Originally Posted by pinniped

It sounds like something I might try with my old backpack and nothing of serious value inside.

I'm guessing the odds that someone steals the bag are low. But that would be in the back of my mind during the hours I spent away from the bag, knowing it's probably just sitting there in the baggage hall. After a while, someone will toss it in a pile with other unclaimed bags but won't necessarily guard it closely. (I know I've shown up very late for whatever reason and just wandered into a pile of bags to find mine.)

Is the 4-hour check-in rule a hard rule? I've mainly found that rule in place in airports where the counter is only open certain hours or my airline's flights are worked by contractors or another airline's agents. I've walked into large busy airports many hours in advance and checked bags with airlines that have larger all-day operations. Did it in Boston last week about 5 1/2 hours prior to a Delta flight.