Pro Tips For Keeping Your Checked Luggage Safe When You Fly This Summer

Forbes

11-05-2025

How do you keep your checked luggage safe when you fly? Here's what the experts say.
Eamonn Turley lost his laptop charger and designer sunglasses on a recent flight from Dublin to New York.
He'd carefully packed them in his checked luggage, assuming his airline would take care of them. But when he unpacked his bags in New York, they were gone — for good.
"Even after immediately filing a claim, I never got these items back," he recalls.
The experience made him think of better ways to keep his checked luggage safe. It's a worthwhile exercise for anyone about to embark on a summer trip.
Last year, 36 million checked bags were delayed, mislaid, misdirected, pilfered or stolen, according to the multinational IT company SITA. The overall pilferage rate is around 8 percent.
"Losing luggage while traveling is one of those unpleasant situations most people would rather avoid," says Alonso Marly, travel agent at Skylux Travel. "Whether you are traveling for work or going on a well-deserved vacation, being separated from your personal belongings can be a devastating experience."
And if you ask experts, it's a growing problem. The evidence is more than anecdotal. SITA says 10 million more bags were mishandled last year. The problem is getting worse because security at airports is lax.
"Anyone can steal," says Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC.com. "Even a frequent business traveler who has a klepto personality can grab an extra bag every time they deplane and have a good excuse — "Sorry, my bad!" — if they are caught."
Before we get to some of the new strategies travelers are using to keep their checked luggage safe, let's go over the things you absolutely have to do before you leave home:
These simple precautionary measures will ensure your checked luggage stays safe before you board your flight.
But there's more.
Yep, starting to sound like a broken record here, but it's worth repeating.
"Never pack anything valuable in your checked luggage when flying," says veteran traveler Dana Kampman, who edits a parenting blog. "Checked bags go through so many hands and screening processes, and there's always a chance for things to get misplaced or stolen. I've heard way too many horror stories over the years to take that risk."
Remember, airlines specifically exclude most items from liability. Even if you file a claim, you'll never see a penny in compensation for excluded items.
The latest baggage features built-in security mechanisms like tamper-proof zippers, or hard-shell cases with clasps to protect your belongings. While these won't stop a determined thief, they are a powerful deterrent.
"I have replaced my own zipper closure suitcases with mechanical clasps," says Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection.
Harrison notes that thieves can easily and quickly penetrate luggage zippers with a simple pen, allowing them to quickly access and pilfer high-value items.
"Then they pull the zipper back across to close the baggage, leaving no trace of theft until you arrive at your destination," he says.
One of the strategies that Turley developed was tracking his bag. But he has a special technique. He has a luggage tag that notes the bag is being tracked. "Through personal testing, I found that bags with tracking devices are handled more carefully by baggage handlers who may notice the tracking notification," says Turley, the CEO of an RV rental company.
It's true that less-than-honest baggage handlers will avoid tracked bags because they're afraid they could bring evidence home. So a notification acts as a deterrent. (It's also a good idea to track your bag with multiple trackers just in case one of them stops working.)
I always advise travelers to follow three tried-and-tested security methods: using TSA-approved locks on all zippers, photographing bag contents before check-in, and placing one or, even better, two GPS tracking devices like an AirTag inside the luggage.
Interestingly, as the pilferage problem has increased, travelers have developed new strategies to thwart airport thieves.
"I wrap valuables in clothing and place them in the middle of my suitcase," says Kevin Mercier, a frequent traveler who works for an auto manufacturer in Paris. "It makes them less accessible."
Does it work? So far it has, he says. All of his checked luggage has been returned with its contents intact.
This may sound incredibly obvious, but let's get real. You still have to get your stuff from point "A" to point "B." Veteran business traveler Andy Abramson says there's an alternative to playing luggage roulette.
"Think about using services like Luggage Forward, which picks up at your location and delivers it to where you're going. Or LugLess, where you take it to a UPS or FedEx location, and the bag is delivered to your destination," says Abramson, a communications consultant from Las Vegas.
Granted, these services are considerably pricier than checking your bag at the airport. But your luggage probably won't get pilfered, and the odds of it getting lost are far lower than if you gave it to your airline.
If you've already had your luggage pilfered, tell your airline right away. Airlines may be able to recover your items, but you only have a limited time to file your complaint.
"Report it immediately to the airline or local authority and obtain a filed report," advises Wendy Stahl, a product director at AXA Partners US.
That's also important because your credit card or travel insurance company must see the report if you want to file a claim. Many travel insurance plans include a baggage and personal effects benefit that allows you to claim compensation for your lost or stolen items, notes Stahl.
To keep your checked luggage safe this summer, keep these new strategies in mind. Remember to pack valuables in your carry-on. Use TSA-approved locks on zippers. Photograph your bag and its contents. And consider using a GPS tracking device like an AirTag. Or just outsource your luggage to a forwarding service
Bottom line: Don't make it easy for thieves when you fly. And report pilfered luggage immediately to the airline and local authority. By taking preventative measures, you can protect your belongings and avoid the hassle of lost or stolen luggage.