Wrap, lock or leave bag when flying

skimread said:
Always lock!

Once the lock got broken and the zip was opened and I found everything messed up in the bag.

On my previous two trips leaving SA to overseas had my bag cut each time with a pen knife.

It depends on what type of bag you have. Can it easily be cut open e.g. thin Material?
The backpack type bags are very susceptible to this as they have small compartments.
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You should never lock your bag for this exact reason... a locked bag is a target. If you are going overseas then you should have it wrapped, not so that people can't take things out, but also so that they can't put things in.
Also, don't put valuables in your luggage !!!
 
If they offer me free baggage wrapping then I take it but I don't rely much on a "security measure" that can be defeated with a blunt pair of scissors. I try to keep any valuables out of the hold.
 
Rahl said:
The baggage handling area has wrapping facility as well so don't think that wrapping it is that safe. It might just discourage them if they are very busy. I have found that a hard shell case has less chance of being opened as it doesn't have any zips.

Best bet is to keep the expensive stuff on you like electronics. With the new security requirements around liquids, especially Europe and the US, you have to leave your aftershave and those type of things in your bag. Those things are even more expensive that shoes these days and easier to conceal when stolen.
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They don't have enough time to cut open the wrapped stuff and then re-wrap it. Wrapping is pretty safe, its quite a big deterrent.
 
Nerfherder said:
They don't have enough time to cut open the wrapped stuff and then re-wrap it. Wrapping is pretty safe, its quite a big deterrent.
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How? They don't need to even rewrap it since you're not going to see your bag again until you reach your destination which could be the next day if you're heading overseas.
 
I fly quite often and when I do wrap or lock my bag it seems it always gets "checked" I've been lucky to not have anything stolen though.

I usually just use cable ties instead of locks
 
Nerfherder said:
They don't have enough time to cut open the wrapped stuff and then re-wrap it. Wrapping is pretty safe, its quite a big deterrent.
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They do spot checks of baggage where they sometimes open them up for security. In the UK they even leave you a little note to say they did it and then close your bag and re-wrap it. Now this is OR Thambo where an official check can easily turn into a shopping spree.
 
I fly Jhb/Capetown at least three times every two months and I have not have my luggage tampered with once.

I do have one of those hard cased rolley suitcases and when I travel with a bag I cabletie the sips together.
 
If you travel fairly regularly spend the money on some hard cases with combination clip locks, 1 main luggage (spinner type wheels),1 hand luggage ,avoid anything with a zip.
Wrap main luggage whenever possible.
 
I've travelled with a hiking bag a few times - it can't be locked, cabled tied, or even zipped closed everywhere. So I always wrap it, both to protect the bag (many long straps) and its contents. Never had trouble - international or local.
 
I always keep my valuables on me and lock my check-in bag. I always hope and assume no one is too interested in taking clothes out of my bad. So far I've never had any trouble.
 
bwana said:
How? They don't need to even rewrap it since you're not going to see your bag again until you reach your destination which could be the next day if you're heading overseas.
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Because of the time it takes to get the wrapping off...
 
Have luggage they cant brake in to and lock it, like samsonite.
 
You should look into these special locks that foreign customs officers have keys to. That way if something is deemed to be dodgy when they scan your bag, they open it to check without damaging anything. (I know these are available for the USA).

To answer the question lock + wrap.
 
Anyone willing to break open a zip or rip a lock off is also not going to have an issue with cutting off your wrap. And if locks draw attention then wrap certainly will.

samr1wp said:
the thing is i dont have youtube access ....theres a video where they show how easy it is to open a locked or cable tied bag with a pen ...thats why i rather wrap
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Then they just cut the wrap off.

Nerfherder said:
Because of the time it takes to get the wrapping off...
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It's very easy to cut, so it doesn't take long.
 
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