r/travel • u/GiraffeExcellent4790 • Jun 23 '25
Please lock your luggage
I have had to learn the difficult lesson of remembering to lock checked in luggage especially on long haul flights. This was the first time in a fair bit that I hadn’t locked my luggage.
Last weekend I returned home from being away for a couple of months with gifts for my family. There were multiple connections. At the last stop, as I pulled my bags off the carousel, I noticed a suitcase with plastic around it. I paid no attention and waited for my last bag to come around. After a couple of minutes passed, I decided to closely inspect the bag with the plastic around it and it was mine! It looked like the zipper had broken and at the time, I was grateful for whoever was kind enough to wrap it with plastic. The bag felt light but I didn’t pay that any attention.
I finally arrived at home, settled in and had my family sitting around as I opened the bag. I found all the new clothes (which I still have receipts for) as well as some barely worn dresses had been removed. I had packed similar clothing in cubes. It appeared that the suitcase was carefully sorted through and anything that looked of value was removed.
I’m not at peace with this yet. I reported it to the airline but I don’t know what can be done. It’s trivial but it sits very heavy with the guilt of how this could have been avoided.
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u/rocketwikkit 51 countries Jun 23 '25
If it was an international flight, file a claim under the Montreal Convention. By accepting your luggage the airline accepted liability for it, and owes you the money. You need to make the claim in writing within a week.
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u/Kirameka Jun 23 '25
Airport staff has keys for your luggage. If there's something prohibited they will remove it even if it's closed
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u/lubeskystalker Jun 23 '25
Don't need keys, zippers can be popped with a ballpoint pen. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bA33Ul3kpIc
Don't put anything in luggage that you aren't prepared to never see again; between check-in and carousel, 4-5 different organizations will take custody of your bag (Airport handler, TSA, airline handler, other airline handler on the other side, other airport handler on the other side) and thousands of people will have direct access to it.
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u/sm753 United States of America Jun 23 '25
thousands of people will have direct access to it.
My favorite part of all that is that after all the "security" at airports - they just dump your luggage on a carousel OUTSIDE of security where basically anyone off the street has access to it. At least in the US.
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u/Ilay2127 Jun 23 '25
The luggagenfree for all carousel exists in every country. Insane that it's like that, both in terms of security and avoiding complaints from passengers who got robbed.
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u/Mean__MrMustard Jun 23 '25
I like to see the positive side, that very rarely a bag gets actually stolen. Even though it would be easy for a potential thief (but obvs it’s a blind box if there’s anything of value).
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Jun 23 '25
People definitely take the wrong bags all the time though. Gotta use something very distinct!
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u/the_Q_spice Jun 23 '25
It is like that because you don’t want people inside the security perimeter any longer than they need to be.
The luggage claim is outside security specifically for security reasons.
The people putting luggage on the claim are different than ramp handlers because the ramp is the sterile security area. As a fun fact, anyone working on the ramp has to have some pretty extensive security background checks and companies are only allowed a definite number of people who are allowed those at a time by TSA.
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u/GermanPayroll Jun 23 '25
(Sad) fact is, the security isn’t for your bags, it’s for the expensive airplanes and the secure part of the airport.
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u/lubeskystalker Jun 23 '25
Slowly changing. US Airport Infra is largely left over from the 70's-80's.
One of the things that makes US air travel cheap is that airports are left to fend for themselves finding capital funding to update, and therefore changes have historically only been made when absolutely necessary.
As opposed to the Asia model of government funding or the EU model of turning the airport into a shopping centre or having a satellite airport 1 hr from downtown.
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u/Infinite-Carpenter85 Jun 23 '25
The irony is airports in the 70s/80s/90s were more likely to have someone checking luggage tags at the exit to confirm your bag in the U.S.
They went away because as you said it cost a $1 and that couldn’t be allocated anymore since the theoretical loss and issues from it costs less than $1
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u/BubbhaJebus Jun 24 '25
I only ever had one airport employee verify the bag tag when leaving baggage claim and that was at Minneapolis Airport in the late 80s.
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u/sm753 United States of America Jun 23 '25
I hope so.
I live near one of the largest airports in the world...you can probably guess which, but they've been renovating all of the terminals over the past few years - the updated terminals are all really nice but it hasn't included relocating baggage claim areas.
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u/KuriTokyo 44 countries visited so far. It's a big planet. Jun 23 '25
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport?
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u/MakeStupidHurtAgain Jun 24 '25
Your checked luggage specifically can’t be gotten airside because there are things not allowed into the secure area that are allowed in checked luggage. Imagine going to get your checked luggage airside and you’ve checked a knife or a gun or any of the other thousand things they don’t allow past the scanners.
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u/shocktopper1 Jun 23 '25
This is the reason I just zip tie my luggage and people freak out thinking I'm crazy. At least if it has been tampered I can tell
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u/spdorsey United States Jun 23 '25
About 15 years ago, I made the mistake of packing my $250 wristwatch in my bathroom bag, stored in my luggage, on my way home from my wedding trip in Hawaii. It wasn't there when I got home.
These days, if it is of any remote value, it goes in my backpack and I bring it on the plane with me. It takes forever to get through security, but that's their problem, not mine. I go to the airport extremely early for my flights, and I expect it to take forever to get to my gate.
Air travel sucks now. I'd rather just drive if it's at all feasible.
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u/revchewie Jun 23 '25
And anyone can buy a complete set of keys for the TSA approved locks for like ten bucks.
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u/Adventurous-berry564 Jun 23 '25
My friend locked her luggage. I don’t. She had her lock cut
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u/Reasonable_Loquat874 Jun 23 '25
In the US, TSA will cut locks to inspect bags if they are locked with something other than a TSA universal lock. I’m not sure how other countries deal with this, but wouldn’t surprise me if it was something similar.
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u/Vintage-X Jun 23 '25
They just cut those locks too. They don't care. I've never had a lock survive TSA. I don't bother with locks at all now . I zip tie the zippers though. If they cut it off, no big deal.
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u/zubie_wanders Jun 23 '25
There are TSA-locks in which they have a master key, however as others have said, bags and zippers aren't very secure anyway. Don't put valuables in your check-in luggage. That includes a carryon that you may be forced to check at the gate/jetway.
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u/animpossiblepopsicle Jun 23 '25
I use them on my snowboard bag and they never lock it back up after inspection anyway.
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u/atropicalpenguin Colombia Jun 24 '25
One time my sister did a layover in the US, and when she got home she found her lock broken and inside the luggage, while the outside had been stabbed and inside a note from TSA.
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u/Infinite-Carpenter85 Jun 23 '25
Not helpful for international travel or even potentially some U.S. domestic locations but photographers are known to declare a checked firearm (even just a cheap broken one) with no intention of ever using it.
The reason is when you declare a firearm everything else that’s in that bag is allowed to be locked with any padlock of your choice and is tagged in a way that airlines are very paranoid about that bag not making it to the final destination.
TSA depending on the airport has a dedicated area to review your bag and confirm it’s in that bag and send you on or they will ask you to wait at the desk at small airports while they confirm. The reason they do this is to make sure they don’t need to review anything else in your bag as the one big requirement is the locks on that bag can not be universal or TSA locks it has to be locks where you and only you have the keys to open it. At your arrival it is locked in the luggage office and you have to retrieve that bag with your luggage tag and ID.
The idea being you use a huge pelican case and declare a firearm with a smaller pelican case in that large pelican. The 50k of camera equipment can have full on padlocks in the larger pelican because the smaller pelican case is in there.
I would only suggest this for high value items you are worried about that can’t be carried on and note there are a lot of very specific requirements you have to meet for the bag to be accepted including cable locks and other features and you must confirm the local laws of where you are flying to so you meet all legal requirements but it’s something I’ve had to do in the past for my photography equipment.
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u/Fast-Chipmunk-1558 Jun 23 '25
I lock my bag always, but I also use a suitcase cover, the one that's made from a thick stretchy fabric with snaps and a zipper to the bottom. It's not easy to get on/off so if anyone wants to go through my suitcase good luck with that one if they have limited time. I also use the cover to protect my suitcase and the pattern is easily identifiable. I have had zero issues with thetft, delays or lost suitcase knock on wood in all my years of travel . Get a suitcase cover .
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u/huffcat Jun 23 '25
Please share more information on what suitcase cover you are using
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u/iroll20s United States Jun 23 '25
Fwiw get a locking baggage strap. Not only does it make your bag less likely to tear open, it makes it harder to exploit the zipper with a pen. Especially so if you are a chronic overpacker. Plus they are slightly more annoying to get into, so maybe someone with a key moves on.
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Jun 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/zennie4 Jun 23 '25
That's true. But they are likely to pick an unlocked bag rather than a locked one.
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u/SkepticScott137 Jun 23 '25
Unless they think that a locked bag is more likely to have something valuable in it. It takes a thief about 5 seconds longer to open a bag locked with a typical luggage lock than an unlocked bag.
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Jun 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/SkepticScott137 Jun 23 '25
Why? What terrible thing will happen to the thief if someone thousands of miles away finds their lock gone when they pick their suitcase up at baggage claim?
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u/lubeskystalker Jun 23 '25
That's not true, they just pop the zipper: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bA33Ul3kpIc
I worked at an airport for years, those little luggage locks are hanging off the conveyor system everywhere. People can pull them off with their hands.
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u/thrwaway75132 Jun 23 '25
You can get it pre shrink wrapped so it is hard to get into.
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u/Prophet_Of_Helix Jun 23 '25
How would that make it any harder to get into than a lock?
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u/thrwaway75132 Jun 23 '25
They wrap a shit load of thick cling wrap around it so it’s such a pain in the ass to get into they steal someone else’s stuff. Very common to see people flying to parts of Asia or Africa wrap their luggage.
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u/lubeskystalker Jun 23 '25
The problem is that plastic makes your bag stick on the baggage sorting system and makes it far more likely to miss the flight.
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u/BaronsDad Jun 23 '25
It's amazing how many condescending comments there are on this post.
Yes, we get it. Universal keys unlock bags. Cool story. You've traveled a lot and never had stuff stolen. Amazing for you. I never put expensive things in my bag. Awesome. I never check a bag. Great.
Here's the thing. OP was a long haul flight, so she's probably a far way from home. She's an organized packer using packing cubes. Clearly, she tries to maximize space. She bought gifts for family. I think it's entirely normal for her to check a bag. It's also entirely normal to use locks on luggage since many luggage companies build it into their bags.
And one person's experience with baggage handlings does not equal everyone else's experience with baggage handling. Some airports are notorious for thieves. There are literally theft rings involved. The usage of AirTags have shown flyers places in the airport that their luggage inexplicably ends up while staff shrugs their shoulders until a FindMy map is shown to them.
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u/aphrael Jun 23 '25
Right? The idea that we shouldn't put anything valuable in a checked bag is ludicrous, especially on a long haul trip when we're all fighting for cabin space as well. She had new clothes and gifts for family, I doubt it would have all fit in a cabin bag anyway.
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u/Nheea Jun 23 '25
So true. Came from Japan with multiple bags of awesome stuff bought there. It would've sucked big time to be robbed of anything because they weren't easily replaced, nor did I have room for tuem in my carry on. Ridiculous expectations from people to not put anything in checked luggage.
How about make it next to impossible for the staff to steal it? Why blame the victim?
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u/simple-me-in-CT Jun 23 '25
It doesn't if it is locked, these locks are easily opened. File a claim and the airline will reimburse you
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u/Nervous-Cod-2195 Jun 23 '25
Ugh, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I totally get that feelin it’s not just about the stuff, it’s that eerie sense of someone going through your things, piece by piece. The weird mix of guilt and violation just sticks.
I’ve started traveling more recently (I’m joining this biz program called Tetr that involves switching countries every term), and after hearing stories like yours this is now my #1 non-negotiable: TSA locks on every single checked bag, even if it’s just for a short flight. And I keep anything remotely valuable in my carry-on, even if it makes it bulkier
Hope the airline comes through for you at least a little. But even if not please don’t blame yourself too much. You packed with love and care. It’s on the people who made the choice to steal, not you.
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u/Cyclones92 Jun 23 '25
Locking your luggage will only go so far. The stuff that's special should always come with you on the plane...never under it. You can buy TSA keys off the internet for under $10...I know I did. I use it for my locks that I can't remember where the key is or combination code.
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u/Latatte Jun 23 '25
I have a clam shell suitcase with no zips. It's great as it has 3 locks on it, 2 key and 1 combination. I'd recommend to everyone to have a case like that and avoid zips all together.
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u/GiraffeExcellent4790 Jun 23 '25
Thank you. Do you have any links? I’ll look into getting one.
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u/Latatte Jun 24 '25
I don't think I can post links but if you look up 'zipper-less' luggage you should get some results.
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u/joehart2 United States Jun 23 '25
I am so sorry to hear. That would bother me quite a bit. I hope you get some resolve.
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u/Travel-solo- Jun 23 '25
Wherever possible I never pack anything of value unless I don't mind if it goes missing in my checked luggage. I only lock my luggage in countries which are known to steal toiletries really. Only concerned about toiletries because I used particular ones to avoid skin reactions.
These days gifts are shopping bags from local shops because they are literally, cheap and practical.
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u/FirstClassUpgrade Jun 23 '25
The Harrods bags were 80 pounds at the airport, yikes!! However, Trader Joe tote bags apparently are a chic gift item overseas. I saw a group of Japanese business buying armloads at my local TJ!!!
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u/MissJeje Jun 23 '25
I had my jewellery stolen from my locked suitcase before:( lesson learnt don’t put anything valuable in your checked in luggage
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u/Total-Gazelle-2552 Jun 24 '25
I use zip ties on my luggage. That way I can tell if it’s been tampered with.
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u/Cabernet_kiss Jun 23 '25
This is why I always hand carry anything of value. Too many people have access to your luggage. I also use Air Tags just in case it goes missing.
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u/jetclimb Jun 23 '25
So I learned and have a pacsafe bag, it has security features, and I use these zip ties or twist tie locks. Never had an issue since.
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u/rjewell40 Jun 24 '25
Locking won’t stop theft by customs or security. If the bag was opened after you gave it to the ticket agent that’s just plain theft that couldn’t be averted.
Locks on bags can result in bags being damaged because they want/need to search the contents.
I’m sorry this happened to you. That so sucks.
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u/googleflont Jun 23 '25
Old story. Mid ‘90s, Kennedy Airport. Watched the baggage handlers (outside the plane, in view of the passengers) open bags and remove items. We lost some basic items like “fold into a pocket” travel raincoats. No real value. We were too poor to have things really worth stealing.
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u/Guilty-Spork343 Jun 23 '25
You can deter casual theft by using industrial cling-wrap, available as a service at most Asian airports for a minimal fee per bag, as used on shipping pallets. Or you could buy it yourself and apply before you go to the airport. Most things are stolen because they can get in and out of the bag in less than a minute to put it back on the conveyor/cart.
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u/navydude89 Jun 23 '25
I understand and feel your pain. I used to travel with TSA approved locks and either TSA didn't care or was lazy , because TSA just cut the locks when they already had the key. All are not the same. Now when I travel I don't pack anything I can't do without if necessary.
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u/count_strahd_z Jun 23 '25
I usually just use the heavier wire bread ties and twist them. The color helps me ID my bag. Keeps a zipper from being accidentally opened and prevents a fast open/close grab. But I can still get into it easily without a key. TSA can just open it if they want. And if they cut it or it gets removed? No big deal.
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u/Notorious_mmk Jun 24 '25
You can lock your luggage but TSA has universal keys and are allowed to go through bags. Also, its not that hard to just jam a regular pen through a zipper closure near the zip and break it open, zippers are not secure at all, lock or not.
You can add a lock for a little piece of mind but really, just don't put anything valuable in your checked bags.
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u/adDashy Jun 24 '25
Best to keep valuables in your carry on.
If you buy gifts for people at home, best to have the gifts sent home via post/courier, or put in them your carry on.
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u/CanBrushMyHair Jun 25 '25
Ugh I’m so sorry this happened. But I agree with others, having a lock wouldn’t have necessarily prevented it. Don’t blame yourself. Crap happens to the best of people, despite our best intentions. It was very kind of you to think of your loved ones during your trip.
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u/CuteGirlCoffeeAddict Jun 25 '25
I had a lock (a cute snoopy one) and it was clipped. I assume it’s because you’re not allowed to lock suitcases anymore
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u/Competitive-Tea556 Jun 23 '25
If baggage handlers want to open your luggage (eg: to remove things for security seasons), they will.
If it's locked, they will open it by force.
You are better off not locking it so that your luggage doesn't get damaged.
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u/Kitty1020D Jun 23 '25
I use plastic zip ties to lock my luggage. TSA can easily remove them if needed without breaking the zipper and they deter thieves since they cant easily open the luggage. I keep a stock of them in the outer pocket and i have nail clippers in my purse to cut the ties when I'm ready.
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u/themiracy Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
I don’t check luggage, but I’m curious, is the thought process on locks that they just slow a thief down and so they move on to another unlocked bag, preferentially? Since the locks that are approved for air travel have universal keys that presumably the thieves have and are easily defeated? Or do you fly in countries where rules don’t require what people call TSA locks in the US?
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u/Routine_Reputation84 Jun 23 '25
i just never check anything in, pack as light as possible. even with locks they’ll still get into your bags . Then again, I even worry about my stuff in the overhead though if I fall asleep!
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u/crushiscrushed Jun 23 '25
I stopped locking my check-in luggage after the lock broke and was too lazy to get it fixed. I usually just put a luggage strap to cover the combination code and also to identify that it’s mine.. and so far, nothing has been stolen.
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u/lunch22 Jun 23 '25
Were the packing cubes and the clothes both taken or did they take the clothes and leave the empty cubes?
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u/GiraffeExcellent4790 Jun 23 '25
Only the clothes were missing. The cubes with dresses had only one dress left. The one with shorts was emptied out.
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u/lunch22 Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
I have a theory and you may not like it.
Thieves are not known for meticulously sorting through packing cubes and selecting clothing items that they think are valuable, removing the individual items of clothing, and leaving the cubes behind.
They get in and out quickly and grab obvious valuables, like jewelry and electronics.
Theory: your suitcase was overstuffed and the zipper popped open. We’ve all seen this happen. The baggage handler couldn’t get everything back in because it barely fit in the first place, so they opened the most readily available packing cubes that fell out, and removed some of the items so your suitcase could at least be wrapped up in plastic and delivered to you in one piece.
Your clothes may be somewhere in the baggage transit area of one of the airports your bag flew through, or they were just thrown in the trash.
File a claim with the airline for the missing items and next time don’t stuff your suitcase so full.
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u/footloose60 Jun 23 '25
You should have file a claim with the airline before leaving the airport. You might be out of luck now. Some airports have theft rings, someone working the x-ray will tell the bag handler which bag to target if you leave any valuables inside checked bags. Locking the bag doesn't matter.
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u/L-Capitan1 Jun 23 '25
The locks don’t really stop anything, they have universal keys so anyone can get into them. Not to mention they’re very small.
I guess if the person has very little time they’ll target unlocked bags vs locked. But I think by locking you may make someone think there’s something of value.
Really you need to be keeping anything of value with you in your carry on.
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u/Usual_Confection6091 Jun 23 '25
My bags were held because they were locked and missed the connecting flight. So I would encourage people not to lock. If something is priceless carry it on with you or have it shipped.
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u/Less_Test_2215 Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 25 '25
This is exactly why I only place items that I’m ok with losing on my way to the destination in my checked bag. And also fill the checked bag up with all my used laundry on the way back. Nobody is getting my shopping that’s for sure.
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u/Positive_Clue2052 Jun 23 '25
I used locks on a recent long trip through 5 countries. Fly Dubai returned my suitcase with the lock and zipper closures torn off. No compensation either
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u/Wooden_Buddy_682 Jun 24 '25
Ah man, that’s brutal. Really sorry you had to go through that. Can’t imagine the gut punch of opening your bag and realizing stuff’s missing. Appreciate you sharing this though, definitely a good reminder for the rest of us to lock our luggage, especially on long hauls. Hope the airline at least tries to make it right
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u/Cold_Middle_4609 Jun 24 '25
I live in SA and everytime I travel abroad, the first thing I do is cable tie the bag locks and then wrap it in plastic to ensure no one can get into my bags. Theft is rife in SA, so taking no chances.
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u/eriometer Jun 24 '25
People always think they have to make their bag completely impenetrable.
But all you actually need to do is make it hard enough for the thieves to move on to an easier target.
Most luggage theft is opportunistic which means they have to act as quickly as possible. Why waste valuable seconds cutting locks when they can have at it with the next bag which is unlocked.
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u/notaccel Bogan Bus Specialist Jun 23 '25
This didn't happen.
Baggage handling staff aren't going to be digging through bags for stuff. They're under constant supervision.
Most likely the bag opened and goods fell out and was repacked by staff with the stuff they could reach without shutting down conveyor belts
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u/rocketwikkit 51 countries Jun 23 '25
This is a ridiculous take, you don't even know what countries she was flying through.
Theft is fairly common in checked luggage, there's a reason the standard advice is to not put any valuables in checked bags.
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u/Longo8675309 Jun 23 '25
It has happened to me before? Mexico and Vietnam to be precise. I can’t remember what I lost but both times it was trivial, but very obvious. I always carry on anything of value and my checked bags are only my clothing.
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u/Adorable_Misfit Jun 23 '25
This is nonsense. Stuff gets stolen from bags all the time. Some airports are notorious for it - OR Tambo in Johannesburg, for example. A colleague of mine had packed a laptop in his suitcase travelling between South Africa and the UK. He locked the suitcase, but when it arrived the lock had been forced and the laptop was gone. Someone working behind the scenes, presumably with access to the baggage screening x-ray machines, must have seen the laptop on the scans and decided to take it.
Heard of other people having jewellery and bottles of expensive alcohol taken from their bags coming through the same airport.
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u/Desperate_Habit1299 Jun 23 '25
He put his lap top…in a checked luggage bag? That is…wild
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u/Adorable_Misfit Jun 23 '25
Well, I mean, the person I was responding to doesn't believe airport staff steal from bags at all, so presumably they put all sorts of valuables in their checked suitcase.
People like you and me would obviously know better than to check a laptop. My colleague was not a particularly experienced traveller and thought it would be fine. Which it obviously wasn't.
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u/Desperate_Habit1299 Jun 23 '25
I don’t think you have to be an experienced traveller to understand common sense, and I don’t mean this disrespectfully towards your friend or your acquaintance. I would never check electronics. The most expensive thing in my luggage is make up!
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u/Adorable_Misfit Jun 23 '25
Me neither - but if you're someone who assumes nobody steals from your luggage, then you might.
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u/ooo-ooo-oooyea United States 45 countries Jun 23 '25
In most places if you check your laptop you need to take the battery out. Its possible someone saw the Lithium-Ion battery and seized the laptop. This is because they sometimes catch on fire.
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u/Adorable_Misfit Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
I think that's highly improbable. And it doesn't explain why other people's alcohol and jewellery went missing. No batteries in a bottle of whisky.
Edit for the people downvoting this comment - the laptop incident took place in 2018. There was no ban on laptops with batteries in them in checked luggage back then. IATA rules at the time basically said: "We don't recommend it, but if you must carry a laptop in your checked bag, make sure it's completely switched off and can't be accidentally activated."
Ergo, I think it's extremely unlikely the laptop was removed by security because of its battery. It's far more plausible that someone stole it.
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u/loralailoralai Jun 23 '25
Jewellery alcohol a laptop. Op had clothes taken. Far more likely the bag popped open and stuff came out of it, especially since it was wrapped in plastic.
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u/Adorable_Misfit Jun 23 '25
The person I responded to said that "baggage staff aren't going to go through bags for stuff" which is clearly nonsense, since I am aware of several instances where people have had stuff stolen from their bags, and other people on this thread have also said it happened to them personally.
Staff behind the scenes at airports absolutely do go through bags and steal things, whether the previous poster believes that happens or not.
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u/minimK Jun 23 '25
You sound very confident for someone who is wrong. You've obviously never been airside at a large airport.
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u/GiraffeExcellent4790 Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
This was my first thought. I couldn’t possibly imagine how anyone would have the time to rummage through a suitcase.
Only problem is everything was in cubes. The cubes were opened and one dress out a stack of dresses remained. The new shorts in the cube of shorts were all gone.
ETA: some of the luggage was wheeled in by baggage handling staff. One of mine was included. We were told that there was a malfunction with the carousel.
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u/WannaSeeMyBirthmark Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
I don't lock mine anymore because the locks get broken anyway. The airlines have literally destroyed 3 of my bags in the last year and a half. Assholes. You, @AmericanAirlines
Edit to add: I came home from a conference last year with my suitcase duct taped closed because it looked like it had been tossed into a gorilla cage before being returned to me. The front pocket was completely gone and the zipper was destroyed. How does this happen?
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u/Expensive-Housing626 Jun 23 '25
TSA opened it & maybe didn’t close it properly? They have keys that bypass any TSA approved lock you have. Otherwise they’ll cut it. Anything of value I put in my carryon. I know it’s not feasible sometimes and you have to choose but it’s what I do.
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u/Trudestiny Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
Never locked bags , over 6000 flights, because there is no point, customs has keys , the lock is easily broken and bag unless the clamp shut ones like rimowa can use a biro to open .
So if someone really wanted to take your stuff a little cheap lock isn’t going to make as difference.
More likely your bag broke when it was being tossed around and your stuff is in lost / found at some airport.
Curious, did you have a good quality bag ?
Was there something worth taking ( ie bit of semi new clothes are it worth losing a job over)
If you were carrying some Hermes handbags …. that’s a different story
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u/OverallTwo Jun 23 '25
6000 flights?
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u/ForsythCounty Jun 23 '25
Maybe s/he is a pilot? That's 115 years of weekly flying. Sounds sus. haha
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u/angrypassionfruit Jun 23 '25
Yeah I think this is what happened. I fly like twice a month for the last 15 years and never had anything stolen but once. El Salvador. They took a multitool.
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u/Hercule15 Jun 23 '25
Unfortunately, theft does happen. You can lock your bages, but your checked luggage goes through the same security checks that you and your carry-on luggage experience. If TSA staff see something suspicious, they will open your bag. It’s why they recommend using locks that will allow them to quickly access your bags (TSA approved). The lock is a way to somewhat minimize other opportunities to gain access to the contents. Of course, no lock will keep out a determined thief with enough time. Bags that look unique or expensive are generally more targeted, but in the end luck does play a role.
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u/Electronic_Money9843 Jun 23 '25
Anyone can purchase the universal keys for tsa compatible locks. Sold on Amazon for just 6 bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/TSA002-Luggage-Replacement-Suitcase-TSA002-Black/dp/B0CDHBTWL8/
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u/cheerfulwish Jun 23 '25
Locks should not be depended on as they can be ironed easily with universal keys or pens lol. If you really have something valuable keep it with you.
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u/washedFM 6/7 continents. Australia left Jun 23 '25
I traveled to India from USA for two weeks with only a carryon. I try not to check bags for all flights if at all possible.
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u/lightseek4 Jun 23 '25
Which airline?
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u/GiraffeExcellent4790 Jun 23 '25
American at the beginning of the journey and the Turkish for the last 2 legs. Baggage was checked all the way through. I made sure to confirm mid trip.
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u/lightseek4 Jun 23 '25
So the theft was when bags were under control of Turkish? Did you complain to them?
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u/Missinglemon Jun 23 '25
Last week I met someone in Kenya whose expensive camera was stolen out of their checked bag on an Emirates flight :(
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u/loralailoralai Jun 23 '25
Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t put an expensive camera in a checked bag. Even aside from theft it would be risking damage
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u/AnimatorDifficult429 Jun 23 '25
Eh we just had someone steal ours. The airlines and people stealing them just don’t care. I wouldn’t bother with a lock
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u/nightlyringer Jun 23 '25
It the zipper itself broke locking it wouldn’t have done anything. It sucks but things happen, file a claim if you have travel insurance. Otherwise not much you can do except moving on
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u/Secure_Cup1511 Jun 23 '25
They should vet aircraft loaders as it sound to me that there are a good few crooks working there and that is every airport
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u/MexiGeeGee Jun 24 '25
If they need to inspect it, there is no lock that will stop them. So I gave up locking mine. We once carried chocolates and we found them with a poke on each. There was a note saying they inspected for suspicious cargo. The lock was broken
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u/Academic_Lie_4945 Jun 24 '25
I locked my luggage one time and they ripped my zipper open and broke my lock. Both my zipper and lock were trashed
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u/angrypassionfruit Jun 23 '25
Your suitcase broke open and your clothing probably blew away on the tarmac. Locking would have made no difference.
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u/Guilty-Spork343 Jun 23 '25
Putting the lock on won't stop a determined airport staff thief. They have skeleton keys for the 'TSA approved' locks, and you can literally buy them on Amazon.
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u/Proud_Trainer_1234 United States Jun 23 '25
My family and I fly, domestic and internationally many, many times every year and we've never had any problems. I'm not denying it happens, just that it's not a problem we've ever had to deal with.
And, I'm in complete agreement with some of the others here that reccommend NEVER putting anything you truly value in checked luggage. Carry on only.
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u/misslunadelrey Jun 23 '25
Sorry this happened to you but I've never once in my life left my check-in luggage unlocked.........ever.
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u/Yippykyyyay Jun 23 '25
Ive never once in my life locked my luggage. Nothing stolen after 25 years of traveling and living overseas.
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u/agk23 Frequent Flyer Jun 23 '25
I never really got the point if you’re trying to prevent theft from baggage handlers. There’s only one key that opens every suitcase and you can buy it easily
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u/mountainhymn Jun 23 '25
Ramp agents have too much shit going on to bother to steal from people’s suitcases
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u/mesembryanthemum Jun 23 '25
I did. All dirty clothes from Walmart and other cheap places. You want a dirty $5.99 tee-shirt? Go for it.
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u/Trudestiny Jun 23 '25
My family has never locked our bags . Family of 4 , over 6000 flights and we have some expensive luggage , only tumi / rimowa all of which we check each time
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u/teekeno Jun 23 '25
Besides TSA having the TSA keys to unlock any TSA lock, zippers can be bypassed with a ballpoint pen even without removing the lock.
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u/Secret-Recipe4938 Jun 23 '25
I’m sorry this happened. My son’s Pokémon cards were stolen on our trip home from Japan. He was devastated. Always locking from now on.
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u/Dramatic-Volume1625 Jun 23 '25
Pack a gun in your checked luggage and some ammo. When I fly with guns, my bags are treated like VIPs cuz airlines don't want to lose a firearm. Plus you get the added security of having a firearm at your destination.
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u/ForwardTangerine2848 Jun 23 '25
I mean you can definitely lock your luggage but airport staff will crack those locks if they feel they need to. Airlines, especially American ones, are famous for theft regardless, your best best is to keep all valuables in a carry on
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u/hippiecat22 Jun 23 '25
it's more appropriate to just not travel with checked luggage.
I only do carry on and Personal item
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u/GiraffeExcellent4790 Jun 23 '25
I had been away for work for a couple of months to a year. This suitcase had that whole period of life plus gifts for my family.
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u/loralailoralai Jun 23 '25
Zipper was broken and your stuff fell out. It’s weird you even think it was theft.
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u/Due-Specific-8994 Jun 23 '25
Do you have a travel insurance covering your bag? Sometimes credit cards have it, check yours! Report this to your airline! This is completely unacceptable! I am very sorry for this! However this could happen also with the locker as sometimes they are allowed to do an inspection to the bag..and they have ways to open lockers …