7 Ways to Protect Your Luggage

Airlines will only compensate travelers up to a set amount for lost or damaged baggage. In the U.S., the airlines' liability is capped at $3,300 by the Department of Transportation (DOT), which means you won't receive more than that amount in compensation for your luggage, no matter how treasured its contents are. (Note that this amount applies to domestic flights; a different limit is established for international flights.) But there's an exception to this rule: If you're packing something really valuable, you may want to consider purchasing excess valuation (EV) from your airline. It's not insurance per se, but it increases the airline's liability limit. You'll likely have to ask your airline for it directly; carriers don't often advertise EV, and many travelers have never even heard of it.

There are other options for coverage besides airlines. You can sometimes buy baggage insurance from car-rental companies and travel agencies as well.

Many major airports have luggage-wrapping service stations, like Secure Wrap. These are machines that are often located in the check-in areas. You pay the machine, and out spews a durable plastic you can wrap around your suitcase.

Keep in mind, though, that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may cut through the wrap if an agent needs to open your bag.

Duct tape, which has been used for everything from creating prom dresses to making emergency sunglasses, can also fix just about anything. That includes baggage. (It's why we picked duct tape as one of the 10 Travel Essentials that Cost Less Than $10.) Pack duct tape in your bag to protect your bag. Broken zippers, rips, and torn handles can be fixed with a sliver of trusty silver tape.

Don't worry. You don't need to pack the whole heavy roll. Pick up a package of travel duct tape before your next trip.

Most airlines discourage passengers from checking fragile or breakable items. But if you must—and you want to try for a little extra protection—you can request that a "fragile" sticker be affixed to your bag when you check in. There's no guarantee this'll work. In most circumstances, truthfully, it won't. Baggage handlers throw passenger luggage into plane cargo holds quickly and haphazardly. (For more details on this, read Confessions of an Airline Baggage Thrower.) There's no telling whether a handler will see your bag's fragile sticker, let alone follow its instructions. Still, it certainly can't hurt.

We say it all the time: Consider shipping your luggage instead of checking it. Not only is this method often extremely cost-effective, it could be a better way to protect the contents of your suitcase. Take your breakables to a post office or shipping store and ask the staff to help you pack your things carefully. (You might want to purchase insurance for your package, but keep in mind that shipping stores may not sell insurance if you've packed your shipment yourself.) With the right packaging, the glass souvenirs you picked up on your travels or the local wine you're shipping to your vacation rental will likely arrive happily intact.

Many bags look alike: dark, rectangular, wheeled. So a bit of funky decor may help prevent your suitcase from becoming the victim of mistaken identity. Adorn your bag with a vibrant luggage strap, colored duct tape, and the like. And when purchasing a new bag, consider color or print. A brightly hued piece or a suitcase splashed with leopard print will stand out from the crowd of gray and black spinners, allowing for easy spotting when it comes time to retrieve your stuff from the luggage carousel.

Airlines' frequent mishandling of luggage has paved the way for a flood of products promising to keep your suitcase damage-free. Protective covers for your bags are sold by companies like Luggage Protect Travel and Storage, which offers a giant clear plastic sleeve, and Carry-rite of California, which also sells giant clear plastic sleeves. Travel-goods company Hartmann produced a YouTube video extolling their brand of sleeves; watch it here.

More From Smartertravel:

• Five Things You Should Never Fly Without
• Seven Ways to Prevent Lost Luggage
• Confessions of an Airline Baggage Thrower