Luggage ‘safety’ trick passengers MUST avoid at the airport with experts saying it’s a ‘waste of money’
THERE’S a luggage trick passengers try to use at the airport, but experts have slammed it as a waste of money.
Jetsetters often come up with hacks to keep their luggage safe from thieves – and opportunists.
But there’s one option – that can cost up to £25 a pop – that experts say may not be worth splashing cash on.
Most airports across the globe offer multiple kiosks where passengers can get their bags wrapped in plastic.
Many see it as a way to keep pickpockets out of their bags, while others hope it’ll stop unwanted items being snuck into their luggage.
But the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the plastic could be ripped off by security – and the bag would not be re-wrapped.
They said that luggage always gets put through an explosive detective system.
This could see it pulled to the side – and unwrapped.
TSA’s Lorie Dankers told Travel and Leisure: “If the technology flags the bag, the 3D X-ray image is sent to a TSA officer to review.
“TSA officers look at hundreds of X-ray images, so they know what common items look like on the X-ray screen.”
Dankers said that should a plastic-wrapped bag get pulled to the side and pulled apart, it would be left that way.
At UK airports it can cost around £25 to get a bag wrapped.
It comes after holidaymakers were issued a warning when one passenger was banned from a flight – over a viral packing hack.
The trick, which has been hailed on social media, didn’t turn out to be such a smart move.
Meanwhile, Heathrow previously blamed a TikTok craze for chaos seen at the airport.
The airport’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said that pretending to need a wheelchair was labelled as a “travel hack” on the social media site, for people hoping to skip the queue.
Another holidaymaker recently revealed a hack to avoid security lines.
Frequent flyers have been left stunned after finding out how much time they can now save themselves after discovering the incredible secret.
Elsewhere, a TV presenter recently revealed a nifty trick to avoid dirty bathrooms on airplanes when you fly.
Aussie Grant Denyer was making his way back home after a family holiday when he came across a hidden feature inside the small jet toilet.
The clever ‘plus-one’ trick
A GENIUS ‘plus-one’ travel hack that allows passengers to fit ALL their clothes into hand luggage has been revealed.
The ‘world’s most seasoned’ flyer Tom Stucker, who has racked up a whopping 23 million miles, shared his top space-saving trick.
He follows a simple ‘plus-one’ rule, which means only packing the absolute essentials, and a back-up.
The travel guru also suggested taking items which are easy to clean.
It’s crucial not to accommodate for ‘what if’ scenarios, and brutally cut out all the extras, according to Tom.
Yolanda Edwards, founder of the travel magazine Yolo Journal added: “You’re going to be the one who, when you get home, you’re like, ‘I didn’t wear eight of those things, but I swore I needed them’.
“Try and remember all of those packing mistakes and try not to repeat them.”
This includes scaling back on toiletries and only bringing the bare minimum.
It can also be space-saving to use smaller travel sized containers rather than the original bottles.
And, many essentials can be bought while you’re away at local shops, or even the airport.