Everything you need to know about luggage

1. Label your bags. On both the outside and the inside: your first name, surname, address, phone number and email.
2. Tidy up your bag. Before checking in your luggage, remember to remove any labels and barcodes from previous trips.
3. Attach the barcodes around the handle. Do this yourself if no one does it for you, and stick the three stickers provided on the different sides of the bag.
4. Place heavy items in the lower part of your bag.
5. Make sure that the bag is properly closed. Before closing the bag, check that nothing is sticking out. If you’re attaching a padlock, check that it is approved by TSA for journeys from/to the USA.
6. Weigh your luggage at home. This will avoid you being charged an extra fee.
7. Take valuable items, including your travel documents into the cabin with you.
8. Personalise your luggage using a sticker or other means, to prevent your bag getting confused with another one.
9. Always keep the list of prohibited items in mind.
10. Take a photo of your luggage. This will be a great help in the event that your luggage gets lost or damaged.

Packaging your luggage is a good idea, but packaging your luggage in the right way is even better. Here you can find what to avoid to make certain that your luggage will be accepted.

• Packaging made from rudimentary means (notably cling film for household use) is not accepted.
• Flexible plastic bags are strictly prohibited as hold luggage.
• Each bag that you wish to be transported in the hold must bear a label with a barcode on the outside. This label can be collected from the airport's interactive terminals, check-in counters or from your airline's website (to be printed at home).
• Any luggage that is visibly damaged, poorly packaged or non-conforming may be refused.

You can check in remotely via your airline’s website, and this even includes checking in hold luggage. All you need to do is drop it off at the check-in counter upon your arrival at the airport.