Sooo much pooping

[fluffyfeet]

Hi all

 

I'm off on holiday soon and flying for the first time in 11 years. After hearing loads of horror stories about luggage coming open during handling I was wondering if anyone has used luggage straps before.

 

I'd be interested in knowing what people thought of them and any recommendations please.

 

Cheers

 

Dawn x

[C&T]

Personally, have never used them, and not had any major issues... (Oh boy is that tempting fate...) I thought people usually used them to help recognise their case?

 

I do tie lots of red wool around the handle of the case, to help me recognise mine again on the luggage belt - it is amazing how many similar designs there are out there!

 

Also put my mobile number on the case (not address or house phone) and put a small lock on the zip. You can get special airline locks (inexpensive) that the airline will have the masterkey for to get in if they need to, but it stops opportunists getting in.

 

Have a fantastic holiday!

[BarbaraJ]

We have used them to recognise cases but haven't ever had a problem though someone hubby knows said their case was opened some time before the belt and their camera, ipod etc was stolen. personally i would never pack those things in my case always in my hand luggage.

[Vivihen]

My husband is an aircraft engineer and he is of the opinion that luggage straps are a waste of time; apparently the hold is littered with them once empty.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Personally I have never used luggage straps, although I do use a small padlock and we have a tag which has the phone number of a company that will be able to return the bags to us should they get lost.

 

One of my suitcases is Florescent Green , so I don't need straps as a form of identification as no one else has a suitcase like mine!

[Olly]

I use a strap mainly on the basis of being able to recognise it on the conveyor belt. I wouldn't get one with my name on though, I just have a brightly coloured one. The strap did come in handy when my friend's suitcase broke, though - we were able to use it to hold it together enough to get on the train, whether it would have done the job for airline travel I'm not so sure.

 

I never lock suitcases - if someone wants to get into it they will do so easily enough, and I would never put anything of great value like an iPod in there. My mind works on the basis that if it's locked, they might think it's worth breaking into!

[BarbaraJ]

I use a strap mainly on the basis of being able to recognise it on the conveyor belt. I wouldn't get one with my name on though, I just have a brightly coloured one. The strap did come in handy when my friend's suitcase broke, though - we were able to use it to hold it together enough to get on the train, whether it would have done the job for airline travel I'm not so sure.

 

I never lock suitcases - if someone wants to get into it they will do so easily enough, and I would never put anything of great value like an iPod in there. My mind works on the basis that if it's locked, they might think it's worth breaking into!

 

thats my opinion, bags that have been opened often are cut open so a padlock won't have made a difference. Also your advertising that there is something worth locking up!

[donald]

The best suitcases I have had(12 years no issues..used a lot) are the hardcase american tourister/Samsonites. Initially I thought they weighed more but they dont. I also dont have the expandables as they have a soft bit(in case they get prised with a knife etc) but they have a combination and the end bits lock etc. Brillant.

 

I also paint in nailvarnish & some groovy stickers for recognition etc

 

Good luck I think if you have to claim you have to do it their and then etc & yes I have seen suitcases with all and sundry on the belt(how embarrassing is that )

 

Donald

[Space Chick]

I'm sad and tragic..... We have bright orange hard suitcases covered in stickers from everywhere we have been around the world, and also have rainbow stripped luggage straps. Not for any other reason than we like them

[Christian]

I worked in baggage tracing for 5 years and we had hundreds of old straps that came off suitcases and bags. The baggage belt system in airports is so advanced now, that cases whizz around at mega speeds. Anything that can get trapped in the belt will, so I personally wouldn't bother with a strap.

 

Incidently, we were trained in breaking into suitcases. We have to enter the contents if there is no address on the bag. Sometimes it is the inly way to reunite a passenger with their bag. You can put any address on it, even 123 disneyland street, USA - as long as you report that address when you file a report, the bag will be found. ALWAYS put your address on the inside - the baggage tracers will thank you!

 

Many think that Loaders will break into your home when you are away if you leave your address on the bag - trust me, they handle thousands of bags a day, they don't have time to check addresses!

[Chucky Mama]

A good tip re putting the address on the inside, I will remember that one. We use parcel ties on our bags, we thread them through the holes in the zip tabs. Probably useless but it make us feel better

[The Dogmother]

I always have my address and mobile number in the inside, including destination details. Use a wide luggage strap that straps up rather than having a buckle and tuck in any loose ends. I've lost a few cases in my globetrotting days (they always came back) but never had one broken into.

[PapaJuliet]

The only time I've used a luggage strap was when we discovered (while on holiday) that the case had a dodgy catch (bad design,we reckoned). It kept the case together on the way home,even though the catch had partially open on the plane.

 

PJ