1. Keeping Your Luggage Safe While Traveling
With something like twenty million bags lost by airlines each year, and a significant number damaged or stolen, ensuring the safety of your luggage is crucial. Fortunately, there are effective and affordable methods to protect your belongings without overspending.
2. Affordable Luggage Security Solutions
Here are four budget-friendly solutions that can help you keep track of your bags, all under twenty bucks:
HomingPIN Tags
If a high-end luggage tracker is out of your budget, consider the economical option from HomingPIN. For just $10-$20, you’ll receive a set of luggage loops, tags, and stickers to attach to your belongings. This package includes a one-year subscription to their tracking service, which costs $8 per year thereafter.
Once you register your contact information and basic details about your bags, you can travel stress-free. The tags are integrated with lost-luggage services at every airport, allowing carriers to easily return your bag if it goes missing during transit.
If your luggage is lost outside the airport, anyone who finds it can visit the website, enter the unique code on your tag, and notify you directly. This way, your personal information remains confidential unless you choose to share it.
TSA-Compliant Locks
A small yet effective measure is a TSA-compliant lock. Look for combination locks instead of padlocks—losing a padlock key can be quite inconvenient while traveling. Three-digit locks are common, but four-digit options are available for added security.
Ensure that the locks are TSA-compliant, allowing airport officials to open them with a master key. This method is preferable to potentially damaging your lock during inspections. Choose strong, metal locks in bright colors to make them easily identifiable on the baggage claim belt.
Cable Ties
Cable ties can be a makeshift solution for luggage security. If your bag features lockable zips, you can easily thread a cable tie through the loops and secure it. For zip pulls without dedicated loops, use the top holes to prevent unauthorized access.
Remember to plan how to access your luggage after tying it with cable ties, as you’ll need a cutting tool. It’s advisable to keep a few spare cable ties handy for your return trip!
Luggage Wrapping Services
If you’re concerned about luggage tampering, consider utilizing a luggage wrapping service. Available in many major airports, this service encases bags in multiple layers of transparent plastic film, providing an additional layer of protection.
While wrapping won’t prevent damage from mishandling, it can safeguard against minor scratches, spills, and rain. Moreover, an obvious tamper to the wrap will alert you right away if someone attempts to access your luggage. It’s, therefore, a practical deterrent against thieves.
Keep in mind that TSA officials can cut the plastic wrap for inspections, though some companies, like SecureWrap, offer re-wrapping free of charge in such cases. The average fee for luggage wrapping is about $15, depending on the bag’s size.
