What to do when your baggage is mis-handled.

In Singapore, June is always a month that families have their holidays. Sometimes, a mis-handling of baggages (delay or missing) by the airline or the airport staff can turn a dream holiday into a nightmare. Below is what you can do to manage such situation:

1. Once you have confirmed that your baggage(s) is not on the designated conveyor belt in the airport, you immediately approach the airline staff to launch a P.I.R (Property Irregularity Report). For example, if you travel by SIA, you launch a P.I.R. from SIA; if you travel by MAS, you launch a P.I.R. from MAS etc.

With this P.I.R., the airline will trace the lost baggage from all the airports this aircraft has transited. If they find it, they will deliver the baggage to your hotel or apartment.

2. While waiting for your baggage, you can purchase some toiletries and spare clothes. You should also start calling your travel insurance agent to standby the baggage loss/delay claim process. The expenses on toiletries, clothes and phone bill to insurance agent can be claimed against the airline when you return to Singapore (therefore keep those bills handy). You can apporach the airline to advance you spare cash to purchase such items if you do not have a credit card or local currency.

3. If the baggage is completely lost, you can launch a claim with the airline back in Singapore. If you have a travel insurance policy, also launch a claim on the insurance company under "loss / delay baggage" clause. Incidentally, the insurance company also requires a P.I.R. to make their claim payout to you.

Above all, stay calm and continue your holiday.

*Above steps are advised by a veteran tour agency businessman who is also a good friend to me and my wife.