A baggage handler has explained the common mistake passengers make thinking it will protect their luggage when it could actually be putting it at risk of theft.
With airline hand luggage rules become increasingly strict, checked luggage is fast becoming the answer for holidaymakers who can’t fit a week’s worth of items into a handbag (aka, most of us).
However, there can be something uneasy about your packed suitcase being sent into the deep dark depths of the airport once check-in is done, and not seeing your bags for hours.
Then of course there are added worries such as lost or damaged bags, or even worse, missing items.
Some passengers choose to lock their bags for peace of mind by clipping a padlock to the zip, but one baggage handler has revealed this could actually flag your bag as one to have a look through.
On a Reddit forum where airline workers were asked to share their secrets, one employee revealed that a padlock on a suitcase can actually suggest that it’s worth opening up for a look.
They wrote: “It’s literally not even a deterrent. Some might take it as a sign that the bag is worth searching.”
Other members of the forum agreed, with another user adding: “Locks on zippered bags are useless. You can pop a zipper with a pen and drag the locked zipper pulls around the bag to close them back up.
“I’ve done this many times to identify bags that are tagless and locked.”
There’s so much to think about when you pack your luggage
If you are worried about your belongings, there are plenty of ways to keep your items safe.
For a start, keep any valuable or sentimental items with you in your hand luggage; that way if your bag does go missing or turns up opened on the carousel, it will be frustrating but it might help ease some of the stress.
Nowadays you can also buy suitcases with padlocks built in for the zips, which can only be released if you know the four-number code.
If you are opting to keep your valuables with you, then make sure to also check out these experts’ tips for keeping your items safe and out of thieves’ hands while travelling through the airport.
