myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Just returned from a wonderful 2 weeks in Tobago, after a gap of over 20 years. Took lots of photos and was looking forward to showing all my friends, but alas my bag was rifled by baggage handlers - and it would seem by the items stolen (credit cards and UK coins not taken) that it was at the Tobago end, although I can't rule out Gatwick. Is this a regular occurence - has anyone else suffered this and who should take responsiblity for paying-up - my insurers, the Baggage handling agency (who seem to employ thieves) or should I just put it down to my naivety? In over 30 years of air travel this has never happened to me before and I partly blame Excel's policy of only 5kg hand baggage - something I only learned at the Gatwick check-in where we were to forced to do serious re-packing and hence redistribution of possessions on the return journey.
Perhaps customers should be warned in large print of this risk.

Hi Brian

What a shame! I'm truly sorry, but if you ask me to take a bet on it, I would bet 20:1 that it was at Gatwick, not Tobago. You've seen the situation at Tobago - everything is so open that baggage handling is very open-air and therefore quite transparent. On the other hand, Gatwick has a known problem. It is vital to always secure your luggage with "proper" travel locks, not the £3 cheapos.

Yes, it's true that Excel's cabin luggage limit is 5Kg, compared to Virgin's 6Kg and BA/BWIA's 7Kg, but why pay double the cost for the extra couple of bags of sugar?

You could be right Steve. It would be a cynical ploy indeed if Gatwick handlers had tried to make it look as though it was a Tobago theft. Funnily enough the baggage took over an hour to arrive on the carousel at Gatwick....the bags were not locked because of the current security madness...

Sorry, Brian, but you've lost me with the comment ....

the bags were not locked because of the current security madness...

. What is that about? We had a situation on departure from Tobago where the scanners had broken down so the bags had to be searched manually, but we were allowed to lock them before they were handed over to the baggage handlers. What has changed?

I only meant that with international air travel as it is right now it is more expedient to check-in luggage for the hold of the aircraft unlocked. This luggage is obviously scanned and maybe searched once it has left your possession so rather than end up with damaged cases I send bags through unlocked. I will not do this in future and just make sure the bags only contain my dirty washing!

Hi Brian

I confess I've never seen any advice suggesting that you leave checked baggage unchecked for security or other reasons, in fact just the opposite. An unlocked bag is an open invitation to theft. Buy the biggest, strongest paddlocks that can fit your cases. In fact, haven't I seen a lot of people with what looks like cling-film wrapped luggage of late? I don't know whether that is some new way of making sure your baggage is tamper-proof. Anybody know anything about this?

Hi Brian.
A very dodgy practice leaving your luggage unlocked as far as security goes, it can work both ways. It also makes it very easy for someone on to put something in your luggage you may not want. There is a lot of concern at the moment on airport staff security and the poor level of background checking carried out.

If airport security have any concerns over your bags they will call you to open them and if you don't turn up they don't get put on the flight.

Regards
Kevin

There was an article on UK tv recently that suggested that you padlock your case as normal, but leave your key with it !! This was because there had been problems with security in USA and the authorities were breaking into luggage for security reasons. Therefore the suggestion to leave the key with the lock was so they did not damage your case and belongings, but at the same time the case did not burst open, because it was locked. Please understand, this was not my idea and I don't know if I will go along with it, it was a tv artlicle !
Jill

Hallo !!
How to lock a bag...anyway you do it, it could turn out to wrong.
Working for many years in Lost&Found at Frankfurt AP, i speak out of experience.
Baggae to/from the US (+ parts south-middle America) should not be handed over locked. Security will force it open.
If you dont lock it, the security could still force it open as they sometimes just dont check if open or not.
A nice suitcase (Alu/Haliburton/Sams) but also a bag with a big padlock
are quite of interest for "long-fingers".
Dont lock your bag. If somebody wants to get inside, he will get inside.
If you are afraid it could burst open, best is to take out some items or
you put a bag-belt around it. Cord or tape are also good.
The "cling-foil" was ment to prevent the bag from soilage. But is a good
anti-theft device as well.
Dear passenger..if you are really concerned about your bag:
Put a name tag on it AND one inside. Put on your actual destination
as in your ticket and phone no. Thats enough.
Damage/Lost ? contact the airlines rep and make a report.
If you have a insurance you will be happy to keep a copy of the ticket
and the baggage-tag duplicate. They might ask for it.
You have to claim immediately (in Germany/EU = 7 Days ?).
If your bag should be missing check with airline when and how much
you are allowed for 1st needs. Keep ALL receipts anyway. You might be asked for them as well.
Travel on a charter flight ? Ask them when the next poss flight is expected
and if this should be next weeks "the same airline only"-flight...insist on getting your bag on the next poss "also other airline"-flight.
One more thing.Somebody could put something in your bag ?
Yes, the best we found was a half of a pig, smoked.
Guess thats plenty already, Thomas

Update: The baggage agents Servisair have washed their hands of any responsibilty, so I have written back asking for statistics of theft discovered at Gatwick, and look forward to their reply. If no joy from them I will send the details to BBCs You and Yours consumer programme, and as it's holiday season coming up I am sure they will be interested, so watch this space!
Brian

After reading these posts we changed from soft holdalls to hard suitcases. On our way back we were called along with other passengers as the xray had not been able to identify some things in suitcases. All the "problem" suitcases were hard cases, and we were asked to open and be present as our cases were searched. They were very professional and very careful when looking through the cases. I must confess that my love of reading was to blame. After searching the cases the official declared that the number of books was surely to blame!

p.s don't put anything breakable in cases as I saw how lovingly they were loaded - I think the same applies throughout the world!

Just a note to say we had no problems going through Tobago Airport, either time. Our bags weren't locked on either journey, because we couldn't find the keys to the padlocks from last year!!!

Joe

I have had the problem of being asked to leave my baggage unlocked on a Virgin flight to the US in April. When a couple protested in front of us the check security told them if it wasn't unlocked then it would not get on the flight.

Tony

i went on a virgin flight to the US and we had locks, yet on the way back it was opened my brother had a toy gun! we had our bags searched in tobago, but my mum had to go with them