Luggage Handlers Share the 11 Most Common Checked Baggage Mistakes-and How to Avoid Them, From $6

"Checking a bag can make a trip easier in some ways: It frees up your hands, and rather than lugging your belongings in and out of the plane yourself, it just magically appears at your final destination. Other travelers, however, consider checking luggage a travel nightmare, since it means they'll have no control over what happens to the checked bag once it's out of sight."

"Overpackers, beware: All too often, ramp agents and luggage handlers witness a checked bag burst open because it's stuffed to the brim. When this happens, "everything inside the suitcase goes flying all over the ramp," says Roni Faida, retired baggage handler with 15 years of experience. In these situations, packing cubes aren't just a handy organization tool or space-saving hack-they're an essential safeguard for preventing your clothes from getting lost on the tarmac and in baggage handling areas."

Checking luggage frees hands and avoids carrying belongings on and off the plane, but relinquishes control of items once out of sight. Baggage handlers identify frequent errors such as overstuffing suitcases, which can burst and scatter contents across the ramp. Packing cubes keep clothing consolidated and make recovery easier when a bag opens. Securing suitcases with luggage straps reduces the chance of a burst and adds stability. Placing toiletries in leakproof bags prevents spills, and transferring bulky prescriptions into travel pill organizers avoids lost or crushed medication. Low-cost travel accessories can significantly reduce checked-bag damage, loss, and mess.

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