Lost luggage? You're in luck!

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

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We’ve seen a massive increase in the amount of checked baggage since the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) adjusted its carry-on rules in the wake of the alleged London-based air terror plot of 2006.

The result of the new policy has been a similarly massive breakdown of the baggage handling system. More bags are getting lost than ever before.

Now the Department of Transportation (DOT) wants to do something about it. If your checked bag gets lost, delayed, or damaged on a domestic flight, you’ll soon be eligible for a little extra compensation.

The DOT plans to raise the “minimum baggage liability limit” from $2,800 to $3,000 effective February 28.

Travel Weekly (free registration required) notes that “airlines can set their minimum higher than $3,000 if they choose to,” but with the airlines losing about 10,000 bags a day, I wouldn’t go holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

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