Theft in lounges - how frequent?

[lovestotravel]

Most trips I'm able to leave one of my kids to mind the table/chairs

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

I would consider leaving things unattended in safe cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, but not elsewhere. Especially in Australian airports where laws are soft on criminals and there is a lack of etiquette and culture.

 

[SeatBackForward]

That is why in unsecure areas I always stand with a view of where the bags emerge from handling.

Yes this, ideally to see them as they come out. But there's always the scrimmage near that spot that can block the view, and when the baggage conveyors have two points of exits, it can be hard to see the other one.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Who remembers the old pigeon holes for your hand luggage as you entered the Qantas lounges? I think they were there until at least September 2001. I never had any qualms leaving things unattended back in the day but I feel a bit more like Basil Fawlty these days, judging the clientele (who are probably judging me).

They still have them in the AKL F lounge.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear this has happened to you.

I don't trust anyone. For many years I travelled alone all over SE Asia and never gave an opportunistic thief a chance. Now we travel together and we make sure someone is always there with the belongings.

Note in shopping centres I take shopping trolley inside toilet if I need to pee. And in airports the airport trolley also goes into the toilets with me.

 

[Matt_01]

I will tend to leave my cabin bag in the lounge unattended as well as my backpack without a lot of thought. The 2 things I keep with me at all times are my mobile (habit) and passport wallet. If my cabin bag or backpack were stolen it would be inconvenient but these can be replaced, having my phone and passport wallet would still allow me to get from point A to B.

 

[CaptJCool]

I will tend to leave my cabin bag in the lounge unattended as well as my backpack without a lot of thought. The 2 things I keep with me at all times are my mobile (habit) and passport wallet. If my cabin bag or backpack were stolen it would be inconvenient but these can be replaced, having my phone and passport wallet would still allow me to get from point A to B.

I second this

Although my day to day wallet is separate from the passport waist storage belt

 

[ayebee]

Yes this, ideally to see them as they come out. But there's always the scrimmage near that spot that can block the view, and when the baggage conveyors have two points of exits, it can be hard to see the other one.

agree it can be busy, but I generally stand back and collect the bag further along the conveyor.
If everyone stood back it would be easier all round.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Curious whether anyone's had anything added to their luggage/jacket pockets whilst they have been unattended in lounges?

 

[Dmac59]

Curious whether anyone's had anything added to their luggage/jacket pockets whilst they have been unattended in lounges?

Sounds like a potential new thread topic @FlyingFiona
Do you have first-hand (no pun intended) experience in this area?

 

[Cloud9]

Curious whether anyone's had anything added to their luggage/jacket pockets whilst they have been unattended in lounges?

I can confirm that this happened to me once upon a time.

I was travelling with a friend back when I was a cash-strapped student. They very kindly took me into the BA Lounge, but had an earlier flight to get. When I was powdering my nose, they put a twenty pound note in my jacket pocket and told me to go treat myself to a curry after an exam I had coming up.

Lovely what some folk will do.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Sounds like a potential new thread topic @FlyingFiona
Do you have first-hand (no pun intended) experience in this area?

No, but ever since the whole Schapelle Corby case I've been freaked about someone planting something on me.

(I'm not making any kind of statement about whether that's what happened to her or not, just that the realisation that it's possible has been sufficient to make me very paranoid.)

 

[ksksks]

I will tend to leave my cabin bag in the lounge unattended as well as my backpack without a lot of thought. The 2 things I keep with me at all times are my mobile (habit) and passport wallet. If my cabin bag or backpack were stolen it would be inconvenient but these can be replaced, having my phone and passport wallet would still allow me to get from point A to B.

I'm similar for places like F lounges, or domestic J lounge (or even QP if it's quiet and the right crowd).. and consider locking bag if leaving it unattended.
For others, I keep within eye shot if using a buffet.. or time toilet stop to just before boarding and take bags at that time

 

[SeatBackForward]

No, but ever since the whole Schapelle Corby case I've been freaked about someone planting something on me.

It was a risk well before Corby. I even remember as a child in the mid 80's my parents refusing to accept a bag from some random person while we were checking in to a flight via Singapore. After hearing about Barlow and Chambers ("The trial opened with both men claiming the drugs found in the maroon suitcase belonged to the other") and what can happen through similar countries

The stranger had requested it on the basis that travelling with a child would mean our family would have some capacity to accept this strangers bag.

 

[Lynda2475]

Another reason I always lock checked bags (including any accessible pockets) and briefly unattended hand luggage in the lounge. Yes locks can be broken/tampered with, but an opportunistic thief or someone looking to stash dodgy contraband is more likely to go for the quicker unlocked bag.

 

[MARTINE]

I'm similar for places like F lounges, or domestic J lounge (or even QP if it's quiet and the right crowd).. and consider locking bag if leaving it unattended.
For others, I keep within eye shot if using a buffet.. or time toilet stop to just before boarding and take bags at that time

My S in L carries bike chain and locks the cases with chain secured to luggage cage (on trains) or pillar (elsewhere) His rationale is opportunistic thief more likely to steal from easier prey! Carries wallets/pport separately of course

 

[SeatBackForward]

My S in L carries bike chain

I imagine bike chain is an unnecessary weight increase! I've used chains like this one when travelling on overnight buses/trains in some less secure environments - example from amazon.com.au (not endorsing this specific item):

 

[Lynda2475]

I imagine bike chain is an unnecessary weight increase! I've used chains like this one when travelling on overnight buses/trains in some less secure environments - example from amazon.com.au (not endorsing this specific item):

Both my pacsafe 85L travel pack and pacsafe day pack came with travel chains like that, very handy for locking bags to train racks or linking bags for storage at hotels. But i use them with a non-TSA lock as every man and his dog can open a TSA lock.

 

[MARTINE]

His chain is not that heavy and good deterrant

 

[SeatBackForward]

But i use with a non-TSA lock as every man and his dog can open a TSA lock

Checked in bags going to the USA need them (unfortunately), but that's not relevant to carry-on bags in lounges!

Post automatically merged: Sep 11, 2024

good deterrant

And that's the key, no opportunistic thief is going to spend time loitering and fiddling with something in such environments.