Holiday travel is a tradition, and sometimes pain, for many families and individuals. Whether flying to grandma’s for Christmas, returning from college for some well-deserved R&R, or spending the holidays with friends in far-off cities , remembering all the travel dos and don’ts can be exhausting. Especially when traveling through bustling airports. And despite the season of giving, airport luggage theft actually escalates over the holidays. There are steps you can take, however, to prevent your belongings from becoming the ill-gotten gains of potential thieves:

• Pack using inconspicuous luggage. The airport is not a runway, and nothing alerts thieves more than pricey labels. Ragged, beat-up luggage flies under the radar, so leave Louis Vuitton and Gucci at home.
• Mark your luggage well. Make sure your name, address, and phone number are highly visible in at least two places. Also, the more visually striking your luggage, the better.  Nothing is more eye-catching than brightly colored duct tape.
• Heed the airport announcer’s warning—watch your bags at all times. The automated voice may become monotonous background noise after a while, but turning around to discover your luggage missing will make you wish you had listened.
• Be especially watchful at the baggage claim. When several flights arrive, it can be the busiest spot in the airport. Someone plucking a bag off the carousel that may or may not be theirs could go unnoticed.
• Plastic cable ties, or the twisty-ties that close bread bags, are excellent ways to secure your luggage.  They take longer for thieves to remove, and because the would-be thief knows this, they probably won’t even bother trying. As for padlocks? TSA’s practice is to cut them off. Save the few dollars for coffee on a rainy day.
• If you have any valuables, try to fit them into your carry-on bag. Expensive electronics and jewelry are the holy grail for thieves, so keep them as safe-guarded as possible—with you.

Crowded terminals and claustrophobic gates are not where most of us wish to spend our holidays, but following safe travel tips can make the holiday rush a little more manageable. And perhaps even enjoyable.

For all your insurance needs, e-mail or call Homer Smith Insurance at 888-433-0031. An independent insurance agency, we are licensed in Washington state, as well as Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Erin Stork, Homer Smith Insurance