I used to travel by air a lot as a journalist/feature writer and would like to relate three experiences with “lost luggage” so that other travellers can learn from them.

First, on arrival at the airport after an overseas trip one day I accidentally took a suitcase that looked exactly like mine. I was in a hurry and did not bother to check the baggage tag against the counterfoil they had stapled to my ticket. Since I went through the “Green Lane” I did not have to open my luggage so I was unaw…