Suitcase security.
 

Ahead of our trip, we want to buy suitcases. A lot seem to have side zips as well as zipping around the main case.

I'm concerned it could be easy for someone, somewhere along the chain, to put something in a zip bag... from what I've seen, even if it's padlocked.

I've heard you can have a case plastic wrapped but that doesn't seem practical if having a stopover on the journey.

How do other BE's secure their cases when travelling?

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Never had a problem- I just padlock the zipped pockets -there are usually two zippers so it is easy to slip a small combi lock through both.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Same here.


As long as you aren't going to bali, you'll be fine.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Attaching things to cases does increase the likelihood that the case will get caught up on the conveyor systems - the number of locks found at LHR still attached to the zip (or not) is amazing (used to pass quiet times unlocking combination locks found under conveyors LOL). Don't put a strap around a case either - when the conveyor stops, the case continues inside the strap and can get jammed. Always avoid cases where the wheels extend outside the case area - they don't stop on conveyors either. Can't vouch for any airport other than LHR, but baggage handling / routing is all automated except at the point where they are loaded which is heavily monitored on cameras (as are all areas although there are blind spots). If someone really wants to get in your case they will regardless of if you add padlocks, but most damage is caused accidentally.

For anyone travelling, always worth adding a slip inside the case detailing travel details incase the airline label is lost - helps re-unite you with your case. If the bag tag is lost, then your case will be opened to identify traveller.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Even if you do have padlocks your suitcases can still be opened

Shocking video shows how easy it is to break into a suitcase | Mail Online

Just make sure you get insurance and keep your valuables on you.

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Put duct tape over locks/fastenings, initial it, then you can see if it's been disturbed. Take extra tape with you

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I travel internationally every month (currently on Singapore, China, Germany lap) and domestically in between. I never bother locking my bags, waste of time..only shows people that you have something valuable in there.

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I have a hard shell case. No pesky padlocks outside as the latches have locks on them.

The only time I've had anything stolen from my suitcase was by American TSA agents in Honolulu. I know it was them because the item was in my case when I checked in but missing when I picked it up in Auckland. They even left a nice note saying they had searched the bag.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

This is weird.The thread shows you as the Op but the answers are in the wrong order.(I definitely haven't been drinking)

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Ignore me.It is now the correct order.:confused:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Carry your valuables the way that Papillon did ! (In a "charger" inserted in his rectum !)

Re: Suitcase security.
 

just go and buy hard cases, yes they are more expensive, but for peace of mind, it's worth it.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Wow did you work with my son at LHR?
Worked for a well known UK airline, baggage department. Not saying this because he was dishonest, he wasn't, but had on numerous occasions to gain entry to lost not claimed bags. There isn't a suitcase he couldn't get into in one a few minutes.
2nd above tip about putting name and adress inside case.
Also do not put a red ribbon on a black case, his reply to such a case was which of the several possibly hundred do you think might be yours!!!
You won't believe some of the things he found when trying to trace the owners.
250.000 UK pds once!!!
It's the luck of the draw, have travelled more flights than I care to remember as ex airline, then married to a pilot since the 1960's with all types of suitcase, and only once had a problem, but could happen on your first flight ever.

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Agree with this. If someone is going to nick something out of your bags, puny locks are not going to stop them

And people putting stuff into your bags is a bit of an urban myth IMO. Not saying that it has never happened but would be so rare as to be a non-issue. Corby tried that defence and the court showed her what they though of it

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There's a glitch in the system and it's making this happen every now and then. People who shall remain nameless have being taking the piss out of me when I've mentioned it so it's very reassuring when others notice it. :lol:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

I can't believe you're even daring to suggest that she may be guilty...

I normally stick a coloured cable tie through the lock holes on my case - Enough to deter the casual thief, but easy enough for security to open to perform any checks without mangling my case. I usually leave a couple of different coloured ties inside on top so if they are feeling nice they can secure it again, and I will also know if the luggage has been tampered with.


S

Re: Suitcase security.
 

I thought I was going Reassuring to know I'm perfectly sane.:thumbsup:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Well I wouldn't go that far...

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Good advice there O.

My suitcase once went missing upon arrival in NY and I didn't get it back until the day before I was due to fly back to the UK.
The tags had come off apparently. Had I put my destination inside I'm sure I would've got it back sooner as someone certainly had a good nose about inside. :huh:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

We purchased new hard suitcase with built in numerical locks, on the journey out the handle was smashed off, on the way back customs bust the lock open, explaining the damage as necessary security.

First and last time we had a decent suitcase :lol:

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We've just bought all new suitcases. They are so expensive, I wish we hadn't bothered now and just stuck with the 'well traveled' miss-matched collection we've had for years.

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Don't forget to pack the old ones in your container. I guarantee you'll use them too. In fact, they're so cheap compared with here, buy and bring some additional new ones too! :thumbsup:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

My sister's just returned from a trip - somewhere between Athens and Perth, via Dubai, her suitcase padlock's been removed and replaced with a shiny new one. Her key from the original one fits the new one and there doesnt seem to be anything missing.

:confused:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

:blink:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Did your sister drink red or white wine during her flight? :drinkwine:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Sceptics, they're everywhere :lol:

The original padlock was a red and grey TSA one, the padlock that replaced it is brass. A bit hard to mistake that.

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Haha, just checking :D

Do any other keys fit the padlock?

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The tsa ones are made so that they can be unlocked by Customs keys, so I can only assume that the replacement is the same, as my sister's original key also opens the new padlock. In other words, any tsa padlock can be opened by any tsa padlock key - which leads me to conclude that we may as well not even bother in the first place!

Re: Suitcase security.
 

True. Your sister might as well have used a lock that comes out of a Christmas cracker. Which reminds me, we are now closer to next Christmas than we are to last :santa:

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Go and belt sand up your arse*

*ancient Australian curse

Re: Suitcase security.
 

We've been here 10 years, and one of our brand new suitcases was damaged beyond repair when we arrived in Brisbane via Sydney.

We were very fortunate that Virgin Blue accepted that we hadn't had the chance to unpack the case during our weekend in Sydney and that the damage wasn't apparent until we had unpacked the case and it collapsed in a heap. They replaced it without any hassle.

We travel a lot, both in Australia and elsewhere. Last year we bought new cases to travel back to UK - we used one of them once for an internal flight before using them to go to UK.

Although we had a stopover, our checked baggage went all the way through to Manchester.

On arrival, both cases were destroyed with items inside hanging out.

On reflection, we should just have walked away with the damaged cases. Trying to persuade Emirates that they were at fault was useless. They asked if we had checked the luggage in like that! We asked if they would have accepted it at check in if half the contents were hanging out?

It took up so much time during our UK holiday that in the end I told them that I would deal with it when I was back in Australia, and bought cheap wheelie bags to bring luggage home.

They eventually replaced the two suitcases, which I think I might sell. I will never travel with decent suitcases again.

As for locking your cases? Unless you have a state of the art locking system someone will always get into it.

Someone suggested that we should have used the 'wrapping' service at the airport, but I think the cases would still have been destroyed although we would not have lost items.

I can't believe the number of people I see here (or coming here) who check in those $2 bags from Crazy Clarks, but I think a $2 bag and $8 for wrapping will be the way forward for us for international flights now:)

Re: Suitcase security.
 

Do you mean those big striped bags? Do people use those instead of suitcases? It seems weird but I guess if that's what it takes...

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:lol: I've rather do that than contemplate the arrival of Christmas again. :D

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The great thing about those things is they weight virtually nothing :thumbup: