ARTICLES of GENERAL INTEREST
HOW SAVVY ARE YOU WHEN IT COMES TO AIRPORT SECURITY?
With Summer on the way, many of us will be joyfully heading to the airport and jetting off for some much-needed R & R. That sunny beach or exciting travel destination will rightly be uppermost in our minds. Well, it would be, if we didn’t have to worry about the new European Entry/Exit system and whether there will be enough fuel for the plane! On top of all that travel experts are advising us to pay more attention to airport security. While most people travel without issues, it is a sobering thought that about £7 billion worth of luggage is lost every year! But don’t worry, there is a lot of excellent travel security advice out there these days and it includes sound tips related to the usual combination locks, padlocks and straps most of us purchase for our suitcases. Did you know for example, that thieves, dishonest airport staff or even fellow travellers can open and re-close your suitcase or bag in mere seconds using the simple biro trick? All you need do to open a zipped bag or case is to firmly press a biro into the zip, and you are in. What’s more you can easily zip it back up and everything looks the same as before. Now this is not to say that simple devices like locks are not useful…far from it. Most theft is opportunist, so the idea is to deter casual thieves.
Perhaps the most common lock these days is a TSA lock, either built into the baggage or purchased separately. You can tell a genuine TSA lock by its distinctive logo showing a red diamond. TSA locks began in the US and stands for ‘Transport Security Administration’.
These locks have an override or special key used by customs officials to open a case if they need to check it. At the end of the day if customs want to open your case they will, even if they have to simply break the lock. Oh, and another downside, thieves can buy the override keys online!
A simple trick to increase the security of your luggage is to purchase inexpensive covers. There are hundreds to be found on Amazon, some displaying stylish designs. Perhaps though you might fancy one sporting a brightly coloured giraffe. At least a similar Gaudi inspired cover or colourful zip tie is easy to spot on the carousel and deters thieves who do not wish to be noticed.
Of course, when we reach our destination, we tend to fret about our suitcases appearing on the airport carousel. It is a fact that sometimes luggage is mishandled and appears lost, often leading to several days before it can be returned. Sadly, of course, baggage is also stolen. Most major airlines now offer airline baggage tracking tools through their smartphone apps. This feature allows you to know when your bag has been loaded onto the plane, transferred, or has arrived at your destination. For greater peace of mind, you can buy inexpensive tracking tags, which combined with an app on your phone tell you and airport staff exactly where your suitcase is. Finally, it can be a good idea to photograph the airline tag and maybe the contents inside your case.
Clearly anything valuable should be carried in your hand luggage. A useful tip is to add heavy items that fit into your hand luggage because airlines don’t weigh these bags, being more concerned with their size. If the worse happens and you lose your bag, follow up with airport staff immediately and be as detailed as possible when completing the airline’s lost baggage report. You can bet it’s going to be as much fun as a tax return! ‘
Airport security asked me if I’ve seen anything unusual…I just paid £18 for a coke and a ham sandwich…Let’s start with that.’
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
