Holiday Goddess Editor Tamara Pitelen’s cautionary tale on lessening the pain of luggage gone astray.

On a recent 11-day holiday to Spain, Turkish Airlines lost my luggage. Twice. At both ends of the trip. Yes, a letter of complaint has gone to customer relations in which words like “mind-boggling incompetence” are thrown about but as that scenario plays out, here are some words of advice learnt the steely-hard way.

1. Don’t wear high heels on the plane (don’t judge me, I’d gone straight from the office) or you’ll be in those shoes for three days unless you go shoe shopping.

2. If you do go shoe shopping, as well as purchasing a toothbrush, shampoo and new knickers, keep the receipts.

3. Wear clothes on the plane that will be comfortable for three days in the climate of the country you’re going to… again, unless you’re happy to go shopping.

4. Don’t put anything in checked-in luggage that you’ll need, such as house keys and car keys.

6. Most importantly, keep every last scrap of documentation if you want compensation. The baggage tags, the lost baggage forms, your e-ticket and every single receipt.