Airports are one of the most secure places on the planet. Not only does every passenger go through physical screening, but their identities are run against government targeting databases.
There are more law enforcement agencies on premises at a major international airport than anywhere else. There’s TSA, local police, DEA, Customs and Border Protection, FBI and that’s just to name a few.
Yet people can just walk into the arrivals level of an airport, walk up to baggage claim, and pick up bags belonging to anyone that they wish – and walk right out.
- People keep trusting their valuable belongings to this system, instead of carrying anything important onboard themselves
- Somehow, most of the time people get their stuff back
- When they don’t, we act like it’s the airline’s fault
There used be people checking baggage claim tags at New York-area airports years ago. You’d have to show your claim check to leave with a bag. But I haven’t seen this since I was a kid.
Overall the system works well most of the time. We live in a high trust society, and there are cameras everywhere so if bags go missing on a consistent basis and in a predictable way, someone might decide to pull up security tapes. Not only are there more law enforcement on premises at airports than pretty much anywhere else, there are more cameras, too. Just about everything you do is being recorded.
Airlines can gain access to these tapes pretty easily most of the time. Victims of crime don’t have such an easy time. And unsolved luggage theft underscores this point. The incidents should be much easier to solve! Someone has to want to go out of their way to do so, though.
Interestingly, though, just as you don’t know what happens to your bags neither do airlines. A couple of men scammed airlines of more than $500,000 by filing false lost luggage claims. Check bags, pick them up at baggage claim, and the airline doesn’t know your bags aren’t lost! Eventually the men were caught and charged. I guess the temptation to ‘go big’ was just too great.
I’ve seen agents checking luggage claim tags in Chicago with Delta, in Mexico City with Aeromexico, and Havana with government/security/police-looking officials.
Another reason why I never check a bag, unless I really have to. Thankfully, in customs restricted areas of airports, there is at least a barrier from the general public entering to take your things. And, of course, there is the occasional accidental misidentification of a similar looking bag by a fellow passenger. In the end, it’s just stuff–it can be replaced–but still, it’s not fun to lose it.
We really need ubiquitous “door-to-door” luggage delivery services so people don’t need to schlep their bags through the airport to begin with.
I walked through customs with someone else’s bag recently. I was a non-descript grey bag I rarely use, and by the time I got to bag claim it was the only vaguely similar bag left, so I just grabbed it (newbie mistake I know). Didn’t realize until hours later that it was filled with women’s clothing.
It turned out to be a good thing I had it though, I was able to call the number on the name tag and we were able to exchange our bags directly. Would have been a much bigger hassle to have to get my bag from someone when I didn’t have theirs.
(She took my bag first, for the record.)
There’s no way for real enforcement. Maybe if someone sees something strange like a person walking into the terminal and walking away with a bag that’s gone around several times.
I don’t check bags because if my bag goes on a separate flight then it’s sitting awhile alone before an airline rep will secure it.
@Denver Refugee –I think there are services offering that for skis/ boots, snowboards, bicycles, etc., basically for larger equipment. Haven’t tried that yet. I mean, if you’re actually in Denver, then you probably just put ’em in your car then drive up I-70 anyway–that’s much more convenient.
@Christopher Raehl –You’re a good fellow to see that through.
@George N Romey –This is the way. Carry-on only!
Airports in most countries in the world have their baggage claim before exiting the secure area, thus preventing random people from going trying to steal bags. Not in the US for some reason.
That is the way Dulles is set up for international arrivals, by the way. Just not for domestic luggage. Suspect that has more to do with stopping smuggling, though.
@Gary — It wasn’t just as NYC-area airports. I remember having to show my claim check at LAX, MSY, and SFO to name but three — but, yeah, that was a long, long time ago.
The problem (as I see it) is that a) a lot of people toss their claim checks almost immediately, or b) never take them in the first place — never said that was smart, only that people do it. (I, on the other hand, misplace them all the time only to find them 4-6 weeks after I’ve returned from the trip in question. However, I make sure that my medications are in my carry-on, my laptop and cords are in my “personal item” (backpack), along with my passport…in other words, the only thing in my checked suitcase are shoes and clean or dirty clothes, depending upon whether I’m outbound or inbound. If someone wants my dirty clothes, I’ll file a claim and get a new wardrobe…
@George N Romney — If I could ever figure out how to spend two weeks in Europe or Asia with just a carry-on, believe me I’d do it. Not because I worry about losing my luggage, having it mis-shipped or stolen — perhaps I’m naïve, but it’s never happened to either my wife nor myself* — but simply because of the hassle of dragging it around.
@Denver Refugee — There ARE services like that for luggage; they just aren’t ubiquitous.
@Anonymous — It’s in the States, too, but only for international travel (clearing Customs). For domestic flights, it’s potentially open season. But that’s a great idea…
In my opinion there is an even bigger security problem at all airports. You check your bags with the airline and then you often, particularly in large airports, have to queue to have yourself and any carry-on items scanned/checked. The only check before you enter the queue is for your boarding card and ID. At Atlanta airport for example there can be hundreds of people in the queue, zig-zagging multiple times before they reach the point at which they and their carry-on bags will be checked. It is when you are in the middle of this crowd of people that you are the most vulnerable. None of the bags being carried by any of the people in the queue have been checked. Only the person carrying a bag knows what’s inside. A suicide bomber could be in the queue, waiting until he/she gets to the middle of the queue and detonating the bomb where it will cause the most mayhem
The technology to include basic RFID tags in the printed luggage label has been around for many years. Automatic scan and verification of the tag at specific chokepoint has been implemented in inventory management for “forever”.
@2025 –Cool name. Tragically, Brussels (BRU) experienced your hypothetical in 2016. Perhaps, we should adopt what many ‘developing’ nations do at their airports…multiple layers of security. For instance, in New Delhi (DEL), you must show ticket documents (email confirmations, etc. and passports/ID) to even enter the departures area (prior to desk check-in). Or, in Kigali (KGL), Rwanda, there is a literal vehicle scanner (massive x-ray machine) that drivers literally must go through, while passengers go through a separate screening area, all before even entering the grounds of the airport. Then again, none of this is very ‘efficient’–but it’s not simply ‘theater’ in those places.
The domestic baggage claim at Terminal 4 at JFK used by Delta is no longer a public space. You can only enter it by going through the right exit from the secure area and if you go through an alternative exit like I did on my last trip there with a check bag security will stop you. I had to show them my bag tag to get into the claim area to retrieve my bag.
On arrival with AA domestically recently, I saw a guy scan every bag as it came onto the carousel. I assumed it was so someone couldn’t claim their luggage never arrived.
I travel with checked bags all the time. Never had one lost. Delayed: all the time. Since the last leg of any flight for me is two hours in a train and fifteen minutes on foot, I make sure that my return-leg bags are filled with dirty laundry. That way, when they miss a connection coming home, I’m happy: a car will hand-deliver last week’s underwear.
But yeah, don’t put valuables underneath.
I’ve never had any luggage go missing. I typically do carry-on only depending on the trip. On my last trip, I did check bags. I was handed a receipt for them. Once I landed, nobody checked. It seems to me that Airlines like to argue about the location of a bag when it’s lost. Mine have AirTags in them. The airlines are finally getting AirTag friendly in locating your bag.