The Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage

According to research, over 26 million bags go missing every year through airlines. This begs the question, why and how do so many bags gets lost or misplaced? With baggage prices on the rise the least we expect is for our luggage to arrive safely at the same destination as ourselves, not to find out our treasured possessions are half way around the world on the wrong flight. So, just what excuses have the airlines reported to be the cause of lost luggage?

Damaged Labels
If the label on your bag gets damaged, whether its ripped, torn off or effected by wet conditions outside, it may become unreadable or easily mistaken for a different destination . If your luggage happens to have a damaged label you’re suddenly left to trust the employees in charge of baggage to take the time to find the correct destination for the items. With 26 million bags going awol each year, it suggests many are sent off with little attention to their labels.

Mistaken Labels
We all have those days where our minds wonder or we’re too tired to give our full attention, but in the airline industry can people really afford to have an off day? Common reasons for luggage going missing is due to attendants typing in the wrong destination when printing luggage tags. You may be off on a skiing trip to Austria and hours later find out your luggage is on its way to Australia. The best way to avoid this hiccup is to personally check the labels once they’re attached to your bags and before they are sent for loading. This way you can rest assured that your bags will be on the correct flight.

Weather
As well as weather conditions potentially damaging labels and causing bags to be loaded onto the wrong flights, the weather can also cause problems on a much larger scale. Heavy snow or thunder storms could potentially cause hundreds of delayed flights depending on the severity. If this was to happen it would cause a back log of passengers and bags to collect. Problems could then come from passengers taking luggage from the wrong carousels, people may not collect their luggage as it has been bought out earlier than passengers who have been waiting longer and they  may not realise it is their flight, or there may be so much luggage to look through it is impossible for everyone to spot theirs, and in the process items become classed as unclaimed luggage.

In Direct Routes
If you’re travelling on an in direct flight, the risk of losing your luggage increases. Your bags need to be transferred from one flight to another and it is up to the airline to ensure this is done successfully. Again, problems such as damaged tags, and baggage being loaded on to the wrong flight are potential reasons your luggage could go missing.


How To Avoid Lost Luggage
So, now we know why our luggage gets lost, but how can we protect our belongings against this? Taking the following precautions will help avoid losing your baggage in the first place, but if it does get misplaced you’ll also have a better chance of getting it back.
• Make sure your bag stands out, personalise it with recognisable colours or patterns
• Fix an identification tag to the outside of each bag with your name and contact details
• Label everything inside you bag, this way if for some reason you luggage is also damaged and items fall out, you can still retrieve them
• Value you valuables, if there’s something you can’t bare the thought of losing and is irreplaceable, keep it on you in your hand luggage
• Make a list of everything in your bag, if your luggage does get lost and you get it back, you can check nothings gone missing from inside your cases
• Take a photo of your suitcase, this way you can show the airline what bag they need to find, which is much easier than trying to describe it
Many people will never experience misplaced luggage and those who do will likely get it back. Being prepared in the event of lost luggage gives you a higher chance of retrieving it. Before you travel read up on the airlines policy for missing luggage and compensation for items that never get returned. High value or irreplaceable products should always be carried in your hand luggage, just in case.

Student Cases

Now that you’ve settled into uni life and spent your first few weeks away from your family, it’s probably about time to make a visit back home. Instead of packing several odd bags and straining the handles on your favourite bag, investing in a small to medium sized suitcase is the perfect solution to overflowing bags and regular checks to see if you've dropped anything.
There’s plenty of room for your clothes, accessories, books and maybe some extra washing! Typically there’ll be a separate compartment for your laptop to keep it secure. This means you can keep everything in one safe place and not have any belongings on show.
A wheeled suitcase is easy to both carry and pull, which is handy if you’re on a busy platform or in a rush. It will fit nicely in the baggage section on buses and trains, but if its too busy you can slide it in the space in front of your seat.
You can also attach your address and contact details to your case, so in the unlikely event you leave it on the platform, you’ll have a better chance of getting it back than if something dropped out of a hand held bag. For extra safety you could also attach a small padlock.
If you need to retrieve tickets or money from your bag it can be a bit of a hassle if you have several bags to hold or keep an eye on. With a suitcase you can stand it up right and keep an eye on it whilst getting something out of a pocket or bag, so there is less risk of you loosing or dropping anything whilst rummaging through your belongings.
Being organised and keeping your belongings safe will ensure a stress free journey home, although we can’t guarantee there won't be fighting for seats, at least you can get all of your belongings back safely!

SportsDirect.com Take a Look at the State of Play in English Football

With recent news that English footballers account for less than a third of all the minutes played in the Premier League and the World Cup 2014 Qualifiers drawing to an end, SportsDirect.com take a deeper look into English Football.
Football is one of, if not the, most popular sport in England with people up and down the country spending their Saturday’s at the stands of their beloved football team and their Sunday’s playing 5-a-side for their work or pub team. England also has more than 40,000 association football clubs, which is more than any other country.
There is no doubt about the passion and devotion that football brings to England, however with the World Cup in 2014, the lack of English footballers in the Premier league has caused concern. Rio Ferdinand recently spoke to The Mail on Sunday with regards to this matter and said: "If you look at a lot of teams, there are England players who aren't playing for their clubs - yet we're hoping to go to a World Cup and do well!"
England don’t have a good track record when it comes to winning tournaments and this could be down to the fact that English players aren’t playing for English teams. The State of the Game Study by the BBC showed that, after England, French and Spanish players play the most minutes in the Premier League and Argentina and Belgium also have a fair amount of players in the Premier League.
This is down to many factors, one of them bring money. Foreign players are a lot cheaper than British players and Alan Shearer for one has stated that this among with managers not having much time are the main difficulties for England.
However, a recent article in the Guardian stated that the performance quality from English players is on the rise;  recalling that seven of them had made the top 20 this season and were training for the World Cup 2014 Qualifier games. So maybe it isn’t all doom and gloom after all.
Join in with football and sports discussions at Facebook and Twittter.

Your Guide to the A/W Collections

One of the greatest things about the cold weather is that it becomes acceptable to cover up, layer up and hide any insecurities that you may have, however this doesn’t mean that any old jumper will do. SportsDirect.com take a look at the upcoming trends for the new season, in styles that will flatter all shapes and sizes.
As the Autumn/Winter season sets in it’s time to start accumulating staple pieces for you’re A/W wardrobe. One of the main patterns this season is tartan which means the grunge/punk look is back. Although it is quite a busy print don’t be scared to wear it. If you aren’t so confident about your bottom half then don’t try to wear the trends with tartan trousers or skirt, opt for a loose tartan shirt teamed with black leggings, or jeggings and long boots to create a slim silhouette.
Oversized is also a key trend this season and not only is it practical for keeping you warm but it also means that you can say goodbye to the figure-hugging midi dresses that were all the rage during the Summer. Be careful though not to drown yourself in clothes though, it is best to choose either an oversized jacket, wide leg baggy trousers, an oversized knit or a flowing skirt. Combining two or more of the above will not accentuate any part of your figure and you risk making yourself look bigger than you are in reality.
As the Christmas season creeps ever closer so does the opulence trend. The main themes to keep in mind to rock this trend are heavy embellishment, embroidery and adding a bit of glitz to any outfit. Making an outfit look luxurious however does not mean that both your jewellery and outfit need to be as embellished as each other. Again, the most important thing here is decide where you want the trend to show, if you’re top heavy opt for wearing the trend on your bottom half or keep it to just your accessories.
Scarfs are always a hit in the Autumn/Winter so if you’re even in doubt invest in a couple of on-trend scarfs that will show of the styles without being too bold, they are also perfect for masking any lumps or bumps around your middle.
Check out our fashionable plus size range at www.sportsdirect.com/pages/plussize. Alternatively visit www.Facebook.com/SportsDirectUK or  www.twitter.com/SportsDirectUK for their latest collections and offers.

Keep Fit This Autumn With a Kick Around

During the dull Autumn months it can be hard to find the motivation to keep fit, with many people thinking the best workouts include doing an hour at the gym or going for a lengthy run. However, going for a kick about doesn’t seem so bad does it? SportsDirect.com take a look at how the football compares to one of the most popular workouts – running.
Football may not be on the top 10 workout list or known for being a tough sport but studies have shown that it is great for building and strengthening muscles, mainly in the abdomen and legs, as well as burning fat.
Studies by Swiss researchers have collated information that football is an all-over workout that can reduce the risk of heart disease as well as reducing blood pressure.
One of the researchers, Professor Krustop from Copenhagen University, said that the sport is better than lifting weights and as good as, if not better than, running because of the benefits of the heart. Further studies conducted at the University of Copenhagen have concluded that football also increased bone density twice as much as running and their cholesterol levels fell too.
Five-a-side football, in particular, carries numerous health benefits, even more than a full size game, as each player receives a vigorous workout due to their constant need in the game, and even though running is undoubtedly good for improving fitness as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, football offers more control over each movement as well as a wider variety of transitions and twists.
Another benefit of football is that it is a team sport, giving people the opportunity to socialise as well as keeping fit and with this comes motivation which is key when keeping to a fitness regime in the colder months.
Visit www.sportsdirect.com/football for all the latest football equipment and training wear, and keep up-to-date with their latest competitions and new releases on their official Facebook and Twitter pages.
For all media inquiries please contact Stacey.Topley@sportsdirect.com or telephone 0870 333 9400.

How to Find the Perfect Half Term Holiday Deals

With summer long gone, October half term is the last chance for tour operators and hotels to gain business before winter fully sets in and everyone begins the big Christmas countdown. This means that empty seats and beds need to be filled quickly, and much to the shoppers advantage; this also means heavy discounts.
Sportsdirect.com, one of the UK’s biggest luggage retailers, has put together a guide to help shoppers get savvy and grab those half term bargains.
• Be prepared to book last minute. Booking a holiday last minute can certainly save on the pounds.  Most travel companies drop the prices and offer hotel/flight deals to fill seats and rooms.
• Book mid-week! According to research done by farecompare.com, the best time to book a holiday is on a Tuesday, not only will deals be readily available, but it can help beat those Monday blues  too! Research also shows that the cheapest day and time to fly is a Wednesday morning.
• Avoid the weekend! For both flying and booking, weekends are when tour operators and hotels are the most busy. Good deals will be pulled on a Thursday ready for peak sales across the weekend, so get in before the crowds.
• Opt for a 5 day getaway. Weekends are the most expensive time to fly, waiting a while then opting for a 5 day holiday at half term is an ideal way to help cut costs (this also gives the kids plenty of time to recover in time for school on Monday!)
With a majority of airlines, all passengers are allocated 10kg of hand luggage and the option to pay for more baggage.
• Pack sensibly. Packing minimal and efficiently with hand luggage can avoid extra charges for baggage not necessarily required. Only take essentials.
• Get suitcase savvy. Travelling as a group? Pack everything into as few cases as possible to avoid charges for everyone in the party.
As October half term approaches, both travel agents and consumers will see a flurry of last minute deals. Taking the time to search wisely and assess all options will always guarantee the best deal possible, there is less demand now that peak season is over, so travel agents are constantly enticing consumers with deals!
Already planning a half term trip? Log on to www.sportsdirect.com/accessories/luggage-and-suitcases for a huge selection of discounted suitcases, luggage and travel essentials.

More people are keen to have ‘Real Models’

The Equality Minister, Jo Swinson, started the ‘Campaign for Body Confidence’ back in 2010 to raise awareness of body image issues, tackle the causes and encourage diversity. In recent weeks she has stepped up this campaign and has called for high street stores to have more plus size and petite mannequins. The average dress size in Britain is claimed to be size 16 and Debenhams were praised, by Swinson, for their willingness to create mannequins in this size and promote a more realistic size.
The high street wasn’t the only problem area for promoting negative body image and so SportsDirect.com take a look at how ‘real models’ are being encouraged.
In 2012, the size 0 debates took to the press and the outcome saw models condemned for being scarily thin. Yet today television and magazines praise women for being slim and draw media attention to any weight gain. With the average woman said to be size 16, this is unrealistic and it has been associated with creating low self esteem amongst their readers and viewers.
Celebrities like Gemma Collins and Coleen McLoughlin have backed the Swinson’s campaign to love your curves and are fighting back against this poor body image.
Coleen McLoughlin filmed a television show in which she found real women on the street and after some slight preening, she showcased them to different brands as plus size models. Campaigns like this have had an effect and in recent months, H&M used plus size models to showcase their swimwear collection. The majority of people responded positively to this effort and it goes to show more people are keen to have ‘real models’.
More plus size collections are being introduced on the high street, making it easier for people to accept their size and dress in fashion that shows off their body shape. SportsDirect.com have released their own plus size clothing range, using the same on-trend clothes from their existing fashion outlet but making them bigger to suit normal people. Love your body and embrace your curves by checking out http://www.sportsdirect.com/Pages/plusladies for great fashion in encouraging sizes.