Taking a few quick photos when you fly might not seem important—until you actually need them.
“Pictures, or it didn’t happen.”
In this day and age, it’s easy to take pictures of almost anything, at almost any time. Those quick phone photos are great for remembering your trip. But they can also prove what actually happened. Especially during your travels.
Here’s a list of the things that, when you fly, you should always take photos of:
The stuff in your bags
You want to hope that your stuff won’t get stolen or lost, but sometimes it happens, even as early into your flight as at the TSA checkpoint. Or you may even leave something valuable (like electronics) there by mistake. If you take a photo of your valuables, you have proof that (A) they were in your bag and/or (B) they weren’t damaged when you gave the airline your bags.
Remember that if you have anything particularly valuable or breakable, you should try everything you can to keep it with you in your carry-on. Airlines will reimburse you for broken items up to a certain value, but there are hoops to jump through, and frankly, sometimes you want the actual item, not reimbursement. Anyway, here are some pointers on how to pack things so there’s less chance of breakage.
Where you parked
Some apps, like Waze, will remember where you parked your car. But if you know where you’re going, you may not have used an app. Take a quick photo to remind yourself that you’re in spot L7 on the 4th floor of the parking garage, and you’ll thank yourself when you have to find your car when you get home.
And if you parked in an off-site lot where they give you a card with your parking location, take a quick picture of that.
Your luggage when you check in
If the airline damages your luggage, you’re going to want proof of the before and after, so the airline can’t claim that your bag already had that big dent in it. Take a photo of all six sides of your suitcase(s) before giving them to the workers at the check-in desk.
Your baggage tag from the airline
If you’re like me, you get the baggage tag from the check-in desk and shove it in a pocket. Then it mindlessly goes into a side pocket of one of your carry-ons when you have to empty your pockets to go through the TSA checkpoint. After that, who knows if you’ll throw it out by mistake or if you just don’t remember where it is.
If your bag is lost, you’re going to need that baggage tag. If you’ve taken a picture of it, it’s easy to find on your phone. Just make sure that all the letters and numbers are very legible.
Your boarding pass
Don’t post it online for everyone to see (here’s why, and don’t think that blocking the QR or bar code with your finger is good enough—it’s not), but if you have a problem with the airline and need to create a claim, you’re probably going to need your boarding pass.
The paper version, like the baggage tag, is too easy to lose or throw out. And even if you use the airline’s app, at least do a screen capture of your boarding pass, since apps don’t store them forever.
You at the gate
If you have a photo of you at the gate, especially with the date and time stamp, you can prove you were at the gate at whatever time. Should the airline need to bump someone and choose them based on who arrived last, you have proof that you were there with plenty of time to spare.
Your food and beverage, along with receipts
You have to have bought a certain type of ticket AND be stuck at the airport for a long, long time in order to be reimbursed for the money you spend on food and beverages. But if you get to that unfortunate point, having proof of what you consumed and how much it cost could help with reimbursement. Make sure to get a good, clear shot of your receipt, including the date and time.
How long you’re stuck on the plane
If you’re flying on a U.S. carrier in the U.S., the rule is you must be allowed to deplane after waiting on the tarmac for 3 hours or you may be eligible for compensation. So take a photo of how long you’re stuck there (use a timestamp).
Your taxi’s identifying information
If you take an Uber or Lyft, you have a record of who drove you. But if you grab a taxi to/from the airport, take a quick picture of the license plate, Medallion number, etc. If you leave something in the car by mistake, having that identifying information can help you get it back much more easily.
Your rental car
When you rent your rental car, you should, of course, take pictures of every ding, scratch, etc., so they don’t try to blame you for them and then charge you (especially with Hertz’s new AI scanners – although it’s possible to avoid them).
But there can be lots of white Toyota Corollas out there, so take a picture of the license plate too, so you can find your rental in a parking lot.
Your credit cards
You can do this at home before you leave. But take a picture of the front and back of your credit card(s) you’re traveling with – cover the last 4 digits for safety. But that will give you your bank’s phone number(s) and card reference(s) in case your credit card(s) are stolen or lost during your travels.
Yes, it may feel like you’re taking a lot of photos. But if something goes wrong—lost luggage, a billing dispute, or a delayed flight—having that proof can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
