Reading this thread made me think of the days when you had to show your baggage claim "ticket" to leave with your bag, when workers would check the bag with your ticket. Was wondering when and why did this stop? Anyone can enter Arrivals part of an airport (landside, no security) and legit swipe any bags they want, possibly before a person gets down to the carosuel or even while they are there. In regards to the OP, I would just ship them. Maybe if it was back in the day you could actually feel safe no one would steal them and the airport would hold them but not anymore. Anyone know why airlines stopped having people check bags, just curious. Feel like its been 10-12 years since I remember this being a norm.