Originally Posted by
spunky46
When I used to fly a long time ago I frequently checked a few bags. Upon arrival at my destination I waited by the luggage carousel, picked up my bags, have an airline agent check that my ticket matched the bags I picked up and then exited the terminal.
For the past 20 years there is no agent there to check if you picked up the correct bag. You can just pick up any bag and leave the airport. Why did they remove the agent? Has there been an increase in luggage theft since they removed the agent?
There might be some still doing luggage checks but the majority of airports have dropped checks. Can't put an exact date when they stopped checking but I'd say it's been 10-15+ years at the airports (LAS, SEA, DFW, DCA, IAD, ATL, SAT) we frequently transit. Probably all done in the name of cost savings. Increase in theft? Again probably and there have been a few local and national news reports on luggage theft. I think I remember a report a few years ago of a ring of baggage thieves in the Phoenix area that were caught with hundreds of stolen bags found on an isolated ranch. Anyhow we now, and actually have for years, get to the claim area pretty much as fast as we can. It's not that we have valuable items in our luggage as it is the pain in the backside of not having clothing on a vacation or business trip.