Originally Posted by
TSORon
The best idea I have read about here (credit to the FT’ers out there) is to put every bag on a “shrink-wrap” machine and shrink-wrap them all before passing them along to the baggage handlers. It’s a great idea, but not a practical one. Cost mainly. 1 to 2 shrink-wrap machines at every airline baggage area would cost another major fortune. Add to that the ongoing cost of maintenance, materials, replacements, training, and of course the inevitable damage to bags that WILL result on occasion, and its just not a workable solution.
I don't think it's that unworkable from a cost perspective ... if you consider the total cost of the current system. Right now, the current system costs passengers lots of money every year --- as measured in lost or stolen items. Those costs, however, are invisible, as they're only born by the relatively few passengers who have items stolen. A standardized shrink-wrap system would cost all passengers checking bags a small amount, but would probably cost less in the long run.
And, as others have pointed out, the real problem with the insecurity of checked baggage is this: if someone can take something out of a checked bag, someone can just as easily put something
into a checked bag. Sealing bags would help to circumvent that possibility.