorities

If you believe your bag has been stolen, rather than simply delayed, alert local authorities as soon as possible. This might be easier said than done, especially if the locals don’t speak your native tongue, so ask airport staff or your hotel for help if needed.

3. Call the police

As well as alerting the local authorities, it doesn’t hurt to get in touch with the police too, especially if you suspect something more malicious has happened to your items. The sooner you report it, the more likely they are to be able to help – don’t leave it a week to see if the airline turns something up first, as it may be too late to report the theft effectively by then.

4. Contact your insurance provider

If you’ve discovered your luggage is lost or stolen and isn’t coming back, phone your insurance provider and let them know. Depending on your policy, you might be covered for the theft or loss of your luggage and its contents. This is where those photos you took before flying, along with your PIR reference number, come in genuinely useful.

5. Keep copies of important documents

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but when it comes to travel it’s a great idea to anticipate that something might happen to your belongings. Make copies of your passport, bank cards and any visas before you travel, stored separately from the originals. That way, when you do alert the police or the airline, you have proof to help sort the situation out fast.

6. Keep your valuables in your hand luggage

When it comes to carrying valuables during your travels, keep them as close to you as possible rather than in checked luggage. Your camera, passport, smart devices, medications and any other expensive or essential items should stay within reach when you’re out and about enjoying your trip.

The bottom line

A little preparation — a tracker in your bag, a photo of its contents, and knowing exactly what to do the moment something goes wrong — can turn a potentially trip-ruining problem into a manageable inconvenience. Fingers crossed you’ll never need any of it, but it’s far better to have it and not need it than to be standing at an empty baggage carousel wishing you had.