9 Secrets to PREVENT THEFT from Checked Luggage (BEWARE of Pen Hack!)

SECURITY MUST-HAVE for Airports (only $3!!): bit.ly/PP-nordvpn

I never put valuables in my checked brilliant yellow bag, have an air tag inside and am prepared with an emergency change of clothing in my personal item. I learned that lesson when a whole cup of coffee was spilled over my shoulder and the whole way down my front. Not sure who would ever want the women's plus sized clothing in my bag but you never know! I also use compression packing cubes so if they REALLY want my black polka dot blouse, they are going to have to open all those cubes to find it.

I’ve used an apple tag and “it works” when our luggage didn’t arrive at our final destination! We were in Rome..the luggage was still in London(Heathrow). We finally were able to receive/get it!

Good video. Must look into those air-tag thingies. My primary luggage-going-missing avoidance-strategy is to restrict bookings to airlines that are operating daily flights to my destination. But that's only effective against loss rather than theft.

We returned on an international flight where only 11 bags showed up at the carousel. Numerous people were telling the agents that their own tracking was wrong as their own trackers showed it was actually there, or at least not where the agents claimed —- what a mess. We confirmed 2 of ours were indeed not there and proceeded to our connecting flight. One bag was delivered 3 days later the other in about a week.

I Always learn something new from your videos Meghan! You're the best!

Very sound advice, as usual. Thank you. 😊

Question: Are those TSA keys not available to thieves? There just be thousands of them. How could the TSA insure that they're all safe. They can't even detect all the guns that go through the scanners.

My husband and I were traveling internationally to attend a concert convention weekend. Friends arriving ahead of us were all posting pictures at YUL of hundreds of bags sitting in baggage claim, while others were reporting their bags hadn't arrived. Once you leave the secured area, you can't go back to retrieve your bags. So we bought a pair of air tags for our own peace of mind. Those airtags stay in our luggage. Like you, we placed ours behind the lining. So far, so good - and it's really nice to be able to see that our bags have made it into the luggage compartment on the plane before takeoff!

Great tips Megan, on my last trip to Cuba with Sunwing, I tied up a scarf around my suitcase so I could easily recognize it, and on the flight back it arrived without the scarf, go figure. Somebody really liked that scarf from a dollar shop.

Definitely use Apple AirTags when traveling. A friend was told by an airline that her bag was in Quebec City and missed the flight she was on, but her AirTag showed her bag in Fresno, CA. She called the Fresno Airport and they got the bag back to her. I also use them in carry on and personal item bag.

All great tips Megan, thank you! I’ve used Apple Air Tags for several years & they’re great—I even have one in my passport wallet now (long story). I usually fly Delta & they provide tracking in the app as well. But I’m heading to Amazon now to check out those luggage sleeves because you can’t be too safe these days. Thanks again!

Thanks for the warning and ideas! 🌷

I also try to only do carry on luggage!

Laptops? By my reckoning, about half of the safes in hotels I've stayed in have been too small to accommodate them.

Does Apple Air tags work with Android or is there an Android equivalent?

Ack! Don't put your laptop in your checked luggage! Geeze, we even carry our scuba regulators in our carry-ons. Sorry, I don't think the appearance of bags makes any difference to thefts. Decades ago I had a 40 lbs towbar in a duffel bag was stolen. It does seem that something has disappeared from one of our bags every trip. I once zip tied all of the zippers and when I picked it up they were all cut. Also, realize that for some Android users you can use Samsung Smart Tags. Have fun, travel safe.

Most of these suitcases shown here are "carry on" luggages, aren't they??

Word of advice. Check luggage 🧳 if you would not throw it off the roof of your house, don't Check it. Never put fragile. Stickers on your Check luggage. It's a stress reliever for the person that have to carry your big heavy bag.