Has Stuff Disappeared from your Luggage?

[parrotfeathers]

Just wondering if anyone here gets home and then can't find stuff knowing it was packed. Certainly not placing any blame on the ship. I used luggage direct and when I got home saw that TSA left me a nice note saying it was chosen to be searched. It was left in a mess. My camera battery recharger and cord to upload photos to my mac is nowhere to be found--not that anyone would have even known what camera it went to--so I assume this is just a fluke. But all my germ stuff was gone too--my clorox wipes and all my germ-x packets still in the boxes.

I wonder if I have just lost my mind and "put" it all somewhere. But I unpacked the day I got back. I know where my camera stuff goes. And why would I hide the germ stuff from myself?

So I have to ask if anyone goes through this same thing.

[catl331]

I don't recall ever missing anything when we got home, and we have been TSA searched on occasion.

[ASIWISH]

... all the clothes I could fit in to were gone, and neatly replaced with bunch of clothes that were waaaay too tight.

Strange....

[DAllenTCY]

Sadly, my answer is yes. As much as I love my ships, things do happen occasionally. Our new Sony camera was packed away and didn't make it home.
David

[Pokeynose]

I never pack anything of value in my checked luggage. Camera, jewelry, cords to phone, camera, etc. packed in my carryon. Clothes can be replaced. I've had my luggage opened by the TSA also, must have seen a couple of bottles of booze bought on board but it made it home. I have had my luggage left a mess, once heading out to the cruise,:mad: clothes really tossed and a couple of times going home which I didn't care but on the beginning of the cruise I really didn't appreciate it. Nothing we can do. TSA is in charge.

David, sorry you lost your camera, next time I bet you pack it in your carryon.:)

[VioletHorse]

My checked luggage gets opened by TSA about 50% of the time :mad:. I don't know why, since I put my camera and camcorder including chargers and cables in my carryon. The only things in my checked bag are clothing, shoes and toiletries.

Nothing has gone missing, however the last time I flew, one of my TSA approved locks was apparently cut off, and the compartment that was secured by that lock was re-locked with another lock from a different zippered compartment.

Should there be a "random" secondary security check of carryon luggage at the gate .... I get chosen for that as well.

Sorry to hear about your missing items, but I have no faith in most of the TSA staff - they are low paid and under trained employees of a hugely ineffective government bureauracy.

[mechcc]

No, I have never had anything removed from my luggage and sorry the OP did.

However, some folks seem to blame only the TSA. There are numerous folks that handle your luggage besides TSA. First there are the airline folks that take your luggage in and send it to the right plane as well as the airline employees that actually load your luggage to the plane. Have any of you seen the Dateline/48 Hours type shows that have explored how these airline employees steal from luggage? And if you are on a cruise, your cabin steward removes your luggage from outside your cabin and puts it in a central place where obviously other cabin stewards have access. Then the longshore men take it from the ship to the customs area. Add in luggage direct and you have even more people that handle your luggage. So while it could be TSA employees, it very well could be a multitude of others. At least the TSA employees go through basic background checks.

[parrotfeathers]

I did have my camera in my carry-on. It's just the battery charger, but I can get another one. I think the fact that I can't remember if I saw it the whole time I was gone is what is really bothering me. I only took 3 photos!

[dobiemom]

Nothing has gone missing, however the last time I flew, one of my TSA approved locks was apparently cut off, and the compartment that was secured by that lock was re-locked with another lock from a different zippered compartment.
This has happened to me twice. Twice TSA chose one of my luggage bags to check and both times my TSA-approved lock was not returned. Nothing else was missing. I did get a note in my bag saying they checked my bag. But why wasn't my lock returned? Did TSA cut the lock? If so, what is the use of "TSA-approved" locks? Sorry for the rant. It just bugs the doo-doo out of me. :mad:

[donaldsc]

But why wasn't my lock returned? Did TSA cut the lock? If so, what is the use of "TSA-approved" locks? Sorry for the rant. It just bugs the doo-doo out of me. :mad:

They are TSA; i.e., the travel ****s. They can do anything that they want to and you have no recourse.

DON

[kyriecat]

I can't remember ever having anything missing, but they always leave my bags in shambles. :mad: On the way home it's usually just dirty laundry so not a big deal. However, on the way to my destination, I try to carefully pack my clothes to avoid wrinkling. It really irritates me to arrive at my hotel and discover that I have to iron and repack things because my clothes have been crammed back in my bag.

It also irritates me when they unwrap breakables and don't put them back properly. My husband collects small (airline-size) bottles of local liquors. We've brought bottles back from Italy, Greece, Caribbean islands, etc. I wrap them in bubble wrap and put them in my husband's shoes for additional protection. A couple times, the TSA folks have cut the bubble wrap off the bottles and just tossed them back in the bag so they rattled together and cracked. GRRR! :mad: Orancello does not come out of silk.

I gave up on the TSA locks after having 3 of them either cut off or not replaced. I've had better luck with tie-wraps. The TSA usually puts new tie-wraps on my bags if they cut those off. I'm not sure what they do with the locks.

[uppitycats]

We also almost always have one bag of our two searched by TSA when we travel...and other than having things tossed around a bit, nothing has ever gone missing. Your cleaning supplies...could they have aroused some suspicion, and they just took them out to be certain? Your battery cable could easily have fallen out and been missed on a lot of occasions, if you don't use it much.

[Randyk47]

We travel a lot, more for business than pleasure and I guess that considered we've been very lucky and only had one item actually go missing and that was a pair of my wife's sunglasses but she made the mistake of putting them in an unlocked side pocket. I don't count locks broken or missing as significant and that has happened but again that's probably only two or three over the years and literally dozens of flights. I can't think of any instance where I thought our luggage was mishandled or gone through in connection with a cruise while in the control of the cruise line or terminal personnel.

[FoxyTerrier]

We use plastic cable ties instead of TSA locks. Sure they can be cut off but you can get a bag of about 100 for $5. We also keep a travel pair is scissors in an out side pouch to cut them off.

I guess we have been lucky as TSA has never cut them off.

DS recently left something in his cabin - is it possible to recover items left on the ship?

[m steve]

from my bag as I unpacked on board but found them at home as I never packed them. Senior moment again.

[GmaPajama]

The only thing we've had go missing is luggage zipper pulls. Seems like one for every flight - we're close to needing to carry a pair of pliers to unzip our bags. We buy the very best of luggage, so I can't imagine how they would just "fall" off. Perhaps some bag handler has an amazing collection of zipper pulls?

[Cruising-along]

Once we found that DH's razor had been removed, and found in its place size 15 flip flops :eek: I kid you not! We had flown to Europe, and there was a note inside the bag that TSA had searched that bag. No mention of removing anything, just that they'd searched it. Luckily we were traveling with family so DH could borrow BIL's razor for the cruise. And yes, DH now doesn't put his razor into the checked bags.

The last time was when one of our bags was left opened out in the rain at FLL. :mad::mad: The lock was missing, nothing else, but we were not happy campers. In these cases, turning in a claim would be worthless, as the dollar value isn't worth it. It's the inconvenience that maddens me. We did put in a complaint, not that anything came of it. TSA does what they want.

[donh1]

There is a real chain of people who handle the luggage. I'm inclined to think that the people handling the baggage on the tarmac have far more opportunity to steal items from the suitcases. A baggage handler can actually do it right inside the baggage cart or inside the belly of the aircraft. To blame the TSA for the theft is simply nonsense. Others have far more opportunity. Too bad all bags aren't sealed and then those inspected are resealed by the TSA . Very quickly they would narrow it down.

[iceman93]

There is a real chain of people who handle the luggage. I'm inclined to think that the people handling the baggage on the tarmac have far more opportunity to steal items from the suitcases. A baggage handler can actually do it right inside the baggage cart or inside the belly of the aircraft. To blame the TSA for the theft is simply nonsense. Others have far more opportunity. Too bad all bags aren't sealed and then those inspected are resealed by the TSA . Very quickly they would narrow it down.

You are exactly correct, donh. In fact, there was a high-profile case a couple of years ago of a "ring" of baggage handlers who were popping open expensive-looking luggage, rifling around for easily-sellable items, and sticking an official-looking (but not official at all) note saying that TSA had searched the bag. Their scam worked for a long time because many people (inexplicably) are afraid to go up against the TSA, and those who did were getting stonewalled because the TSA investigations were showing nothing--they simply assumed people forgot what they packed or were trying to commit fraud or whatever.

I don't remember how they were eventually caught, but do remember the report saying that if the note left in your bag looks like a cheap photocopy on regular 8.5x11 paper that it is NOT legitimate. Those should be reported to TSA right away so they can crack down on the actual criminals. It becomes a TSA issue because you have to consider that a baggage handler who will commit theft might also be corruptable to committing bigger crimes...

[Aussiemick]

The best way to find something that has gone missing is to buy a new one.

[C2C2C]

The only thing we've had go missing is luggage zipper pulls. Seems like one for every flight - we're close to needing to carry a pair of pliers to unzip our bags. We buy the very best of luggage, so I can't imagine how they would just "fall" off. Perhaps some bag handler has an amazing collection of zipper pulls?

Exactly what happened to us. Bought new matching pair of luggage with fluorescent locks. Made it overseas OK & cruised OK. From FLL via Charlotte arrived home with lock missing from one case and lock and pull-tab missing from other. No note, nothing missing. Have pliers will travel.

[iancal]

In all our years of travelling....never. And we do not lock our suitcases.

We never put valuables in our bags so the most anyone would get is clean used clothing, dirty used clothing, or perhaps a book or two.

[GmaPajama]

Exactly what happened to us. Bought new matching pair of luggage with fluorescent locks. Made it overseas OK & cruised OK. From FLL via Charlotte arrived home with lock missing from one case and lock and pull-tab missing from other. No note, nothing missing. Have pliers will travel.

After I posted about the zipper pulls, I found this website. http://shop.zippermend.com/ It says they carry them at Walgreens, but I just ordered off the internet.

[Rutland Gate]

Many instances of "approved" locks vandalized. The TSA is out of control.

[bishop84]

DS recently left something in his cabin - is it possible to recover items left on the ship?

You can contact HAL Property claims and check if anything has been found and sent in. After loosing something once I was grateful to find that it had been found in the cabin and sent to their Seattle office. Although this did take a few weeks for a reply.

[mr green]

Have never lost a thing. Nothing of value goes into my bags to be taken away, however I do take precautions.
On airlines I replace my locks with strap ties, and put at least one colored web band round each case. ONCE I hade one opened by the airlines, and a note was left inside to tell me so.
Before I give my bags to the ship, locks go back on, in the same way when my bags go out, on leaving the ship, bags are locked. These locks are removed once again to be replaced with strap ties if we go to an airport.
NO electrical stuff, of any kind go into my big bags.

john

[Arwen]

No, I have never had anything removed from my luggage and sorry the OP did.

However, some folks seem to blame only the TSA. There are numerous folks that handle your luggage besides TSA. First there are the airline folks that take your luggage in and send it to the right plane as well as the airline employees that actually load your luggage to the plane. Have any of you seen the Dateline/48 Hours type shows that have explored how these airline employees steal from luggage? And if you are on a cruise, your cabin steward removes your luggage from outside your cabin and puts it in a central place where obviously other cabin stewards have access. Then the longshore men take it from the ship to the customs area. Add in luggage direct and you have even more people that handle your luggage. So while it could be TSA employees, it very well could be a multitude of others. At least the TSA employees go through basic background checks.

We use colored plastic ties to lock our zippers and we do not put valuables in our luggage...ever. The color ties seem to be a deterrent as we have traveled quite a bit and not had a problem...yet.

I would like to point out that it is highly doubtful that a longshoreman (I know you didn't specifically point them out, only that they were in the chain of handlers of luggage) would go through luggage. My husband is a longshoreman and actually did a couple of shifts working cruise ships. They just plain don't have time to go through luggage. Their work is done in full view of their co-workers and others. That, and the fact that they make extremely good money in salary and tips...

[mr green]

We use colored plastic ties to lock our zippers and we do not put valuables in our luggage...ever. The color ties seem to be a deterrent as we have traveled quite a bit and not had a problem...yet.

I would like to point out that it is highly doubtful that a longshoreman (I know you didn't specifically point them out, only that they were in the chain of handlers of luggage) would go through luggage. My husband is a longshoreman and actually did a couple of shifts working cruise ships. They just plain don't have time to go through luggage. Their work is done in full view of their co-workers and others. That, and the fact that they make extremely good money in salary and tips...

A couple of years ago, an airport, [I forget which one], had a very poor record re opened, and stolen items from luggage, some higher ups were pointed at.
We all hear the odd report from the cruise ships too, including one very irate cruiser, whe put his order of liquor outside for midnight pick up, however the person who picked it up remains a mystery.:rolleyes:

john

[Cruz'n Couple]

I packed two Holland America mugs (won at trivia) and put our 2 star mariner pins in the mugs prior to departing Fairbanks directly for airport. Mugs were not in luggage when we arrived home. Not pointing fingers at anyone, because luggage was handled in 4 different airports in one day!!

Worst thing we ever had was 3 complete bags stolen in Phoenix airport. We were on our way to Hawaii for 3 weeks, including a one week cruise! Turns out there was a couple stealing luggage from carousels right in the airport!

[arzz]

Knowing that the suitcases are x-rayed I never put anything into a suitcase that is of any value or, more importantly looks like anything of value.

So not only does all valuable jewelry go in the carry ons, but anything that, on an x- Ray, LOOKS like it could be valuable, such as anything that looks electronic, junk jewelry, or, maybe, mariner pins ....

[arzz]

This issue is not new, and goes back long before the TSA.

About twenty years ago we got off of a ship in Jamaica and arrived at the airport several hours before our flight -- so we checked in our suitcases and joined another couple for a taxi tour of town. Many hours later when we got off the plane in Chicago, the young honeymoon couple with whom we had shared the tour discovered that their jewelry (including her engagement ring) that she had packed in her checked bag were no longer in the suitcase after the trip.

An awfully hard lesson for them to learn.

[Krazy Kruizers]

A few years ago we knew that our luggage had been gone through -- I keep everything in plastic bags and they were all re-arranged. We had left from the hotel to fly home so I knew that it was TSA. No note was ever left in the luggage.

So far nothing has ever been taken from our suitcases.

[bepsf]

Many instances of "approved" locks vandalized. The TSA is out of control.

My understanding is that the TSA often don't have sufficient keys in their inspection areas that work in those TSA locks - or they're just so plain lazy they don't bother using a key...
...either way, they pretty much chop locks off with abandon.

But I agree - The TSA IS out of control, and anytime we see that something is missing and a bag has an "inspection" tag in it, we should contact the TSA to determine who, where and why.

[iancal]

I am always amazed when I hear that people actually keep valuables like jewelry or documents in their checked luggage. We never check anything that is either valuable, not replaceable, or can be used for identity theft.

[jcrandle]

DW's pillow chocolates didn't make it home, and she's suspicious of ME!

[bepsf]

I am always amazed when I hear that people actually keep valuables like jewelry or documents in their checked luggage.

Ditto -
Seems like a no-brainer to me...

[SmokeOnTheWater71]

Please ,Please, people stop accusing TSA of everything NOW.I will tell you one thing people forget,i've seen passengers accuse TSA of taking items off the x-ray machine low and behold old Georges watch is in his shoe,or another good one is my $50,000 dollar ring it's gone who took it alwayes someone else not them oh know i did not do that, well here it is in your purse on the x-ray machine.Things being taken out of bags another scam by passengers blame it on TSA yea Thats It TSA You've three choices TSA,Airline personnel our your brain.Your bag is looked at because you put to much crap in it, you are randomly selected.Your bag may sit for 2 3 4 hours cut open steal Thats not TSA it's your Carrier SWA,AA,Jet Blue who knowes. Every intenty has been caught stealing.Don't blame one intenty Stop blaming someone, prove it then i will belive you.

[RedmondCruiser]

I'ma confused ! If I loose stuff -- have I lost things ??? Generally when we go on a cruise we only pack things and never stuff. TSA has only confiscated two of our locks and has always left a friendly letter ( so much for friendly ) but we have NEVER packed anything other than cloths in our luggage. Why people pack camera, jewelry etc etc in their luggage is a complete mystery. These things are all STUFF. Friendly word of advice -- only pack THINGS and never STUFF and you'll be OK.

[RuthC]

When your suitcase is locked before you leave home, with a TSA approved lock, and you are there to take it off the carousel when you land, and the lock is missing, the TSA is the one who created the opportunity for your things to be taken. Even if they didn't take anything, they are still responsible for things that are missing.

The TSA needs to remove such locks carefully, and put them back on the suitcase. Cutting them off, and/or not relocking the bag, is not acceptable.
It is also their responsibility to be sure anything and everything they removed from the suitcase is returned before they close it up.

[ASIWISH]

When your suitcase is locked before you leave home, with a TSA approved lock, and you are there to take it off the carousel when you land, and the lock is missing, the TSA is the one who created the opportunity for your things to be taken. Even if they didn't take anything, they are still responsible for things that are missing.

The TSA needs to remove such locks carefully, and put them back on the suitcase. Cutting them off, and/or not relocking the bag, is not acceptable.
It is also their responsibility to be sure anything and everything they removed from the suitcase is returned before they close it up.

Good luck proving that it was the TSA's fault. It would be very difficult to prove that the locks were there in the first place.

[RuthC]

Good luck proving that it was the TSA's fault. It would be very difficult to prove that the locks were there in the first place.
"Proof" is only necessary in a court of law. Anecdotal evidence is sufficient in the court of public opinion. There are enough reports of TSA locks missing at the end of the flight to lend credence to the idea that TSA is not as careful as they should be.

[Juanita462]

The only time I ever used TSA approved locks our suitcases were searched and everything tumbled - no note saying who did this - and I didn't discover until a couple of months later that 2 pairs of slacks were missing.

I went out and bought regular locks and won't use the TSA type again - and always pack some cable ties in our carry-ons just in case. when we used regular locks our luggage was never searched so I wonder if it wasn't TSA people but luggage handlers with master keys to the locks.

[Salzburg]

Just wondering if anyone here gets home and then can't find stuff knowing it was packed. Certainly not placing any blame on the ship. I used luggage direct and when I got home saw that TSA left me a nice note saying it was chosen to be searched. It was left in a mess. My camera battery recharger and cord to upload photos to my mac is nowhere to be found--not that anyone would have even known what camera it went to--so I assume this is just a fluke. But all my germ stuff was gone too--my clorox wipes and all my germ-x packets still in the boxes.

I wonder if I have just lost my mind and "put" it all somewhere. But I unpacked the day I got back. I know where my camera stuff goes. And why would I hide the germ stuff from myself?

So I have to ask if anyone goes through this same thing.

TSA has all kinds of rules re batteries, chargers, and other devices. I am not an expert, by any means. Their website has specific instructions.

No idea re the disinfecting wipes. Chemical reactions? What it looks like on the X-ray machine?

Yes, I have had things removed from checked luggage on flights. The first time, several years ago, we had no explanation and assumed it was stolen. It turned up several months later at O'Hare airport and we were told it was against regulations. Since then, I have had notes several times that my luggage had been inspected - and it was obvious from the state of my suitcase. Nothing was missing. Salzburg

[MauiGirl55]

Once your bag has left your possession, do you honestly think that TSA is the only entity that comes in contact with your bag? Baggage handlers that take possession of your luggage after TSA is finished with it certainly have amply opportunity to cut locks, open bags, take whatever they want. Simply because so many people despise the bureaucratic segment of Homeland Security that is TSA does not make TSA agents thieves. There are way too many other people that your bag passes through to place the blame on TSA. Thieves are everywhere in our society--you simply cannot generalize that because something came up missing out of your bag, the TSA agent did it!

[crusinbanjo]

Sadly, my answer is yes. As much as I love my ships, things do happen occasionally. Our new Sony camera was packed away and didn't make it home.
David

Our Ploicy is to never pack anything that we do not want to lose, or cannot afford to lose. Your luggage, when handled by any number of people in closed areas, is possibly a target for those who are less honest than others. Sad to say.