| One of the best illustrations I've seen for not | | | | pilferage. |
| checking bags happened at DFW Airport a short time | | | | I've lost count of the number people I've |
| back. It was during a heavy thunderstorm, and they | | | | encountered who've had items stolen out of their |
| had shut down ramp operations due to the lightning. | | | | bags. It should go without saying that valuables |
| I was standing at a window overlooking the ramp | | | | should never be checked, but often the items taken |
| area wondering when, if ever, I'd actually get out of | | | | aren't even all that valuable. Shoes and other pieces |
| Dallas. The downpour was torrential, all personal were | | | | of clothing mysteriously disappear as well. |
| inside, and all support equipment and vehicles had | | | | With the new TSA rules especially, you shouldn't |
| been left standing where they were when the ramp | | | | even bother locking bags anymore, as they will just |
| was closed. | | | | cut the locks. Who among those checking a bag |
| This included baggage trains, of which I could see | | | | hasn't found the little note inside saying this bag was |
| three, comprised of several carts each, all uncovered, | | | | searched? Happens routinely. |
| and all full of bags and packages getting completely | | | | Also, the TSA approved locks aren't failsafe either. |
| soaking wet. There were also bags sitting on the | | | | They say that by using them, the security folks can |
| ground, stopped on the loading ramp to cargo holds, | | | | open them with master keys, thus saving the lock, |
| and one cart was chock full of cardboard packages, | | | | but I found it interesting reading about how one guy |
| all getting doused. | | | | using such a lock found it cut and placed inside his |
| It ended up raining hard for about 20 minutes, then | | | | case with the aforementioned note. The humorous |
| lighter for about the same amount of time. It doesn't | | | | part was that he was a senior executive with one of |
| take much to imagine the condition of those bags | | | | those lock manufacturing companies. |
| contents, not to mention the packages once the | | | | Then there are the problems with lost luggage. |
| cardboard got saturated and turned to mush. | | | | Statistically inevitable, if you travel enough, it will |
| What I found interesting was that all the baggage | | | | happen to you. The best outcome is that it didn't get |
| carts had covers, but those covers were all rolled up | | | | on the plane, or got on the wrong plane, and will |
| or thrown back. So what's the deal. I mean it's a | | | | catch up to you in 24 to 48 hours. |
| rainy day, so any thinking person should know the | | | | The worse outcome is it never shows. In between |
| covers should be in place and only thrown back on | | | | are various numbers of days until it arrives. |
| the cart being worked. Then it would've taken all of | | | | Regardless, you will stand in a line to fill out your |
| 2 seconds to throw the cover back over the bags | | | | claim, wasting yet more time with long lines and |
| before scurrying inside. | | | | unsympathetic, uncaring airline staff. Think about it - |
| This is just one example, but there are countless | | | | no one talks to these people except irate |
| illustrations of uncaring baggage handlers doing a pitiful | | | | passengers, so they're going to have an attitude. |
| job. I've watched bags falling off carts, thrown in or | | | | Sort of like anyone working a complaint line, which is |
| bounced off carts, kicked, flung, piled up and falling | | | | probably why people take those jobs as a last resort. |
| off loading ramps, dropped in puddles, run over, the | | | | What happens to all that lost, unclaimed baggage? It |
| list just goes on and on. | | | | goes to auction. Great huh? So much for all that |
| If that doesn't show the sense in not checking | | | | stuff you just had to have along. |
| luggage by only using carry-on bags, then how about | | | | At the end of the day, the potential hassles just |
| theft. You may not realize it, but a lot of stuff goes | | | | don't justify the risk of checking luggage. Why not |
| missing from checked bags. Between the ticket | | | | save yourself a lot of grief by using only a single |
| counter and the carousel, are many opportunities for | | | | carry-on bag and travel light? |