They can't put anything into your bag unless you leave it unattended!

I have a similar trolley holdall where only the main compartment can be locked. I've travelled all over the world with it and as yet haven't had any problems. I haven't had anything stolen (though I wouldn't put anything worth stealing in the unsecure parts). There are stories about dangerous items being placed in cases unbeknown to the owners but this is a rare occurence and as the previous poster said if you keep your case in sight all of the time then nothing is going to happen. You can't get your self worried about what could happen after the case has been checked in.

Try and stop worrying, start looking forward to your holiday. Have a super time, Australia is a great place to visit.

Judith

In all our years of holidaying I don't think we have ever even put a lock on any of our cases .Just do the zips up and buckle the straps . If someone wants to get in they won't be put off by one of those padlock thingies. I keep anything of value in our hand luggage so it's only ever clothes and toiletries in the cases .

I agree with Judith you can't go worrying about what is happening to your cases after you have checked them in . Once they have gone off down that conveyer belt try not to think about them again until they are coming around the carolsel (sorry spelling ) at the other end .

Relax and have a lovely time .

I understand where you are coming from here, 'have you left your cases unattended and could anybody have put something in them?' they are not unattended until they are checked in and then they disappear and yes at that point or any other time before you receive them back there is a remote chance somebody could put something in them, I suppose it must happen.

I use a small plastic cable tie through each zip, this doesn't stop customs or security screening it but it does show me immediately if the plastic tie is cut off that the case has been opened, very surprising the times that it is cut off now

We're the same as Lyn. We never lock our cases as hubby reckons those padlocks can be opened with an ordinary pin and if somebody wants to get inside they will. The most valuable thing I take on holiday is my camera which I always keep with me in the hand luggage so if anything else goes missing it's not a great loss and will be covered by insurance anyway. So far, nothing's ever gone missing.

hi...would insurance cover if cases not locked...and by the time the excess is taken off compensation you probably wouldnt get anything back...it is the thought some had been in my case would upset me...even if only a few clothes missing...and only put clothes toiletries ect in cases...dont put anything of value.....tweetie

I would be really upset too Tweetie but as I mentioned most cases can be opened easily unless you have an expensive lock attached. These cheap padlocks that you sometimes get free with the case are good for nothing

I always lock my case either use a TSA lock on my holdall or use a case that has a integral lock. I don't think Insurance would pay out if items were stolen and case wasn't locked. I had a friend who didn't lock her case on a flight from New York, when she opened the case on arriving home quite a few items of clothing were missing. She was naturally upset but would have been even more so if it had happened on the way out as she had a bridesmaids outfit with her. If the lock had been broken or removed she would have noticed it at the airport but by just leaving the case unlocked she didn't notice until arriving home by which time it was too late to fill in claim forms with the airline.
I once saw a program on TV about the large scale thieving that goes on behind the scenes at many airports, the presenters said to always lock your case, don't make life easy for the thieves, they will always choose to rifle through an unlocked case before breaking a lock no matter how flimsy.

Judith

it does not make any difference if the case is locked or not they still get in, we had our cases broken into by a baggage handler, and some items stolen, our insurance company say we are not covered as we should not keep anything vaulable in there anyway.

I use small yale or similar locks...never use the locks that come with the cases.....about insurance saying dont put anything of value in your case....one point is these days you can pay over £100 for a pair of jeans or trainers.....second point is why if they say this do they give such large amount luggage insured for on policies...it would take a lot of primark clothes ect to get that amount of compensational goods into a case.....they usually say they dont compensate for more than £500 in cash....but I suppose if you had that amount in your handbag and you were mugged...they would then say you shouldnt have been carrying that much .

First rule of insurance is that they never pay out for something that is covered by other rules/contracts. Luggage with airlines is covered by rules (either the Athens/ Warsaw/ Montreal conventions, I forget which). So your first claim is under those procedures and the insurance will only "top up" anything over the amounts the airline should pay. Catch number 1 - if you don't realise until after you leave the baggage hall you can't do an airline claim form - and if you haven't done that the insurance won't want to know. Catch number 2 - airline compensation may go on the weight of the bag not the actual contents. And as already pointed out - catch number 3 is that they don't cover "valuables" (the definition of which will be in the policy) left in checked bags. So you have thousands of pounds baggage theft cover which can only be fully used if you get mugged for your entire trolley load as you wheel it away from the airport!!

I have never locked a case in all my years of travelling - like some other people have said, those little padlocks can be opened with a curtain hook (tried and tested!)

Saying that, it could be worth tying something on the zips just so you know if someone has opened it and you can check immediately when you receive it back!

Hope you enjoy your trip and dont worry too much about your suitcase!

For Suemackey, try your house insurance as the same thing happened to us a few years ago and my house insurance paid out

I always lock my case but mainly so it doesn't accidently come undone and I lose all my undies or something , I have never even thought of locking the side compartments though. I wouldn't wory about it to be honest, if someone wants to tamper with you case they will find a way of doing it anyway unless you have a really secure lock on it. I managed to get one of those cheap ones off with a hairclip once when I lost the key.

Sometimes I wonder if too much security just draws attention to your case anyway . Any potential thieves might think their must be something decent inside to go to so much trouble .

Until I became a member of HT I always thought that everyone locked their cases when using airports. I know all of my family and friends do, so it was a bit of a surprise when I read that many people don't bother.
As some posters have said if thieves really want to get into your case very little will stop them, but crime from suitcases falls pretty much into two categories, one from the highly organized bands of criminals who operate in many major airports and the other from thieves who chance a quick oportunity for stealing something. The second category will more likely put off from rifling through a case that is secure.
I certainly don't want the hassle when arriving at my destination of filling out forms, buying replacements, arguing with insurance etc. so will do what I think neccessary to protect my luggage.

We had our suitcases ransacked at the airport, the insurance would not pay out they said to contact the airline but they did not want to know, in the end we had to claim on our house insurance

I never lock my case dispite traveling to many countries ,and never had my case tampered with.
I just twist some wire through the tags and a belt around the case.

It doesn't matter how secure the lock is, a Stanley knife will always open a case, at least they won't steal the expensive lock!