There are many odd jobs at airports. Some airport jobs are odd. For example, “bird guys”, who keep away birds, empty toilets and wrap luggage in plastic. The first two jobs make sense—it’s important to keep the runways clear and the planes clean— but most travelers aren’t sure about the third. Since the early 1990s, luggage-wrapping machines have been a staple at U.S. airports. Even more are found abroad. One Miami-based firm, Secure WrapMore than 500 employees wrap luggage in 17 countries.
Why do passengers wrap luggage?
Wrapping luggage is done for a variety of reasons. Some travelers wrap luggage to protect their luggage’s exterior from scratches and marks. Others do it to protect the luggage’s contents. Some travelers believe that if the suitcase is covered in plastic, it will be less likely to get inspected. TSA It may also be damaged by criminals who might steal, or even worse, put something incriminating within.
Some travelers, particularly those who are going to countries like the Maldives and Australia that spray insecticides and disinfectants on their arriving flights, will wrap their luggage with plastic to protect the contents from chemicals. Many people wrapped their luggage in plastic when I arrived in China, because they spray insecticide and disinfectant on arriving flights. wrote one traveler Reddit, someone said that they regretted not having wrapped their bag before because their clothes were soaked. Travelers will also need their luggage wrapped if their suitcase has broken or if they have a zipper that is rogue. Paying $15—what Secure Wrap charges at Miami International Airport—to wrap a broken bag is a lot cheaper than buying a new suitcase at the airport.
What happens to luggage that has been wrapped by the TSA?
TSA spokesperson Lorie Danker tells Travel + Leisure All luggage, whether wrapped in plastic or not, is treated in the same way. All checked baggage is screened before it’s handed over to the airline baggage handlers to load onto the plane. This equates to approximately 1.3 millions checked bags in the U.S. per day. TSA and their counterparts overseas use X-ray devices that use a 3D scan to look for items that resemble explosives, or other hazardous material. Some airports rely on K-9s, which can detect anything from bullets to explosives. It doesn’t matter if you wrap your luggage with plastic. It won’t change the way the X ray machines scan it, and neither will it stop the dogs.
The majority of bags, about 95 percent, will pass this screening, and they won’t have to be physically checked by a TSA agent. Bags that are flagged, get opened—this means plastic wrapping will be cut, and locks will be broken if they’re not TSA-approved. The TSA inspects luggage under CCTV surveillance in the U.S. It is important that the property of a passenger not be tampered with (in a way that’s unnecessary). TSA agents will repackage the bag and attach a paper slip that indicates the bag was examined so the passenger can understand why the bag was searched. However, they won’t rewrap it in plastic.
Secure Wrap is one of the luggage wrapping companies that offer free rewrapping in cases where TSA has cut off the plastic wrapper. These companies also offer a guarantee equal to the compensation offered by airlines for damaged or lost luggage. Please note that these types of guarantees come with many conditions.
What other things can you do to secure your luggage?
Many airports, citing environmental concerns, are beginning to ban plastic luggage wrap. If you’re looking for a way to get rid of plastic luggage wrapping, it is possible. keep your luggage secureThere are other options. You can start by using TSA-approved locks. luggage straps. You can also purchase a reusable luggage cover If you are concerned about aesthetics.
