When preparing for a flight, people often worry about what to bring and how to pack. Often little consideration is given to luggage and yet a bit of prevention here can go a long way towards your comfort and your family's peace of mind.

By all means, use luggage with wheels, good sturdy wheels. Many airports offer luggage trolleys but you cannot access all areas in the airport with them. The results is that you end up schlepping suitcases, along with kids, toys, souvenirs, etc. Luggage with wheels will save your back from unwanted stress and strain. Make sure your wheelie bags aren't the kind that can twist and turn over while rolling along. You could injure your wrist or arm if your bag takes a sudden turn. If you don't own this type of luggage, borrow some from a family member, neighbor or friend. It will be well worth the convenience.

Before you begin packing, check your luggage for any old airport or claim check tags. If left on, this could lead to confusion with baggage handlers and your bags could end up lost. Also make sure your name, address and phone number listed both inside your suitcase as well as on luggage tags. It's also good idea to include a copy of your itinerary inside your luggage just in case your bags get lost and need to catch up with you. Do not include your home address. The last thing you want to do is to advertise where you live while your house is empty. Instead try using your office or business address. You may also want to include a second luggage tag with the name, address and phone number of the hotel or address where you will be staying while on vacation. This will make it far easier to have your bag catch up if it gets lost. Double check and make sure that your luggage tags are sturdy and secure. Remember baggage handlers are not gentle.

Ever notice how every body and their brother has a black suitcase? Some folks like to use brightly colored stickers or other identifiable markings on their luggage to make it easier to spot on baggage carousels. Another clever idea is to visit your local craft store to pick out a stensil and your favorite colors of acrylic paints. You can easily stensil colorful designs onto your luggage to make it stand out. You'll need to finish off your luggage craft project with some sealer to waterproof it and to protect your designs. Kids LOVE doing these kind of projects and it's a great way to get them involved with your vacation plans. By all means, do not to use belts, strings or anything that can get caught on conveyor belts to help make your luggage stand out. These items can easily get caught in luggage carosels. Last of all, lock your luggage and make sure your keys stay with you in your carry on bags.

It's also a good idea to prepare all your carry on bags the same way you prepare your regular luggage. Airlines are becoming more strict about the size of bags they allow on board. If flights are full they often will insist on checking many carry on bags so be prepared. Many airports are now fitting the xray machines at security check points with plastic guards that limit the size of the bags that are allowed to pass through the scanners. Soft sided bags are often more forgiving and can be squished to fit through the machines. Keep this in mind because in some cases, if your carry on bag is too large to fit through security machines, you will be instructed to report back to check-in and will be made to wait in line...again.

At the airport, you bags will be tagged either at the curb, ticket counter or at the gate. The tags or stickers will show the airport codes that correspond with your flights. It's a good idea to double check or speak up and ask for verification should something not seem correct. You will also receive claim check numbers for every bag that you check-in. If you are checking more than one bag make sure you know which number corresponds to which bag. Make sure you hold on to these numbers and keep them in a safe place until you are reunited with your belongings. Should your bags get lost, damaged or delayed, you will need these numbers to make a claim.

Avoid packing valuables. $1,500.00 is often the top reimbursement fee offered by many airlines should your luggage become lost or damaged. When you consider the price of your luggage and a few outfits, costs add up rather quickly. Often a list and receipts are required to be submitted before reimbursement costs will be considered. Travel insurance is important if you are packing valuables not covered under the normal luggage allowances of the airlines. You may also want to check with your credit cards or homeowners insurance policies. Often credit cards offer free insurance if you use them to pay for your trip and some of your valuables might already be covered with your homeowners insurance.

If your luggage does get lost, damaged or misplaced, by all means, make sure you report it IMMEDIATELY before you leave airport if humanly possible. Often this is a huge hassle and major inconvenience but it is the best way to get results. Make sure you can give an accurate description of your luggage along with a list of contents and your claim check numbers. Keep written copies of all lost luggage forms and ask for a copy of the Airline's "Contract of Carriage". These are the official airline policies regarding lost luggage and what you are entitled to claim. Make notes of all calls and keep all correspondence until the matter is resolved.

So when it comes to your luggage, an ounce of prevention is worth a huge amount of headaches and hassles!