Now Plastic Wraps at the Airport in Bangkok

[TotallyOz]

Perhaps they have had these plastic wraps for ages but this was the first time I noticed them at the airport. The wraps cost 120 baht for any size bag and it basically puts an entire wrap of plastic around your bags. I have had this done in Brazil on every trip and I love the extra security for the bags. It keeps your bags clean but also keeps anyone from opening them. Of course, if you are going to the USA and have an extra connection, TSA may open the plastic and go through everything but if you have a direct flight, they will come out exactly as planned. I have a large case that I carry a 27 inch desktop computer in. I always plastic wrap this at my home before I board any plane to protect it. It was nice that the airport is now doing this as it will save me some time and I will have all my bags wrapped in the plastic.

 

I am sure many think this is a stupid idea but I normally travel over 250,000 miles a year and I can't tell you the number of times I have had a suitcase open half way or things spill out. For me, I love it but I am sure others think it is nuts to spend any money on this. It is worth the 120 baht for me for extra piece of mind. I do wish that the USA airports offered the same thing but after the TSA check. I'll pay the extra fee for a service like that.

 

 

[kokopelli]

Seems to me that plastic wrapped luggage would be even more of a trigger for US Customs agents to do a secondary inspection especially for the single male traveler from Thailand.

[Guest beachlover]

You carry a 27 inch desktop PC around?! I'm starting to understand why you need checked baggage now LOL.

 

To be honest, I would love to have access to a 20-inch or 24-inch monitor when I travel. It's the ONE thing I miss. I have a super-light laptop, which is fantastic, but when I'm staying in hotels I miss using the big 24-inch screen monitor I have in my office and at home.

 

I'm sure I'm not the only business traveler (or simply, traveler who works out of hotels) who wants a monitor for their laptop.

 

I wonder why the 5-star hotels haven't cottoned on to it? I hope one day it will be normal to have a nice big monitor you can plug your laptop into sitting on the desk when you check into a good hotel.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Seems to me that plastic wrapped luggage would be even more of a trigger for US Customs agents to do a secondary inspection especially for the single male traveler from Thailand.

I think the idea behind wrapping baggage in plastic is to prevent tampering.

[Guest beachlover]

Tampering being... people putting drugs in your bag (at least for me it is). That's why I lock my baggage whether it's checked in or not.

[Guest]

You carry a 27 inch desktop PC around?! I'm starting to understand why you need checked baggage now LOL.

 

I wonder why the 5-star hotels haven't cottoned on to it? I hope one day it will be normal to have a nice big monitor you can plug your laptop into sitting on the desk when you check into a good hotel.

There is no reason you can't carry your own 24 inch on the plane. I do it all the time. Buy a nice pelican case that protects it and make sure the case weight plus your monitor is under 32k. You will then have your own monitor everywhere you travel.

 

If you ask at many 5 star hotels, they may accommodate you. Never hurts to ask in advance.

 

My case looks like this:

 

 

I think the idea behind wrapping baggage in plastic is to prevent tampering.

I think you are right about that. But, also if you have expensive luggage, it is nice that they are kept clean with the plastic. So, tampering, cleanliness and prevention of accidental spilling. Why would anyone not wrap?

 

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Tampering being... people putting drugs in your bag (at least for me it is). That's why I lock my baggage whether it's checked in or not.

Merely locking your luggage doesn't safeguard against tampering. I saw where you can open a zipper with a ballpoint pen in seconds and reseal it so you can't tell it's been opened.

[Bob]

Tampering being... people putting drugs in your bag (at least for me it is). That's why I lock my baggage whether it's checked in or not.

 

Every single time I fly out of LAX (which is how I've gone to BKK for years), the security people (the guys/ladies who take your bag to run it through the x-ray machines) specifically ask to make sure your luggage is not locked. I just presumed, because of that, that you weren't allowed to lock your checked-in bags. Maybe it's different elsewhere.

[Guest beachlover]

There is no reason you can't carry your own 24 inch on the plane. I do it all the time. Buy a nice pelican case that protects it and make sure the case weight plus your monitor is under 32k. You will then have your own monitor everywhere you travel.

 

If you ask at many 5 star hotels, they may accommodate you. Never hurts to ask in advance.

 

Yeah, I know it's easy to carry a monitor. I could easily fit an ordinary 20-inch monitor in a suit case. But I don't want the weight or the hassle. It would mean checking in my bags (instead of only carrying on) and makes everything heavier. I sometimes stop in places for only 1-2 nights. I like being light.

 

Maybe one day they'll make a light-weight monitor. They've already progressed to super-thin LED screens. My dream would be something I can roll up and slot in my carry-on suitcase. I know the technology is there (for roll-up screens), but whether it becomes a consumer product is another question.

 

Asking a hotel to grab one of their monitors might make sense next time I'm staying for a week or more...

 

I think you are right about that. But, also if you have expensive luggage, it is nice that they are kept clean with the plastic. So, tampering, cleanliness and prevention of accidental spilling. Why would anyone not wrap?

Well, I don't have expensive luggage, just ordinary Samsonite stuff. It's pretty rugged and has never split open (I have straps I can put around it too). And I can't be arsed to wrap and unwrap it on the other end... :-)

 

Merely locking your luggage doesn't safeguard against tampering. I saw where you can open a zipper with a ballpoint pen in seconds and reseal it so you can't tell it's been opened.

Yeah, I've used a sharp point to get into luggage a few times myself. Depending on the zipper, it's sometimes difficult to do it without actually damaging or slightly damaging the zipper. But in any case, the padlock adds an extra degree of safety. It's not fool proof.

 

Every single time I fly out of LAX (which is how I've gone to BKK for years), the security people (the guys/ladies who take your bag to run it through the x-ray machines) specifically ask to make sure your luggage is not locked. I just presumed, because of that, that you weren't allowed to lock your checked-in bags. Maybe it's different elsewhere.

We don't have the same thing in Australia. I know if you fly to the states you have to use TSA padlocks, which airport staff there can open using a special key they're issued with.

 

Personally, I think it's insane not to lock your bags if they're out of sight. Especially if you're flying into countries with the death penalty for drug trafficking or if you have any valuables inside. But I guess some people are comfortable not locking...

 

During the Corby trial (an Australian caught bringing pot into in Indonesia) baggage handlers actually said it was common practice for baggage handlers to put drugs in people's luggage with prior arrangement with a handler on the other end to take it out. It was a way to move drugs interstate. It was brought up for the possibility that the drugs could have been planted and accidentally not removed on the other end of the domestic flight prior to Indonesia. Whether it's true or not, I don't know...

[kokopelli]

Why would anyone not wrap?

 

As mentioned before, scrutiny by US Customs upon arrival? Also could be a problem if connecting to domestic flights and going through security? Questions, not answers.

[firecat69]

As mentioned before, scrutiny by US Customs upon arrival? Also could be a problem if connecting to domestic flights and going through security? Questions, not answers.

 

 

If you are staying at a nice Hotel, they should have nice big flat screen tvs. Then all you need is the proper cable and you have a 32 or 40 inch monitor at your disposal. Beats lugging it around by a long shot!!!

[Guest cdnmatt]

I can understand the desire for plastic wrapping. I've had a gold necklace stolen before, and my ex-husband had a digital camera stolen. Just from the baggage handlers. Granted, it was our fault for being stupid, but nonetheless...

[Guest beachlover]

If you are staying at a nice Hotel, they should have nice big flat screen tvs. Then all you need is the proper cable and you have a 32 or 40 inch monitor at your disposal. Beats lugging it around by a long shot!!!

 

Yeah... I've thought of that but haven't tried it as (1) I don't know if a TV is practical to put on a desk and work as you might in an office and (2) I don't know for sure but I don't think flat screen TVs are designed to be used as PC monitors - their resolution might be too low, ok for watching a movie, but not for normal PC stuff.

[Guest]

I can understand the desire for plastic wrapping. I've had a gold necklace stolen before, and my ex-husband had a digital camera stolen.

 

 

I don't own a gold necklace & if I did, it would stay at home. Digital cameras, net books & so on go in hand luggage, which is also locked.