Hi All

Had a "first" yesterday on my PEK-DXB-GLA flights yesterday. Checked in my two suitcases at PEK. No electronics in either of them. Only clothing and an empty rucksack in in the smaller of the two and clothing and toiletries in the larger.

Both had luggage straps and padlocks. Both cases arrived on the belt fairly quickly at GLA. Saw the smaller case and thought it looked funny. Saw the baggage strap was on but was a lot looser. Retrieved both bags from the belt and examined them. Realised that the extender zip on the smaller case was opened half way around the case then when looking at the main zip, the padlock was gone.

Was standing next to the baggage desk so mentioned it to the staff member. She told me to check the bag,which I was going to do anyway, but they wouldn't do anything about a missing padlock. Checked the bag and found nothing missing, reported as such and the went on my way, but this annoyed me a bit.

So for a first ever, as I was walking through Customs, I approached the Customs Officer and explained what had happened and requested him to put it through their x-ray machine. Never thought I would actively seek out customs to check my baggage. Didn't want the risk of having something being put into my bag. Bag x-rayed, nothing there, quick chat and duly left to seek out my CD driver.

Anybody had anything similar? I know FT is riddled with stories of theft from baggage and so on but even on the x-ray, nothing showed up that could arouse interest. A chancer in DXB? A 'spot check' in PEK? Odd.....

Safe & Happy Travels

S