Travel | Advice

Security check for baggage

Ten ways to prevent your bags from being stolen at airports.

  • By Jane Engle, Los Angeles Times
  • Published: 18:56 November 20, 2009

  • Image Credit: Supplied

Worried about your bag being stolen in baggage claim? You have plenty of company, especially since the recent news about the police arresting a suburban Phoenix couple on suspicion of stealing nearly 1,000 bags from carousels at Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport.

Although airlines say they recover nearly all bags that owners report missing and that only a tiny percentage is really lost — as they were misplaced, misrouted, stolen or abandoned — that is small comfort to victims, who may have numbered in the hundreds in Phoenix alone.

Here are ten steps you can take to protect your possessions:

1. Don't check bags

If you pack lightly, you can handle more trips with just a carry-on, which will also spare you from paying ever-escalating bag fees.

2. Keep valuables with you

You wouldn't believe the stuff Phoenix police say they found at the home of the theft suspects: laptop computers, adoption papers, a valuable stamp collection, GPS systems, passports and more. What's worse, airlines generally won't compensate you for the loss of such valuable or exotic items.

On domestic flights, the law usually caps redress for lost or damaged bags at $3,300 (Dh12,122) for every passenger, according to the US Department of Transportation. (Compensation on international flights can be lower.)

3. Make your bag stand out

"Criminals go after the nondescript, common bag — because they don't want attention drawn to themselves," said Bruce McIndoe, president of iJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a travel security company based in Annapolis, Maryland, the US.

If your bag looks like all the other black roll-aboards, McIndoe said, a thief just a few feet away from you can swipe it from the carousel without your taking note of it. Consider buying brightly coloured or oddly shaped luggage or add neon-coloured tape or handle wrap-arounds to luggage you own.

4. Use cheap luggage

Some thieves covet pricey designer bags as much or more than the items packed inside. Besides, a $800 (Dh2,939) bag is a pretty good tip-off that expensive goods may lie within.

5. Don't dally

March down to baggage claim as soon as you get off the aircraft and park yourself at the point where the baggage spills down the chute on to the carousel, McIndoe suggested. You want as few people as possible to get between you and your bag.

6. Stay alert

It's tempting to step away from a cart stacked high with your luggage to grab one last bag from the carousel. An unguarded cart is equally tempting to a thief. Roll the cart up to the carousel or ask your travel companion to watch it.

7. Avoid switching flights

If you check in for a flight and get on a later one instead, your bag may remain on the original flight and arrive at baggage claim hours before you do. Who watches it in the meantime? Hard to say. Alert baggage staff may spot it and secure it.

8. Fly non-stop

The more connections you make, the greater the chance that your bags may be misrouted, experts say.

9. File claims promptly

Airlines generally set time limits for filing reports of missing bags. If you miss the deadline, you may miss the chance to get compensated.

10. Consider insurance

So-called bundled trip-insurance policies, which combine several types of coverage, typically include at least some compensation for baggage loss.

The premiums vary; 5 per cent-8 per cent of the trip cost is common. As always, read the fine print.

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