how to stop luggage thieves
 

While I am on vacation I am letting my readers write for me for the next week. Thank you for your readership and comments, they always make my day!

Airlines claim they recover nearly all bags that fall prey to thieves. While it's true many missing bags were actually misplaced, mis-routed, abandoned or stolen, that's small comfort to those who truly are victims of theft.

While new fees on checked baggage have forced many to abandon checking their bags, proposed change for carry-ons may increase luggage riding in the belly of planes.

Please kept locked your bags all of the times!!
 

Please reminder for everyone at airports. You have to kept the bags locked all of the times. Because these criminals are trying to accused stolens the bags off the conveyer belts or anywhere near security equipment machines. It is your responsibilities where the bags can go through CTX machines and anywhere if your bags will make it on the flight. If you don't missed your flight connections. If you don't show up at the gate on-time. You could be missed the flight. The bags will be automatically to removable off the cargo hold. This is your responsible where your bags will be cutoff the time requirements is 45 minutes before departed flight some US Airports and not an all US Airports if your bags will cutoff time 30 minutes before flight is departed.

TSA will have to installed all airports with security surveillance camera at baggage carousel or at the bags room. If you don't see your bags. Then you have go to baggage service office to reports to the agents. You will have a liability is excess $1,000. This is your responisbilities where your bags is automatically for next connection flight any domestic hub. You will be too risks losing the bags from origin airports that you didn't show up at the gate on-time and you don't come onboard the aircraft. Your reservation will be removed and you have try to catch next flight out. Please be aware of your bags is on your flight and this is your bags. If you see someone who is an inappropriate to touching the bags and trying to attempting opened the bags. The police will be called in.

From somebody that's not a frequent flyer, what kinds of tips do you guys recommend to keep from having your bags stolen or stolen from?

I've got TSA locks, which I know doesn't guarantee safety, and I read somewhere about using zip ties. Not too much worried about the departure. More about the return since I'll probably have a few souvenirs.

Basically, don't put ANYTHING valuable in your checked luggage. Anything you'd miss, pack in your carry on.

Right. It will much safer for you in carryon bags instead of going to put the valuables into the checked bags. It was too much problems from TSA behaviors who doesn't changes. It will very extremely dangerous to steals your valuable things out of bags. You have to kept locked the bags all the times. It will have much safer for you to kept secure the bags.

ok I'm flying from Cleveland to Houston and Houston to Calgary AB. What are these TSA approved locks people are talking about? Can someone post me some examples or links to some examples? This will be my 1st flight since I was little and I just wanted to check.

Thanks

Go into Target or Walmart or anywhere that sells luggage. In the luggage area they will have locks and such. TSA approved locks have a little diamond shape on them. For example here is one at Target http://www.target.com/s/191-3167218-...1&searchPage=1 See that little diamond shape at the top? That is what you are looking for in a TSA approved lock.

HOWEVER......... since you are flying out of the country. I know just to Calgary, when you use the lock from the US into Canada you will be fine as they are allowed. BUT coming back into the US, they may cut it off your bag as some countries don't allow you to lock your bag. So you run the risk of losing the lock.

So are you suggesting not to buy a lock? I mean it's a tough call? Should I buy one?

I use them all the time. I won't fly without 'em. Just be prepared, that coming back into the US, you may lose the lock if they want to search your bag.

Have you lost locks before Emerald?

Hi all,

I've flown into and out of many countries with my TSA locks ... and never have they been cut or removed.

It's the US that is a pain about locks that are non TSA compliant, not other countries.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Twice, both times coming back out of Heathrow, and I have been in and out of Heathrow several times. But didn't have issues in other airports.
Had a problem in Sydney, but I was flying first class and they hand check your bag at the counter, after they checked it they said, go ahead and lock it up. He marked the bag as searched and the lock was still in place when I got to LAX.
I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep it in the back of your mind.

Very good! You have to kept locked the bags all of the times. I know that you never have anything the suspicious inside the bags at all. We don't have anything problems while the bags is already went through TSA inline baggage screening system. I have to kept locked both bags where I flew to Europe by last month.

I have traveled to 56 countries (so far!). I use TSA approved locks all the time and have never yet had one cut off. For all the rest of the world you can use any type of lock that you want to, but I still use the TSA locks, because that is what I have. I always carry a spare lock in my hand babbage, just in case one is cut off, but have not had to use it yet.

My experience has been that most countries screen your luggage before check-in, while you are still present (and so could open your own bag, if this is deemed necessary). Only once (in China) did my baggage need to be opened when I was not present. The airport called for me on the public address system and I then opened my own bag for the Chinese airport security screeners.

From what I have gathered, it is only in the US that they cut your locks off!

Thanks for the info everyone, so be prepared and carry a 2nd lock with me just in case :)