Originally Posted by B1
Question for the FT crowd - When I was in line at the AC desks in T1 international I noticed a group in front me of with many large boxes as their luggage and all were inside plastic wrap of many layers. Then I noticed what appeared to be a concession at the end of the counter that has a sign for "luggage wrapping". People were putting their luggage into these mummy-wraps, just like the boxes, presumably for a fee. The luggage that came off my flight in MAN had no wrapped luggage - so where did it go? I asked in the line and some said that it avoids theft in places in Asia but no one was sure. Does someone know the real answer (I doubt that preventing the salami smell from spreading is the reason). Also, I was told that I shouldn't lock my checked luggage because it may be opened. If that is the case, doesn't the wrapping create a security issue? Does this delay luggage processing? Why is it encouraged?
Just a guess, but back in the days when CP would fly to Manila, I remember it being fairly common at T3-YYZ to see families who literally were checking in cardboard boxes on CP as their 'luggage', as finances were often stretched so thin that purchasing proper 'luggage' wasn't feasible.
To make a collection of cardboard boxes into what could be considered a 'single item' for the purposes of check-in, to remain within the 2 checked item limit, the luggage would have to be 'wrapped' together, into a single item, in plastic, or repacked into proper shipping-quality cardboard boxes.
As to why one would have the plastic applied to normal suitcases, perhaps they are flimsy to begin with? My father had one of his flimsy suitcases delivered on the carousel after returning from Miami rapped in that fashion -- except half the contents were missing and presumed scattered in a baggage room or on the ramp. I guess if he had the bags pre-wrapped, they wouldn't have 'leaked' contents, albeit he should have just bought proper luggage in the first place, and he finally did learn his lesson after that incident.