thats why they say when you're travelling with your significant other, to pack half of your things and half of his things in one bag, and the other half of your things and the other half of his in the second bag...that way you're more likely to end up with at least half of your things

Travel Rule No.1: Pack HALF of what you think you need, and TWICE as much money!
[Especially with these new baggage fees - heinous!]

If it's *that* important to look good for the potential mom-in-law, and she can't understand that your not having nice (to her!) clothes isn't your fault, then by all means make a stop by a department store before you meet her and buy a few safely coordinated outfits. Shouldn't break the bank too much, and it keeps everybody happy.

^^ Good advice.

His mother would have to understand the situation, surely?

Maybe that would also be a good excuse to buy some new clothes. ::

Ha, I'm with Leene! Whoohoo shopping in a new town!

Explain to his mother what happened and ask if she might be interested in going on a shopping trip because her son always goes on about what amazing taste she has.

Make it a bonding experience instead of a tramatic one.

Shopping also makes a great bonding activity! Get new clothes AND stay on mom's good side

We split our stuff between two suitcases. Half in his, half in mine. It's the logical thing to do with the state of baggage claim now!

I'd also whip off to the nearest mall and have a mini shopping spree to ensure I had enough underwear, changes of clothing etc. A pair of jeans would be all thats needed for 4 days really and then a couple of tops to go with them...

Though, I am not neurotic. ;p

"They say you can judge a person by how they react to these three things - a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled christmas tree lights." - Maya Angelou

Imagine?? I wish! I had this happen to me!!
Only I wasn't visiting my BF's family, I was married & 7 months pregger's, visiting my father in California(a 6+ hr. flight from here to CA) and I had checked in 2 suitcases, not one: a bigger, standard size suitcase and a smaller, but still too big for a comfortbale carry-on, bag. Both were put on the wrong plane, they said. Even though I had clearly labled and attatched my tags given to me from the Airline, someone still managed to put BOTH of my bags on a flight to Chicago!(they "thought".)

My bags actually did NOT show up in Chicago, in fact, they NEVER showed up anywhere, at all. The Airline told me that they were considering them stolen, and offered me a measly $100 to cover my losses!!!

Southwest People, Southwest!

And I had to stand in line for almost 4 hours, from 0pm to 2 a.m.!, in a line that snaked around the entire baggage claim area, to find out that Chicago did not have my bag. They couldn't have bothered themselves to make a phone call to my cell which I made sure they had on file to tell me this information???? Then I had to wait another hour to have them make calls to the destination airport's of all their other flights at that same time (which I hadto INSIST they do, and it was all MY idea)just to find out that nope, my luggage was GONE.

I will never, ever fly Southwest ever again.

Those are great ideas, k8 rckstr & margokhal!

$100? That's inexcusable. I had my bags lost once and United paid the full estimated amount of what was in there.

Honestly though, if my BF's mom was a judgmental b*tch about having a lost bag I'd be really confused.

fallen - nice idea to ask her for help!!

and agree with others, quickly stop for new jeans and undies and a couple black tops (thats all i wear and what i feel most comfortable in) and possibly a new pair of shoes

for me, i always try to travel in something i would want people to see me in. i try to wear a cute but casual outfit (jeans and a cute suede coat) and carry my nice purse and have my sunglasses and a cashmere scarf with me, so at least i look chic when i get off the plane. so dressing well on the plane in layers would give you some options.

plus, i would also carry a small suitcase on carry on and i could have a couple extra things in there

this would be terrible though. if i lost all my best coordinated outfits and accessories i'd go insane

That's why my rule always is if it doesn't fit in my carry on, it doesn't come.

I'm with popgoestheworld, why on earth would the mom judge you for the airline having lost your bag. And if you're that reliant on your clothes to make a good impression, then you need to reconsider your priorities.

OMG a bunch of my girlfriends and I took a trip to St.Maarten in August and my luggage, as well as one of my friends' went missing!!! I seriously felt like crying, luckily we got it the next morning. ANYWAYS...I really dont think you need to work that hard at getting someone to like you, especially when something is out of your control like the airline losing ur luggage. If she has suchhh a problem with it, tell her to buy u new clothes!

I agree with Fallen, tell her what happened and ask her to come shopping with you. You might not like her taste but if you care so much about impressing her in the first place then just buy a few outfits that she picks and shop on your own another time.

Isn't this "Meet the Parents"?

Go shopping. Big deal.

While it is horrible. I have had my luggage misplaced by the airline and arrived in England with the clothes on my back and my panites that for some reason I decide to pull out of my check in. I really can't imagine anyone holding it against you. While horrible got shopping and laugh it off!

A) I carry all my essentials on my carry-on, make up, and small travel size face cleansers and creams and etc and one spare outfit in case something happens. Normally a nice black v neck black top and a pair of dark jeans and a pair of heels(in case something like this happens and a good pair of jeans and a black top does wonders).

B) Tell her what happened and I agree with Fallen's idea about bonding over shopping...

C) I would go to the nearest mall/downtown and do an emergency right after the airport situation is shorted out (ie...where they are goign to send the luggage and etc). Or since I have an extra outfit, if I HAVE to go out for dinner or lunch or whatever..go shopping the next day early in the morning.

Uh, what? Who gives a flying $hit if his mom is that full of it? You don't owe her anything. Having lost your luggage isn't about her, it's about you. They should accommodate you not the other way around.

My baggage got lost on XMAS EVE last year.. needless to say i refused to be photographed for my familys xmas party.. i was in my juicy tracksuit from the day before... HORRIBLE... they sent my luggage to Detroit by mistake i got it back the day AFTER xmas... so pised, and they wouldnt reimburse me either.

I'd file a lost baggage claim with the airline and buy some cheap clothes to hold me off until they either find my luggage or reimburse me for it.

First of all, always carry at least one extra outfit in my carry on if I am checking bags. I'm always very distrustful of the airlines with my belongings. But that's just me...

Anyway, I'd go shopping and just get a few items that I could re-wear a couple of times -- 1 extra pair of pants, 2 tops, a dress. I think I'd be more worried about my flatiron and makeup being left behind than my clothes!

I'm a one-carry on bag girl. I'd never have this problem. I wouldn't check any bags.

The first time I met my (now) in-laws was over a thanksgiving holiday. We drove there so there wasn't an issue of luggage getting lost, but I can imagine how nerve-wracking that would be. I bought lots of new clothes for that trip (I even bought new parent-appropriate PJ's), and really wouldn't have had much money to spend on MORE clothes!

I fly all the time and yes sometimes my luggage does't arrive when I do. In my carry on I take a travel set of toiletries/makeup, and pack a pair of dress pants/cashmere sweater and heels (and a pair of undies). I make sure I coordinate that outfit with the outfit I wear on the plane (jeans) so that I can mix and match the 4 pieces and 2 pairs of shoes if necessary.

I always joke with my friends that I could live for 4 days out of my laptop bag/carry on, but it's pretty much true!

It shouldn't take the airlines four days to locate your luggage.

Geez, go shopping? My luggage got lost every single time I flew back from the UK to the US to visit family, and it was often delivered that night or the next morning. If it truly is lost, just be a big girl and deal with it!! I daresay that your ability to handle a minor crisis is MUCH more important to a mother in law than how you look!

well i've been in the situation where my luggage for a LONG trip has gone missing and the only thing that you can do is smile about it and hope that the bag turns up in the next day or so. in the mean time, see if you can stop at a drug store on the way to the house and pick up some make up since that's what makes you feel the best, and then just make do with what you have. i think that people realize tha there are a lot of stresses with travel that are out of your control...so don't worry about not making a good first impression.

NIGHTMARE! Delta didn't load my luggage for my flight to Venice, Italy for a 2 week Mediterranean cruise. It didn't come until several days later in Athens, Greece. I was the girl walking around Venice in sweltering June heat in Juicy sweats. I learned to just laugh about it off. Now I always take an extra change of clothes...and a swim suit.