Pilfered luggage is a growing problem. Here’s how the experts keep their belongings safe when they check their bags at the airport — and how you can, too.  Eamonn Turley lost his laptop charger and designer sunglasses on a recent flight from Dublin to New York. He’d carefully packed them in his checked luggage, assuming his airline would take care of them. But when he unpacked his bags in New York, they were gone — for good. “Even after immediately filing a claim, I never got these items back,” he recalls. The experience made him think of better ways to keep his checked luggage safe. It’s a worthwhile exercise for anyone about to embark on a summer trip. Last year, 36 million checked bags were delayed, mislaid, misdirected, pilfered or stolen, according to the multinational IT company SITA.

“Losing luggage while traveling is one of those unpleasant situations most people would rather avoid,” says Alonso Marly, travel agent at Skylux Travel. “Whether you are traveling for work or going on a well-deserved vacation, being separated from your personal belongings can be a devastating experience.” And if you ask experts, it’s a growing problem. The evidence is more than anecdotal. SITA says 10 million more bags were mishandled last year. The problem is getting worse because security at airports is lax. Continue reading here.