Does stuff get stolen from checked bags?

Jewelry, electronics, and cash are all easy targets in checked baggage. Keep these items in your carry-on or on your person at all times. Pack light. What's better than keeping your valuables nearby?



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Lock Checked Luggage Some suitcases come with locks pre-installed that require a combination in order to open the bag. If your suitcase does not have this, you can invest in a TSA-approved luggage lock to keep your valueables safe.

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Yes, once you check them in and they go off on the conveyor belt, your baggage will be screened by an X-Ray machine and also often with chemical sniffers. If there is any doubt or something suspicious about your bag, a member of security personnel will inspect it by hand.

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But if you need a rule of thumb to go by, here's how we fall on the carry-on versus checked bag debate: Carry your bags on board for short trips, when you want to spend as little time as possible getting in and out of airports, and when avoiding checked bag fees is key.

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You should keep them in your carry-on bag or personal item. This includes items such as cash, jewelry, electronics, documents, medications, keys, and anything else that you cannot replace or recover easily. These items are more likely to be stolen or lost from your checked luggage.

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If you're not packing any valuable items in your checked bag, you don't necessarily need a lock. All bags will go through security screening, and you'll know if your bag has been physically opened if you find a notice inside your bag or if your non-TSA-approved lock is missing.

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Carriers handled almost 393 million bags in 2021, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. They lost over 2 million bags which is 0.51% of all checked bags.

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You can put your laptop in your checked bag, but it's not recommended due to the rough treatment checked bags often receive and the risk of loss or theft. Checked bags can be easily misplaced, and expensive electronic devices or sensitive documents are challenging to replace or can cause severe issues if lost.

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However, having a luggage cover won't prevent security from getting into your stuff. If they're nice, they'll unzip it or peel off the Velcro. If not, they'll slice right through.

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When you're staying in a hotel, housekeeping enters your room to clean, so be sure to lock your valuables either in your bag or in the safe in the room. Although a locked safe is useful to have in a hotel room, a locked suitcase may be a better option.

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A TSA lock is one to which only TSA officials have a key. You set the combination yourself and, if a TSA agent has to look inside your bag because they see something suspicious on the scanner, it can be easily opened with their master key.

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According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), yes, you can zip-tie your luggage shut so no one would be able to simply unzip your luggage and go through it. You are allowed to zip-tie it because the TSA can snip it open if they need/want/desire to go through it for some reason.

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Items you shouldn't pack in your checked luggage
  • Prescription medications.
  • Passports and travel documents.
  • Electronics, such as video game systems and computers.
  • Cameras (camera film, including Polaroid film, should be hand-checked by TSA agents so it doesn't go through the X-ray machine)
  • Jewelry and other valuable items.


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Most consumer personal electronic devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, including but not limited to cell phones, smart phones, data loggers, PDAs, electronic games, tablets, laptop computers, cameras, camcorders, watches, calculators, etc.

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If you do have to bring an extra bag, it's usually cheaper to pay for a checked bag (to discourage carry-ons and thus speed up the boarding process).

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As a result, prohibited items may result in both a TSA civil enforcement action and a criminal enforcement action. Before leaving home, remember to check your baggage to ensure you are not carrying any prohibited items to avoid a possible arrest and/or civil penalties.

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During this journey, your bags will be screened at a security checkpoint. This process is much like the one that you can see when you and your hand luggage go through security, where bags are scanned with an X-ray machine or CT scanner and sometimes are inspected if deemed suspicious or requiring further examination.

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If there is any doubt or something suspicious about your bag, a member of security personnel will inspect it by hand. If they cannot get into your lock with a master key, they may have to open it with other means, but it will be wrapped up and secured after inspection.

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