How can I prevent my luggage from being stolen?

Following are the top 12 tips to reduce the chance of someone stealing your luggage and minimize stress and hassles if it happens.
  1. Carry Your Bag on Instead of Checking It. ...
  2. Pack Extra Things in Your Carry-On. ...
  3. Make Checked Luggage Easy to Identify. ...
  4. Never Pack Valuable Items in Checked Luggage. ...
  5. Invest in an Apple AirTag.




People Also Ask

According to the Department of Transportation, luggage theft is a common problem. U.S. airlines reported more than three mishandled bags for every thousand in March. More than 1 million bags were stolen in 2018. It resulted in $1.2 billion in missing valuables.

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Five easy ways to tamper-proof your suitcase
  1. Use a TSA lock in North America. ...
  2. Use numbered cable ties. ...
  3. Zippered bag? ...
  4. No fixed lock? ...
  5. Shrink wrap your suitcase.


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Putting a lock on your bag is not obligatory, but you might still consider getting it. These locks won't stop the thief from stealing your suitcase or bag, but they might prevent them from stealing the things you have inside. Most thieves don't really like to complicate their life and deal with lock picking.

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Another easy and less expensive alternative to a lock is zip ties. So, if TSA clips them off, it won't be a financial loss. Some travelers choose to wrap their suitcases in plastic, which prevents theft as well as breakage. You may have even seen this service offered at the airport.

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The decision is ultimately up to you. The TSA strongly recommends that you carry your valuables–such as jewelry, money, identification, and electronics–in a carry-on bag. If you're not packing any valuable items in your checked bag, you don't necessarily need a lock.

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Once an airline determines that your bag is lost, the airline is responsible for compensating you for your bags' contents - subject to depreciation and maximum liability limits.

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Use zip ties for carry-on or checked luggage. We put them on for people after checking their bags if they want them locked.

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Lewis says that he always recommends that customers use luggage locks to protect the contents of their bags but that less than half of them do. If you're checking your suitcase with an airline, be sure to use a lock labeled TSA compatible so that agents can open it with a master key if it's selected for scrutiny.

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A stolen luggage report can also be filed with the airport police, in the event your property is recovered on baggage handlers or other employees. If you believe items may have been stolen during security screening, you can also file a report with the TSA.

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Yes, you should call the airport's law enforcement office at both your departure airport and your arrival airport, filing reports for stolen goods. You can find the phone numbers by calling each airport's main line and asking the operator to speak to the office that handles airport law enforcement.

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By putting essential information on your luggage tags such as your name, phone number or email address, country and state, you can increase the possibility of your bags being returned to you if they are lost or misplaced.

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When it came to airlines that lost the most baggage, that same study found that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines came in ninth out of 17 major airlines. “Of all national airlines, American Airlines lost the most bags in 2022, losing 850 bags per 100,000.

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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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Mishandled baggage rate almost doubled globally in 2022 as airlines scrambled after Covid. It was the year of “the summer of lost luggage”, in which travellers across the world told stories of disappearing bags as the aviation industry struggled to keep up with rebounding demand.

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If your bag is unlocked, then our officer will simply open and screen the baggage if any item alarms. However, if you decide to lock your checked baggage and TSA cannot open it through other means, then the locks may have to be cut. For soft-sided baggage, this process will not damage your zippers or zipper pulls.

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If you mean a wall charger (a thing that plugs into a wall socket and charges your phone and tablet), then yes, you can check it in with your luggage. If you are referring to a power bank, then no. It has to go with you in the cabin.

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The 12 Best Travel Luggage Locks
  • Sure Lock Padlock, Keyed TSA-Accepted Luggage Lock.
  • Wordlock LL-206-RD TSA Approved Combination Luggage Lock.
  • Eagle Creek 3 Dial TSA Lock & Cable.
  • Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock.
  • Calslock Portable Door & Travel Lock.
  • Pacsafe 55L Backpack and Bag Protector.


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You can put a lock on your luggage if the zippers are designed for an external lock. But a much better and safer choice is luggage that comes with TSA-approved luggage locks built in.

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