Strange Baggage Experience
 

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:D. 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

Maybe the padlock broke in transit and fell off? Has happened a couple of times to me.

The position of the main zip was at the side as opposed to the top. The extender zip had been opened half way, and the clothing had obviously been 'moved'.

S

Could've been a spot check and customs forgot or didn't care to replace the lock. Thieves wouldn't bother removing the lock, saw a video yesterday on Youtube about how you can use a ballpoint pen to just push the zip apart regardless of a lock on the zipper (what's the part of a zip that you pull called?)

Best bet is security cut the lock off to inspect the contents. Not sure why this seems so surprising to you, OP.

If you checked the contents of the bag, why would you then ask Customs to X-Ray it?

Was this your Eco Flight?

Could have been drug smugglers hiding something in the seams of the bag or similar.

TSA approved lock with the TSA code on it. In PEK if security have to go through your case they will generally bring to the gate before boarding and go through it with you (seen this happen on a few occasions). There were only clothes and an empty rucksack in the case. Nothing to arouse suspicion on a X-ray machine.

As skywardhunter commented, the concern was something being put in the bag. Maybe it's my job that brings these things to be watchful for.

S

No, my last J one for a while. Got that to look forward to next week

S

Saw this same video. I ordered all new Pacsafe Luggage because of it.



Also, baggage wrap is worth the 10 bucks for added protection.

My solution is that I never check a bag :D Dropped of some friends for the lunchtime EK departure from CPT yesterday and despite my warnings the day before they managed to go over the checked bag weight limit.. never understood how one can have 90kg of clothes.

I've had this a couple of times at PEK, and now just accept it as part of a trip to Beijing!

Admittedly my experience hasn't been with EK, but it's the same handlers etc.

Fortunately I've never had anything taken from my bags, nor indeed anything added!

M

China Security open a lot of checked bags as a lot of passengers departing Chinese airports seem to pack undeclared DGs/prohibited items in them (I do not know if Chinese airports are worse than other airports for the amount of pax carrying undeclared DGs/prohibited items, just that a lot of bags get stopped at Chinese airports for this!)

I am not sure what the process is at PEK but at CAN Security normally wrap the bag in plastic so the pax can see that security tampered with it. At CAN, assuming you has undeclared DGs/prohibited items, they simply remove the items and inform the airline which pax have had items removed. The pax then has 07 days to get in touch to claim the item back. If he needs more than 07 days he can arrange storage via a dedicated agent. If he fails to get in touch they are declared self abandoned and disposed of.

I would imagine it ws China Security taking a look at your bag!

i never bother with a padlock on my bag and i never pack anything remotely valuable in a bag that I cannot keep with me. If anybody wants to rummage thru my smalls and smelly socks they are welcome to do so.

I actually wonder that if a bag is securely locked, it attracts a level of interest that my unlocked bag ever will

I don't tend to carry anything too valuable in my checked luggage either and the main reason I padlock my cases is to minimise the risk of seeing my socks and undies coming out on the carousel one by one.

S