If you’re anything like us, you absolutely love travel! There’s nothing quite like hopping on a plane, train, or bus or getting into your car and exploring new places and towns. Adventure is what helps you stay curious and open-minded. But setting that rose-colored perspective aside for a moment, you can’t deny that far from everything goes right on trips. So, you need a bit of resilience to weather the issues that inevitably pop up.

Flights get delayed, people fall ill, your fellow passengers might be rude, and… your luggage might not handle the trip as well as you do. Today, our team at Bored Panda is featuring some of the biggest, most painful baggage fails ever shared online. From people’s bags and suitcases getting damaged to them getting left behind, there’s a bit of everything. Scroll down below to take a peek.

Bored Panda wanted to get to grips with how travelers can minimize the risks of having their luggage damaged, as well as how they can stay positive even when things go wrong. So, we reached out to the team at the Scandinavian outdoor brand 'Db' for their insights. Simon Wahlqvist was kind enough to shed some light on our questions, and you'll find his thoughts below.

#1

Fly Emir8s - And Get Your Non-Profit’s 20 Ipads Confiscated

Open hard case with foam inserts showing organized compartments, illustrating luggage fail.

A little background - I work in IT, but volunteer with a healthcare non-profit that does health screenings around the world. We have screened at least 5,000 people since 2016 for hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure, successfully connecting at-risk people in remote areas with the help they need. I developed an app that uses a laptop, a wireless access point and 20 iPads to collect testing results, which allows us to collect data and get it to the doctors that can help.

After a successful 3-day screening in southwest Uganda last week where we saw over 1,000 people, I received my luggage back with a nice “we confiscated all your stuff” card from the Dubai airport, courtesy of Emir8s Air. Airport chat via WhatsApp confirmed it was taken with no ability to get it back. No reason was given, despite the airline’s website saying that checking tablets in luggage was allowed.

Our health screening program is pretty much dead now.

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    #2

    When United Airlines Can't/Won't Tell A Customer Where Their Missing Luggage Is

    Lost luggage found by dumpsters in a residential area, highlighting a painful luggage fail experience.

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    #3

    Just Watched This Bag Fall Out Of A Luggage Carrier And So Many Workers Just Walked Past It And Won't Put It In The Plane

    United airplane at the gate with misplaced luggage cart nearby.

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    #4

    This Is How The Luggage Containing My Playstation Arrived

    Damaged luggage with a large hole on a tiled airport floor, illustrating a travel mishap.

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    #5

    Tap Air Portugal Just Returned My Luggage They Lost Last Week. Not Only Did They Destroy The Brand New Suitcase, Lots Of Stuff Is Missing. It Was A Nice Way To Cap Off An Anniversary Trip

    Damaged luggage wrapped in duct tape, illustrating a painful luggage fail at home.

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    #6

    To Whoever Lost A Wheel From Their Checked Luggage, I Found It

    A small luggage wheel stuck in a large airplane tire, illustrating a luggage fail.

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    #7

    Unexpected Souvenir In My Luggage After Returning From Uganda

    A large spider trapped under a glass on a blue plate, part of surprising luggage finds.

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    #8

    That’s My Luggage, Not On The Plane

    Empty luggage cart on rainy airport runway, reflecting travel mishap.

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    Michael McHenry
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been there! I remember seeing my bike's hard case on a luggage cart as we pushed back...

    #9

    At Least They Didn't Lose My Luggage

    A luggage fails incident with a suitcase stuck in a service elevator at an airport.

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    #10

    Baggage "Handled" By Airline. Flight All The Way To Nz, Final Photo Is The Identical Luggage

    Damaged blue suitcase with large tear and broken handle, illustrating a painful luggage fail.

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    #11

    How To Go About Reimbursement On Destroyed Luggage

    Damaged luggage with broken handles and torn fabric, representing painful luggage fails in a storage area.

    Traveling from Minneapolis was asked to check bag at gate. Upon arrival at salt lake international my bag never came at baggage claim. After talking with the delta agents for 30 minutes. When a man walked from the back holding a shredded suitcase with what was left of my belonging wrapped in sheet from my luggage. I am a traveling nurse and everything from my 400$ stethoscope meds scrubs multiple contacts and more were gone or damaged to a total loss. Any advice on how to go about it. They are saying I must provide receipts showing proof of purchase prior to the damage.

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    #12

    How Aal Returned My Checked Luggage That I Didn't Want Checked But Had To Because They "Ran Out" Of Overhead Storage Despite Having Plenty When I Boarded

    Damaged luggage on airport counter, severely ripped and torn, highlighting painful luggage fails.

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    #13

    My Luggage Got Ran Over. I Was Forced To Gate-Check My Carry-On, And When I Went To Pick It Up I Was Told It Had Been “Banged Up”. However It Was Actually Mangled

    Open suitcase revealing a painful luggage fail with messy, damaged clothes and toiletries scattered around.

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    #14

    When Can People Learn This Won't Close?

    Overhead bin stuffed with luggage, illustrating common travel luggage fails in an airplane cabin setting.

    I am 1k and there is one thing that annoys me to no end - that is United doesn't put a much bigger sign on each of the middle overhead compartment to let people know their luggage will not fit unless turned horizontally for 99% of the luggage carryons.

    Every flight I take, there are multiple people that insist it will fit and end up costing an entire line jam, and a few times my own luggage that's completely positioned correctly to be slammed against closure that I have to yell at people to stop shoving their luggage in.

    I feel like this is something that can be prevented if they show a video before boarding (while people wait) or a gigantic sign to let people know it will not fit. Sigh.

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    #15

    Why Do Gate Agents Let People Get Away With Gate Checking Oversized Luggage

    People queueing with luggage at an airport counter, showcasing common travel mishaps.

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    #16

    Saw Someone Else Post A Suitcase, Here’s Mine From A Year Ago

    Ripped luggage overflowing with clothes, exemplifying a painful luggage fail at the airport.

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    #17

    This Happened Last Year, Flying Back From Vacation. They Told Us Our Suitcase Must Have Fallen Off The Transport Truck. Everything Inside Was Gone, Yet They Managed To Retrieve The Bag

    Damaged suitcase with torn fabric and broken zippers, showcasing a painful luggage fail.

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    #18

    When You Get This... Instead Of Your Luggage

    Spirit Airlines toiletry kit given due to luggage fail, containing essentials and apology note.

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    #19

    I’m Not Even Mad I’m Impressed

    Damaged luggage with cracked shell at airport, showing painful travel mishap.

    By how Delta managed to dent my Away Suitcase. They very quickly reimbursed me the full cost even though I’ve had it for probably 5 years. I’m sure I can indent this too.

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    #20

    Southwest Let Our Luggage Sit In Two Hours Of Pouring Rain. They Wouldn't Let Anyone Out Because Of Lightning In The Area, Even Though The Bags Were 10 Yards Away From Shelter

    Airport luggage carts loaded with bags, soaked in heavy rain, highlighting a luggage fail situation.

    Everything was ruined for most passengers.

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    #21

    How My Suitcase Arrived From The Baggage Carousel After My Flight

    Damaged suitcase with large holes and scuffs on an airport floor, highlighting painful luggage fail.

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    #22

    So This Is How They Lose Luggage

    Delta airplane at airport with small luggage left behind on the ground.

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    #23

    There Was An Attempt To Travel With Checked Luggage On Christmas Eve

    Luggage piled around an airport carousel, a scene of travel chaos and packing fails, with passengers searching for bags.

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    #24

    My Suitcase Got Destroyed. I’m Not Even Mad At This Point Because Of How Comical This Level Of Destruction Is. The Handle Got Melted To Its Enclosure And The Metal Has Heat Discoloration

    Damaged luggage with torn fabric and broken structure on a beige carpet, highlighting a luggage fail.

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    #25

    How I Found My Luggage When I Arrive In My Country

    Red luggage with significant damage, including missing handle and cracks, highlighting painful luggage fails.

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    #26

    Whoops! Luggage Cart Dropping Bags Between Atl Concourses B And C

    Scattered luggage on airport tarmac, highlighting a luggage fail.

    Glanced out the windows at the Terminal B sky club and saw a Delta luggage cart dropping bags all the way from B over to C. Most concerning was the ones pictured right in the taxiway. Went to let someone know at the sky club but another cart showed up minutes later to pick up the bags.

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    #27

    Ok, I Hear You, Flight Attendant. It's Time For A New Luggage

    Suitcase with "Handle with Care" tape wrapped around it, indicating a luggage fail.

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    #28

    Going For A Trip Next Week And My Luggage Handle Disintegrated

    Damaged black suitcase with a shattered shell, highlighting a luggage fail.

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    #29

    Luggage Wheels Are Not Meant To Be Used To Throw Luggage Around With

    Damaged suitcase wheels highlighting painful luggage fails.

    2 of 4 bags has a wheel out of whack (brand new luggage for trip) and 2 of 4 have the wheel ripped open in luggage (1 brand new 1 2 years old)

    Went to United to file claim and was told hardsided is the worst as the wheels constantly rip off...... I pointed out I watched them unload luggage by 1 wheel and 1 handle last night, with most weight being led by the wheel and the manager at United simply said yes that is why these are so bad. Buy soft sided next time.


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