Do you lock your luggage?
Thread Starter
Do you lock your luggage?
For several years now, I have sent luggage through into the hold without locking it. Whether it be direct non-stop from Manchester or via various European airports, never had a problem with anything stolen (I am tempting fate here I know) and no damage to zips. Serious valuables go in hand luggage.
What risks do I face if I continue to do this. Would I be asked by my insurance company if the suitcase was locked before they paid out a claim for stolen goods? Most locks are cheap rubbish anyway which the average child could probably defeat given a few minutes.
What do you do?
What risks do I face if I continue to do this. Would I be asked by my insurance company if the suitcase was locked before they paid out a claim for stolen goods? Most locks are cheap rubbish anyway which the average child could probably defeat given a few minutes.
What do you do?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1601
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you lock your luggage?
Depending on the suitcase type, locked or not, the are accessible. I have witnessed customs open cases with a biro to check for contraband, before doing them back up again, passenger unaware. So locked or not, if someone wants in, they will get in. The only way to be certain nowadays is the good ol shrink wrap
Paxing All Over The World
The lock is against the casual thief and, if the case is dropped by the taxi driver, slightly less likely to crash open and spill the contents on the pavement. 
In the rain.
With a wind blowing so you have to chase things down the street.
In the rain.
With a wind blowing so you have to chase things down the street.
Last edited by PAXboy; 3rd Feb 2013 at 21:37.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,094
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A practiced thief can open most suitcases, including the 'hard' ones, like Samsonite, in the space of a few minutes, a motor cycle wheel spoke will knock the hinge out of a Samsonite or a Delsey in a few seconds, hands in, feel for valuables, like cameras, wallets etc. hands out, hinge back in. Zips, as mentioned, with a biro, (see on Youtube). The best, but not perfect defence, without using the shrink-wrap method, is a strong strap that does NOT have the easy click in fastener but has the old fashioned buckle or similar fastener, unless they cut the strap, leaving evidence, straps are just too much trouble as there are a lot of easier pickings.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: England
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I put a padlock on my cases, absolutely no idea why, though.
Work at an airport and know just how easy it is to open a case, or how easily they can 'pop open' in the baggage systems or when being handled!
Work at an airport and know just how easy it is to open a case, or how easily they can 'pop open' in the baggage systems or when being handled!
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: My little house
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cable tie through the zip, then wrapped around a convenient handle, etc.
I have heard that there is a gang using the "biro trick" to smuggle in packages of drugs to uk airports, basically they plant a package in your bag in Jamaica, then when you get to the other end, you pick up your bag then when clear of the airport, someone robs your bag. Obviously, if you get stopped by customs before the other side, you are the one that gets done for it, zero risk to the actual gang as "yes, this is my bag, yes, I packed it myself"
Jon
I have heard that there is a gang using the "biro trick" to smuggle in packages of drugs to uk airports, basically they plant a package in your bag in Jamaica, then when you get to the other end, you pick up your bag then when clear of the airport, someone robs your bag. Obviously, if you get stopped by customs before the other side, you are the one that gets done for it, zero risk to the actual gang as "yes, this is my bag, yes, I packed it myself"
Jon
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: UK
Age: 64
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't, whether travelling as crew or passenger. I figure that if they want to get in they will, and this way I might get the suitcase back intact, including some of the contents. I never have anything more valuable than clothing in my checked baggage.
When I first joined an airline, there was one bit of advice that stuck: I was told never to travel with a soft or zipper suitcase, but to always use a hard shell - this was because you can't sit on a soft suitcase so easily while waiting (too true) and that zippers break and soft cases don't protect to the same extent. You're free to disagree as this is not definitive: My Mother, for example, swears blind that I am wrong and that soft zippers are preferable because they expand - but then she doesn't travel that much and hasn't seen what happens to bags in the undercroft!
When I first joined an airline, there was one bit of advice that stuck: I was told never to travel with a soft or zipper suitcase, but to always use a hard shell - this was because you can't sit on a soft suitcase so easily while waiting (too true) and that zippers break and soft cases don't protect to the same extent. You're free to disagree as this is not definitive: My Mother, for example, swears blind that I am wrong and that soft zippers are preferable because they expand - but then she doesn't travel that much and hasn't seen what happens to bags in the undercroft!
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spain
Age: 82
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is not a plug but we've had our Eagle Creek zipped baggage for about ten years and never had a problem. It does, however, also have reinforcing straps but it is 'soft' baggage.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
Age: 69
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TS - My checked luggage for the last 30 years has been hard shelled Samsonite.
This conclusion results from the day I had working as a ramp rat (My company's ones had honoured another unions picket line). Bulk loaded bags in B737s and DC8s - container loaded for DC10s. We tried to be nice to soft bags, but that wasn't always possible.
Also (slight thread drift) - when unloading onto carousels were were taught to put the bags a certain way up, so the luggage handles would be facing the passengers when it came out. This appears to be a lost art, as I rarely see this, from the land side.
This conclusion results from the day I had working as a ramp rat (My company's ones had honoured another unions picket line). Bulk loaded bags in B737s and DC8s - container loaded for DC10s. We tried to be nice to soft bags, but that wasn't always possible.
Also (slight thread drift) - when unloading onto carousels were were taught to put the bags a certain way up, so the luggage handles would be facing the passengers when it came out. This appears to be a lost art, as I rarely see this, from the land side.
Sunny John,
I have just had my Eagle Creek briefcase replaced and I am about to send my Eagle Creek replacement suitcase to be replaced again. They cost a king's ransom to purchase and now a queen's ransom in return postage.
This is also not a plug for Eagle Creek.
I have just had my Eagle Creek briefcase replaced and I am about to send my Eagle Creek replacement suitcase to be replaced again. They cost a king's ransom to purchase and now a queen's ransom in return postage.
This is also not a plug for Eagle Creek.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hard shell Samsonite cases with a combination locks can be opened in a few minutes flat without damage and then relocked. Without other security measures, the owner would be totally unaware that they have been opened.
PM
PM
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
Age: 69
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In addition to the combination lock there are two other locks secured by a key. That ads at least 15 seconds or so to the time necessary to get into them. But it does them no good.
The only thing of value that I put in checked bags are things I can't carry on. Swiss Army knives, fine wine, whiskey and other similar liquids. This happens on few flights and I have never had anything to missing, yet.
The only thing of value that I put in checked bags are things I can't carry on. Swiss Army knives, fine wine, whiskey and other similar liquids. This happens on few flights and I have never had anything to missing, yet.
Paxing All Over The World
Hard shell Samsonite cases with a combination locks can be opened in a few minutes flat without damage and then relocked.
I've never found it especially difficult to lock & unlock my Carlton which has been travelling with me faithfully since 1994. It's wheels have long gone and it looks worse for wear but it's not let me down - & if it has been opened no one has ever found owt worth taking inside.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spain
Age: 82
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to read that Shytehawk. I can only speak as I find! Eagle Creek do bang on about a lifetime guarantee and my view is that they should be prepared to pay postage both ways. I suspect they work it on the basis that most people won't bother to send the whole thing back because of the postage, which is extortionate from the US to the rest of the world. Of course, I may be doing them a complete injustice. . .