thelostshark

Interesting article about efforts to reduce luggage theft in the WSJ. First paragraph is:

"Airlines, airports, police and the Transportation Security Administration are all trying to tighten up to curb the persistent problem of luggage looting. The latest tools: high-definition security cameras and national meetings to compare notes on thieves. Then there are the carefully placed Montblanc pens."



http://online.wsj.com/articles/new-t...age-1407968449

Paul56

Carry-on only and it never leaves my sight... that is how
I avoid luggage looting.

UpAt40k

I'm excited about the new breed of coin sized device trackers you can put on everything. I'll be throwing one in each of my bags once mine is delivered. Got one called the trackr bravo, hoping it works as well as advertised.

TaxiApple

I'm sure the article is interesting, but unless you are a subscriber you can not read it.

GRALISTAIR

Good something needs doing. I can tell you some real horror stories from a friend who used to handle baggage at a very busy and well known airport in Europe!

EmptyKim

Please share how well these work when you get them. I've been looking at these devices for a while now but none of them have good reviews.

Halo117

Here is an idea...have bags tags with embedded with RFID (really cheap now) and then have pax funneled through a reader area (think supermarket exit) when exiting the claim area. The RFID reader will time stamp the exit and will coincide with CCTV of the reader. If stolen bag claim is made then you could pinpoint the time it left rather than a range of time a flight came in. Before anyone says "someone may remove the tag before entering the reader" the RFID is still in the bag claim area and if a stolen claim is not made (within a reasonable amount of time) the system would delete the RFID data as "claimed not recorded" ....this could also be tied to email alert through the airlines that your bag was recorded leaving xxxx airport at xxx time.

Yes it would require standardization of RFID tags and shared databases at each airport, but would also help airlines with additional tracking support.

Thoughts?

PBQ

How about having all baggage handlers pass through the nude-o-scoop/get a pat down as the leave the secured area after their shift?

Always Flyin

Don't fall asleep on the flight . . .

bhomburg

how to read this any any other article that's behind the wsj.com paywall: Type the headline ("new tactics in the fight against stolen luggage") into google or the search engine of your choice, then click on the link to the story on wsj.com appearing as top result.

I'm actually amazed at the numbers cited in the article. TSA opening and inspecting 5% of all checked bags? In all my traveling to and within the US since TSA was created, I've only had a bag opened and gone through once (with a note left behind).

IceTrojan

+1 ^ F- the WSJ.

In my less traveling than you to and within the US, I've had the TSA note left in my bag a couple dozen times.

Nanook

gooselee

This is how I travel 99% of the time, but every now and then even the best packers have to check something. Maybe it's work equipment that is just too big for a carry on, or maybe your wife bought too many souvenirs on vacation and you can't figure out where to put them alongside clothes for 2 weeks across four countries and multiple climates, and the now-expanded carry-on is no longer carry-on-able (in these cases, the remaining carry-ons contain all the souvenirs and valuables, and the checked bag contains nothing but dirty laundry, usually with an especially stinky pair of socks on top).

And anyway, passengers *should* be able to check their bags without an overwhelming fear that their stuff will get pilfered. In the safest of worlds I still would not put electronics or valuables in checked luggage, but I do like getting my clothes and suitcase back when I check a bag. Glad that there is some attention being given to this.

dgreen12

Just do a Google search of the headline, the full article is then available for your reading pleasure.

RogerMurdock

Not sure why, but this google "technique" is not working for me. Still directs me to the article preview.