[cubreporter]

DON'T put valuable or personal items in a bag you are checking. Carry them on your person. Why take a chance on having something stolen when you can just as easily carry it on? Our clothing and shoes go in our checked bags. If someone steals them we can always buy new when we get where we are going. If it means wearing one pair of slacks and one top the whole time we are there...so be it. However, I can still take photos with the camera I CARRIED ON.

[Centurion2000]

DON'T put valuable or personal items in a bag you are checking

So then how do you deal with valuables that are restricted from being carried on the plane ? Like a nice zippo

For that matter how do you address the issue of immigrants flying to america that may have more than one carry on worth of valuables?

I have a better idea ... shoot luggage thives and put cameras up to deter the rest.

[miliantnutcase]

Good point. Your asking for it to check bags in with valuables.

[Gunrunner2]

Learn to pack smarter.
most people over-pack and drag along all sorts of stuff they will never use.

I stopped checking bags when I discovered:
a) Anytime you check baggage when traveling in Africa you WILL have your clothes stolen (even the dirty underwear)
b) Waiting for your bag is a waste of time as the airlines have no sense of urgency
c) Hotels have laundry service. Might be pricey but saves time and aggravation


d) Most importantly, they can't steal/lose it if they can't touch it.

[JenB]

Absolutely. I'm packing for my Christmas trip home today. The laptop, digi-cam, and money stay with me. So do the Christmas presents even though they're all pretty cheap, I don't want them getting smashed.

My clothes go in the checked bag... I'll be mad if I lose my Christmas dress, but otherwise, it's all easily replacable.

Of course I do my best not to have to check things at all, but this time that's not possible.

[antivenom]

YOU can tell the pros from the amateurs

I fly ALOT and would never consider "tempting" someone who might look into my luggage...

[Rakkasan1]

so how do we know whether to blame the airline for losing
my bags instead of TSA stealing them now?