Let’s imagine that after waiting, for months, you have arrived at your dream destination. But then your luggage has been destroyed, lost or even worse, stolen. And the bliss of your vacation is transformed into a stress producing and inconvenient necessity. In the busy pace of travel today, the security of your luggage has become an important concern for the traveler. Whether an easy-going vacationer, or frequent flyer, the safety of your belongings is fundamental to a pleasant, effortless trip. This ebook takes you through advanced, actionable techniques to assure luggage security better than ever before. The three cornerstones of security, advanced prevention of theft, strong protection against damage, and dependable tracking technology, will be explored in much complete detail. Mastery of these factors will bring an unparalleled travel experience, when you can forget about fear and replace it with the knowledge that your belongings are safe, so that you can concentrate on what is really important creating memories that will last for a lifetime.
Advanced Theft Prevention -- Outwitting Possible Thieves
To begin with, your first line of attack in luggage security is theft prevention. Modern thieves are sophisticated so your method must be sophisticated. It begins with luggage selection. Select bags in more uncommon colors, or unusual patterns. While black is fashionable and fatalistic, it is also a common color and under the right conditions is able to be duplicated quickly by a thief or to be mistaken, even by yourself. A unique luggage tag is necessary but with one small change on the old pattern. Don’t let your home address be known. Either use a business card, or a tag with your house phone, mobile number and email address.
Aside from appearance, quality locks are a particularly useful investment.While TSA-approved locking devices enable security personnel to open your bag without breaking the lock, this deterrent is rather weak as security goes. Try for a lock that also has a shielded shackle to foil bolt cutter attacks and/or a combination lock of a type not ordinarily used. For checked baggage, to prevent \"bag grabbing,\" when passenger bags are removed from the aircraft for loading, a durable TSA approved cable lock may be used to lock bags to the unmoveable luggage rack within the aircraft hold. The other rule, is to never, never, carry valuables in checked baggage. If you want a good rule, any jewelry, electronics, important papers, medications, etc, should be carried on your person. This is the best method of preventing theft. Proactive prevention against damage: Injury to property. Luggage makes tough going on its way from the checkin counter to the baggage carousel. To prevent damage, means a proactive and layered approach. The zero-step is to buy the right type of bag. The best choice is a hard-case, polycarbonate or aluminum type. Generally, these bags have superior impact resistance to soft-sided fabric bags. Look for reinforced corners, sturdy hiking or rotary wheels and sturdy recessed handles. Before you start your packing, look over your bag for any existing weaknesses like loose stitching, bad wheels, etc. and repair accordingly. Packing technique is imortant, too, where damage is concerned. The goal to be accomplished is a cushioned and stable interior. Use packing cubes not only for the purpose of organizing the cargo and a compartment method of maintaining and stabilizing the overall structure of the bag.Protect fragile items the best way you can. Wrap your fragile items in clothing. Then place them in the middle of your suitcase with softer items surrounding them. For a little more protection, it might be best to invest in hard case luggage specifically for electronics like cameras and laptops. Don’t forget about the outside! A good, clear case can protect your suitcase from scratching, dirt, moisture, etc. It provides protection to your suitcase and also allows you to immediately identify your luggage. Lastly, be sure to take off or hide any old airline tags! This prevents them from getting stuck in conveyor belt machines which is often the culprit which damages the handles.
Reliable Tracking Technology: The Digital Safety Net
Then, if your luggage should go astray, thank goodness for technology! Depending on just the airlines often over-extended baggage tracking system, isn’t sufficient. A Bluetooth or GPS luggage track is the best product available today! These small, lightweight units (from Apple, Tile, Samsung) can be discreetly placed in your luggage. Of course, Bluetooth is great to find your luggage’s last probable location through a vast network of the worldwide Bluetooth community! GPS locates luggage via satellite and provides real-time global positioning updates, but often requires a service contract month to month.
The integration of these products into your travel plan is very easy to do. Before checking your bag, be sure the product is “on” and has a charge. Once you land and arrive at the baggage claim area, be sure to open the extra product’s app on the cellular phone you want to use and verify whether or not your allocated luggage has indeed come in with you. If not, you can immediately show airline personnel where exactly your luggage is on a map-type basis, which greatly speeds up retrieval time. The real-time data provided by these surveillance units is priceless, making a frantic experience very manageable! Indeed, this electronic apparatus gives true meaning to the digital peace of mind, which is perhaps the ultimate luxury in modern traveling.
Strategic Travel Habits: The Human Element of Security
Even the best equipment is worthless without well thought out travel habits! Your habits are the essential part of baggage security. At the airport never, ever leave your bags unattended—even for a second! Unlike a commercial atmosphere like the one you are in, it is very hard to predict who the possible thieves are. When in line to register luggage, be sure to keep your “carry-on” luggage between your feet or in front of you with an extra strap wrapped around your leg or the chair. Avoid drawing attention to expensive luggage and/or electronics in public areas. Too often this leads to someone else getting them instead of you. A very simple habit of always keeping your zippers all lined up and closed together, even when the bag is with you, can avert the drag-zipper attempts.
Preparation is very important! Get photographs of your packed bag before traveling. Both outside and inside can be beneficial. This serves as a visual record for insurance claims in case of loss or damage. Not only keep a listing of your itinerary well in hand, but also lists of what goes into your checked in bag must also be kept inside the luggage itself. This should help airline personnel recover and identify items to possibly return to you with more effective means. Last, but not the least important, consider travel insurance with baggage coverage benefitting you. Knowing you have financial recourse provides much needed comfort of mind, thereby doing the completing return circle of security around you whereby you can have true peace of mind traveling!