The Silver Lining of Lost Luggage: Unearthing the Unexpected Benefits with Icelandair

Countless horror stories circulate about lost airline luggage, some ending with a satisfying resolution while others remain unsolved mysteries. However, this particular tale stands apart. It's a story that highlights the unexpected joy that can come from being unable to retrieve your checked luggage - at least when flying with Icelandair.

In December, my family and I lived through a nightmare version of this kind of story. Our only oversized bag did not make it on our flight to Munich, so for the first week, my wife had to wash the same outfit every night. The rest of us were also missing jackets and boots, so we were all cold.

During the second week, we wasted precious sightseeing time in Austrian outlet malls looking for replacements. The airline, a major US-based carrier, never answered our calls about the lost baggage and ignored the numerous emails I sent. We only got our bag back a week after returning home.

Luggage ready for Iceland

Having learned our lesson, I made two adjustments when we headed to Iceland for Thanksgiving this year.

I affixed an AirTag to the interior of our sole checked bag and prepared a compact carry-on containing essential items such as a hat, gloves, boots, an extra outfit, and additional layers, as a precaution. Leading up to the trip, we were anxious about the unpredictable weather in Iceland during November and the possible eruption of the Grindavik volcano. However, at the airport, these concerns were overshadowed by the fear of not making it to our destination at all.

Our JetBlue flight, which is partnered with Icelandair domestically, was delayed for 10 hours due to mechanical issues. This caused us to miss our connecting flight and put our last flight to Reykjavik in jeopardy. Despite having less than 30 minutes to make the connection in Boston, we managed to catch the Icelandair flight by rushing from our arrival gate to another terminal. We boarded the plane at the last minute, but unfortunately, my bag was left behind at Logan International.

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An ocean between me and my luggage

After a sleepless four-hour redeye to Reykjavik, I made my way to the lost baggage counter. Bleary-eyed, I showed the baggage service agent the "Find My" app on my phone, indicating that my luggage was in Boston.

The agent nodded, apologized, and asked me to fill out a brief form. She then promptly handed me two items. The first was an overnight bag containing toiletries, including a wooden comb, a deodorant the size of a champagne cork, and a large white T-shirt with Icelandair's logo on the tag.

The second item was a piece of paper containing contact information for the baggage specialists and the address of a shop on Laugavegur, the main shopping street in the capital. The Icelandair agent explained that at the shop, I could rent any cold weather items I needed, and the airline would cover the cost. I refrained from rolling my eyes when she mentioned that they would text me with an update on my baggage, as I had heard that promise before.

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From dubious to delighted

After getting some much-needed rest at our Airbnb, we made our way to Laugavegur that afternoon. The incredibly helpful staff at the store helped my wife find an industrial-grade parka that she later described as one of the highlights of our exciting week in Iceland. As for me, I was given a pair of premium, thick Nordic-patterned socks and told not to return them.

Later that day, I received a text from Icelandair informing me that my bag would be on the redeye from Boston while I slept that night.

The next morning, while on a small tour bus, I received a notification on my phone stating that my bag had been located at the airport and was set to be delivered to me later that day. I responded, informing them that I would be out until evening and inquired whether they could deliver it after our return. They promptly replied, agreeing to make the attempt. However, when they reached out once more to let me know they would need to attempt delivery the following morning, I expressed that we would once again be out for the entire day.

Helga, a baggage service agent, recommended inquiring whether the Airbnb owner would be willing to provide the code for them to deliver the bag while we were away. "Our drivers are trustworthy and experienced. They have done this for many passengers," Helga explained, "If not, we can attempt to arrange the bag delivery for when you are available."

After returning from exploring waterfalls and other attractions the following day, my bag was waiting for me in the Airbnb dining room. Meanwhile, my wife decided to keep the parka for the rest of our trip.

To this day, I still have those socks and the wooden comb - unexpected mementos from the least nightmarish luggage mishap I've ever encountered. And with that, I extend my gratitude to Icelandair with the only Icelandic word I picked up on our journey: "Takk!" ("Thank you!").

David G. Allan, CNN's Executive Editor for Features and Enterprise, points out that in the majority of US airports, the section where passengers retrieve their checked bags is referred to as "Baggage Claim," whereas in foreign airports it is often called the more linguistically precise term "Baggage Reclaim."