Top tip from travel experts to avoid lost luggage during your summer vacation

Travel experts have given tips on how to keep track of your luggage when you go on a summer vacation.

Melanie the Travel Girl, whose TikTok account has amassed more than 35,000 followers, says she, like many travelers, is concerned about her luggage getting lost while traveling.

The US-based influencer advised her followers to put trackers in their cases and reportedly try to avoid flight routes with stopovers, as this can reduce the chances of your bag not arriving at your final destination.

Carl Broadbent, a former baggage handler at London’s Heathrow Airport, added that “visibility is key” for finding your bag and warned that it is “vital” for travelers to check that their baggage tag information is up to date.

The travel enthusiasts share their favorite tips and tricks as vacationers are bracing for a summer of travel chaos expected to be riddled with flight disruptions.

Melanie the Travel Girl, (left) whose TikTok account has amassed more than 35,000 followers, advised her followers to put trackers in their cases and told them to avoid layover escape routes. Carl Broadbent, (pictured right with a Stormtrooper), former baggage handler at London’s Heathrow Airport, added that ‘visibility is key’ to finding your bag and warned that it is ‘vital’ for travelers to double check that their baggage tag information is up to date

Melanie, who wants to help vacationers plan the perfect trip, recognized that fear of lost luggage is normal.

She said travelers should “put a tracker in their checked bag” to ease concerns. The influencer suggested several brands, including Apple Airtags, tile and LandAirSea GPS.

“Whatever you choose, just put a tracker in that bag,” she warned.

She also recommended that holidaymakers should take a photo of their luggage before delivering it to the airline, adding that you should take photos of both the “contents of your luggage and the outside of the actual bag.”

Melanie claims the photos will help staff identify the bag if it goes missing.

Carl, who is also the founder of Travel Spock, reiterated that having something “unique to you” on your luggage can help identify your bag quickly.

“I don’t recommend buying a neon case, though it might help!” he told MailOnline. “What’s more effective is to tie a brightly colored ribbon or scarf to your bag — something unique to you. It’s simple, but it makes your luggage stand out and less likely to be mistaken for someone else’s.’

Melanie echoed his claim, telling her followers, “Make your luggage stand out with brightly colored bags or covers that are bright or even luggage tags that are bright. Just do something to make your luggage stand out from the crowd.”

Experts also say it’s “vital” for travelers to make sure the information on their baggage tag is correct. Carl warned that a wrong digit in your phone number could make it more difficult to retrieve your bag if it goes missing.

Finally, holidaymakers are warned to avoid ‘layovers, especially tight ones’. Melanie says that with a connection there is “just more chance of losing your bag.”

Sarah Adekola, a TikTok user who uses @millennialwealthsarah on the social media site, posted a video explaining to her followers how to protect their items when they go on vacation

Travelers have also been cautioned against choosing zippered bags after an expert illustrated last month how easy it is for a thief to get into a locked suitcase with just a pin wedged between the zipper.

After poking through it with a pen, the zipper of the suitcase comes off easily, giving the thief easy access to all your belongings.

The expert advised vacationers to purchase a suitcase with an aluminum frame and buckles on the side, over it something with a zipper.

Carl, speaking to MailOnline this week, added that the best luggage, in his opinion, is one that “prioritizes durability, versatility and portability.”

He said, “Think robust materials, wheels that roll smoothly, and handles that can withstand the rigors of travel.”