The ONE thing you should do with your luggage before you check it in at the airport

The next time you’re checking a bag in for a flight, add this action to your airport checklist. 

A viral video is advising travellers to always take a photograph or video of their luggage before a flight. 

Why? Because this footage can be used as evidence if you need to make an insurance claim over damaged or missing luggage. 

Not only that, but it can help the airport’s lost and found team to help track down your missing bags. 

The video was shared on TikTok by Robin Taylor, a globetrotting influencer and registered nurse based in Las Vegas. 

In the clip, which has 2.4million views and 135,000 likes to date, Robin spins the camera around each side of her khaki-coloured suitcase in the airport, telling her followers: ‘I always record my luggage when I’m in line to check it at the airport… just in case, for evidence. It’s saved me twice.’

She elaborated on why it was so important in the comment section, revealing that taking a video ‘saves a lot of trouble down the road’ if your bags get damaged or disappear, as it can be successfully used as evidence of ‘damage that wasn’t there before it went into the care of the airline’. 

Other TikTok users were quick to agree with Robin’s advice, with TikToker ‘Rae’ writing: ‘As a former “baggage lost and found” attendant, please do. It’s smart and it also helps us a lot.’ 

User ‘Rizz’ said: ‘I sell suitcases and always will inform customers to take photos/videos for evidence in case of damage on their belongings.’ 

One person, user Sara Esbensen, wrote: ‘I did that too last year and it saved me… my luggage went missing for five days so the video I took was very helpful!’  

A travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket says: ‘Before and after photos provide your insurer with evidence of the extent of damage caused in transit’

Others lamented the fact that they hadn’t learnt the trick sooner, with user ‘Meery’ writing: ‘Wish I saw this TikTok two weeks ago, before I lost my bags.’ 

User ‘Just Ams’ weighed in: ‘I do this every time now after my luggage was stolen and the insurance asked me for a picture of my bag.’

And user ‘kyumyjp’ said: ‘Learnt this the hard way…. because my luggage is broken but I can’t claim [because I have] no evidence.’ 

Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Angela Dove, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, seconded Robin’s advice. She said: ‘It’s always worthwhile taking photos of your belongings before you travel as this will help identify your luggage in the event of it being lost or stolen. Before and after photos also provide your insurer with evidence of the extent of damage caused in transit.’

Dove stresses that it’s also important to snap another picture when you land.  

She said: ‘Airlines take responsibility for your luggage whilst on board the flight, so it is worth taking photos of your luggage at baggage reclaim before it is out of your possession again and in transit on the next stage of your trip. This will help outline when and where any damage, loss or theft occurred when evidencing your claim.’

MoneySuperMarket notes that basic baggage insurance is typically included as standard with a travel insurance policy that covers for loss, damage or theft.