At the Fiumicino Rome airport “Leonardo da Vinci” each year 38 milions of baggage arriving/departing, and transit. These are bags of all types: hard suitcases, soft bags, backpacks, luggage and bulky oversized boxes, sports equipment, strollers, etc..

In case of loss of baggage, everyone (even your own) luggage is managed, controlled and monitored by an advanced computer system: ‘Worldtracer’. Each bag that turns into a cargo airplane is labeled at the start, and thus began their journey. It is the WorldTracer who shall follow it and find it, thanks to the interconnection between carriers and airports around the world.

What can “risk” a bag on his journey from the check-in?

The main critical issues can arise when it must be transferred from one plane to another (for example during a “transit”), but many can be the causes of what is called in airport slang “Left Behind”.

There may be inaccuracies recorded on the ticket issued by the company, or labeling errors during check-in, which determines the momentary confusion, but there may be other reasons: a wrong position, an inaccuracy at the airport, any restrictions volume or weight, or weather-related phenomena.

But what happens to lost luggage?

The responsibility for baggage handling at the Fiumicino Rome airport “Leonardo da Vinci” is a matter of seven handling company, which also operate the so-called bags “mishandled”.
When a passenger opens a loss report, the office of Lost and Found handler reference, starts the procedure and the baggage is assigned a bar code that identifies it with all the data relevant for research aimed on return, as quickly as possible, the luggage to its rightful owner.

Fiumicino Airport, however, focuses exclusively on so-called “baggage Tagless”, without a ticket with a flight number and destination. On average, more than 90% of these bags will still be returned to its rightful owner.

Useful tips for travelers

In a world increasingly uniform, it can happen to own a bag, with shape, color and brand name similar of our unconscious and unknown traveling companion.
Therefore we recommend:

to label the bag with an object of distinction/recognition (a ribbon, an adhesive, etc.), which will help you and other travelers to recognize your luggage and avoid the unfortunate situation to find ourselves, once arrived at the hotel, perhaps after a shower, with a suitcase different from ours.
Write and/or update the labels on the suitcase with all our personal details (name, address and temporary address, phone, email, etc..).

If lost, these small steps will greatly help the personnel to get you reunited with your precious cargo to souvenirs and clothing.