There are loads of odd airport jobs. The “chook guys” hold birds at bay, bathroom crews empty the loos, and eventually, there are individuals who receives a commission to wrap baggage in plastic. The primary two jobs make sense—it’s vital to maintain the runways clear and the planes clear— however most vacationers aren’t positive concerning the third. That stated, luggage-wrapping stations have been a mainstay at main U.S. worldwide airports for the reason that early 90s. They’re much more widespread overseas; one Miami-based firm, Safe Wrap, has greater than 500 workers wrapping baggage at airports throughout 17 totally different international locations.
Why do passengers wrap their baggage?
Passengers wrap their baggage for an array of causes. Some vacationers get their baggage wrapped to guard the outside of the baggage from scratches and marks, whereas others get it wrapped to guard the contents inside the baggage. Some vacationers might imagine that if a suitcase is wrapped in plastic, it’s much less prone to be inspected by TSA or interfered with by nefarious characters who could also be inclined to steal or maybe worse, plant one thing incriminating inside.
And a few vacationers, particularly these going to the Maldives, Australia, and different international locations that spray insecticide and disinfectant on arriving flights, wrap their baggage in plastic to guard their contents from the chemical compounds. “Lots of people did this on my flight arriving in China due to how a lot they spray and ‘disinfect’ your bag upon arrival,” wrote one traveler on Reddit who stated they regretted not wrapping their bag prematurely as a result of their garments received saturated. Lastly, there are all the time vacationers who need to get their baggage wrapped as a result of their suitcase is falling aside or they’ve been cursed with a rogue zipper. Paying $15—what Safe Wrap prices at Miami Worldwide Airport—to wrap a damaged bag is lots cheaper than shopping for a brand new suitcase on the airport.
What does the TSA do with wrapped baggage?
TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers tells Journey + Leisure that baggage wrapped in plastic is handled the identical as baggage that’s not wrapped in plastic. All checked baggage are topic to screening earlier than they’re handed on to airline baggage handlers who load them onto the airplane. Within the U.S., that’s roughly 1.3 million checked baggage per day. TSA and its counterparts overseas use X-ray machines that use a 3D scanner to search for objects that resemble explosives or different hazardous supplies. Some airports additionally depend on Okay-9s that may detect all the pieces from bullets to bombs. Wrapping your baggage in plastic doesn’t have an effect on how the X-Ray machines scan the bag, nor does it deter the canine.
Most baggage, roughly 95 p.c, cross this screening and don’t have to be bodily inspected by a TSA officer. Luggage which might be flagged, get opened—this implies plastic wrapping will probably be lower, and locks will probably be damaged in the event that they’re not TSA-approved. Within the U.S. at the very least, the TSA examines baggage in a managed surroundings monitored by CCTV. This ensures that nobody is tempted to tamper (in an pointless means) with a passenger’s property. Whereas the TSA agent who examines the bag will repack it and embrace a paper slip indicating that the bag was inspected so the passenger is aware of why somebody rifled by their baggage, they won’t rewrap the bag in plastic.
Nevertheless, some luggage-wrapping corporations, together with Safe Wrap, supply complimentary rewrapping if the plastic wrapping is lower by TSA. In addition they embrace a assure that matches the airways’ compensation for misplaced baggage or harm. Word: All these ensures are topic to many phrases and circumstances.
What else are you able to do to maintain baggage safe?
Whereas some luggage-wrapping corporations declare they solely use 100% recyclable plastic, many airports are beginning to think about banning plastic baggage wrapping attributable to environmental issues. Fortuitously, if you wish to hold your baggage safe, you might have different choices. For starters, you should use TSA-approved locks or baggage straps. You too can put money into a reusable baggage cowl for those who’re involved with aesthetics.