It’s 3am the phone rings, husband has left the day before for the US, somehow I turn on a light and remember who I am.
“Hi I’m here”
“Great”
“What’s the combination to my suitcase?”
“Use your key for the padlock”
“No what’s the combination”
“Okay try 3333″
“No”
“okay try 1111 or 2222″
“NO”
“That’s because I put a padlock on it”
“Oh *#%^ I have someone else’s suitcase”
“bye”
It took me a little while to get back to sleep and meanwhile I thought about that particular suitcase. The o/s trip last month saw that case come home with major damaged. It had obviously had an altercation with a conveyor belt, the trim was sticking out the zipper damaged and the padlock gone. United Airlines sent out their man to collect and repair the suitcase. I remember taking off all hanging nametags – had I replaced them – was his newly repaired suitcase marked? Who was the unfortunate soul in the Bay Area wanting their clothes? Had I left the red ribbon on to mark our luggage? What did he have in his suitcase? I guess he could go to Mervyns and buy new clothes, a buying spree, wish I were there.
When we spoke in the morning (my morning) he had been back to SFO and picked up his suitcase. All was back to normal.
Moral to story when travelling make sure you take your suitcase off the carousel. Make sure you easily mark your suitcase so you know it’s your suitcase, tie a ribbon, big colored belt around it or stickers. Who cares if you suitcase stands out at least you won’t get to your destination and discover you have the wrong one. You might even witness someone else picking up your suitcase from the carousel.
And if you happen to meet my husband waiting for luggage remind him his case is the one with the red ribbon on it.
Happy travels
Side Note;
Though Samsonite’s are built to last – we have now had two eaten up by Chep Lap Kok’s conveyor belts – and the airlines have been more than willing to admit liability and fix at no cost to us. Dragon Air did a no questions asked fix it job when I returned from Beijing last year some time and United Airlines also replaced a zipper and sewed up the side of the case in question. In the case of Dragon Air I didn’t notice the damage till I got home – they never queried it.
