Airports: is there any control in carrying off your baggage?

Question

'Cause I haven't seen any...

I mean, how can you be sure no one else is taking yours?

One more thing: as I'm not an english native speaker nor I speak it very well, I wonder if you could tell me if you noted something in my writing that tells you so... Thanks in advance...

Answer 1

When you check in for your flight, you will also receive a sticker with a bar code that will be attached to your ticket jacket or to the back of your boarding pass receipt (the part you keep).  This will match the bar code on the sticker they place on each piece of your checked baggage.

Could someone take it?  Yes.  But, why?  Why would someone coming off a flight, already schlepping their own stuff, want to wait for and then randomly select and carry off another person's baggage--especially when they mostly look the same?  And, since the real owner could be standing among them and challenge them at any time -- in a secured airport.  I'm sure it happens, but I think it would be a very rare occurance.

The only airport I recall ever actually checking in recent years was in Chicago at O'Hare Airport.  They were matching up stickers before you could leave the luggage area.

Your written English here seems ok.

Answer 2

there is no control.  Someone COULD take your baggage.  What I try to do go directly to the claim area (you'll be there long before your baggage) and get closest to the part where they come off, that way you are the closest to the bags and get a first look.

Answer 3

Some airports do have security people checking your claim check as you leave the baggage claim area.  Los Angeles had that. When the baggage claim area was accessible to the public, anyone from the city could enter the baggage claim area, and pick up any bag they want. And when confronted by the real owner of the bag, the criminal can just pretend he had made an honest mistake since many bags look so similar.