As a flight attendant, I have been witness to passengers in tears over losing their luggage. It’s not always the airline who loses luggage. In many cases, a passenger will inadvertently grab a similar-looking suitcase in the overhead bin on the airplane, in baggage claim or on the van transporting travelers to their hotel.

One way to prevent this traveling mishap from happening is by attaching a bright and bold luggage tag on all of your suitcases (including carry on bags). Passengers will not be so quick to grab the wrong suitcase. And if the airline is the culprit in losing your luggage, it will be found and returned to you quicker with a bright luggage tag.

DecorativeThings.com carries a luggage tag with a catchy British slogan “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The luggage tags are available in four easy-to-spot colors: red, green, turquoise and black ($20 each). The slogan was originally created for a poster in 1939 by the British Ministry of Information. They wanted to assuage British civilian fear of invasion. The poster was never issued, but in 2000, a British bookseller discovered one of the original posters. The poster was hung in the shop and the slogan became a hit in the UK.

In today’s blue economic environment, the slogan has a new meaning (especially if you have a red luggage tag).

For other holiday gift ideas, DecorativeThings.com sells over twenty “Keep Calm and Carry On” products. Affordable gifts in the $20 range include posters, mugs and tote bags to decorative décor at $125.

Susan Fogwell is a flight attendant for a major international airline, freelance writer and seasoned world traveler. She flies over 300,000 miles per year staying in hotels ranging from ultra luxury resorts to cozy inns, and everything in between. For travel tips and questions, send an e-mail to susanfogwell@aol.com Read More from Susan