Has this ever happened to you? After weeks of planning, you finally arrived at your dream destination. But what about your luggage? Not so much! Hi, my name is Patricia Magania, senior editor here at SmarterTravel. While there is only so much you can do to keep this from happening to you, we've created a checklist of 10 precautions you can take to prevent lost luggage and save yourself from a headache at the airport. Remember to put your name and cell phone number on the outside and inside of your bags. Include a copy of your travelite tinerary on top of your belongings to increase your chances of having your luggage returned. Take a picture of the outside of your bag to help the airline staff identify it. The inside of your bag, in case you need to file an insurance claim for the contents and your claim ticket in case you lose it. Bags can easily get lost in the sea of similar luggage, traveling into and out of the airport every day. Decorate your luggage with duct tape or unique strap to set it apart from the rest. Travelers that check in late are more likely to be separated from their bags. Baggage handlers need time to process luggage and load it onto the plane. So the later you arrive, the less time they have to make sure your bags follow you to your destination. Allow 2 or more hours for your layovers between international flights and at least 90 minutes for domestic connections if you want your bags to have ample time to make the transition with you. Items such as medicine, important papers, laptops or jewelry should be packed in your carry-on to avoid desperate situations once you reach your destination. Keeping a list of your packed items will make it easier to account for everything when the airline asks what was in your bag. If you can, make sure to keep receipts for more expensive items and purchase separate insurance for any valid items you absolutely must check. Make sure the person who checks your baggage attaches the correct destination tickets and remember to get claimed tickets for each bag. It's also important to remove old luggage tags to avoid confusion about your bag's destination. If your luggage is lost or stolen, you are going to want to have a change of clothes handy while you get the situation sorted out. And finally, travel insurance is the best guarantee that you will recoup any losses. Thanks for watching! To find out more about what to do in case of lost or stolen luggage, check out the full story at the link below in the description. To get more expert tips like this, like this video and subscribe to SmarterTravel's YouTube channel. Thanks for watching!