Luggage thefts at Quaid e Azam International.
Our biggest worry during air travel (after plane crashing and hijacking i mean), is that of our luggage being stolen. Someone rummaging though our belongings and taking things that may be precious to us, not in just the monetary but emotional sense as well, causes us to cringe at the mere idea.
Sadly this happens in most airports although the theft rate usually varies and Quaid e Azam International Airport is no different. Lately, there has been a rise in the number of thefts happening, or maybe its just coming to my attention now. In the past couple of months I’ve heard several incidents regarding family, friends and acquaintances where things went missing from their luggage and the theft wasn’t discovered till the concerned traveler was unpacking as the locks and the baggage strappings were in place when the luggage arrived on the conveyor belt.
Luggage items from perfumes to decorative ornaments to … books (now this struck as odd) have gone missing. This got me wondering; how many of us have been victims of luggage theft?
Extiinct, could you provide more specifics please? What airline were they on and where were they coming from? If flying from the U.S., you are not allowed to lock your bags unless you have a U.S. government approved lock, which most people don’t. There are many places along the way from the U.S. where luggage is handled – a possibility could be when changing planes in the Middle East.
Always use the FAA approved locks. You can still find locks that with numeric locks that are certified. They cost 500 RS for 2 or 3 but well worth the insurance and they last forever.
Luckily i’ve never had any items stolen from any airport traveling through any airline.
I was travelling back from the UK and had a back pack full of chocolates which I naively decided to check in.
I got the backpack back but the chocolates were gone.
I think it was partially my fault because my bag didn’t have a lock on it.
That had never happened to me before so I had my guards down but since then I always ensure my bags are secure if i’m not carrying them with me.
hmm luggage theft : never
passport theft : once..
got one of my bag from conveyor belt on to trolley and turned toward conveyor belt to get the other one, during those 20~30 seconds my passport(with numerous valid multiple entry visas) went missing.. later on while getting new passport i found out that they had even removed my file from both passport office and id card office
i once didn’t removed baggage tag from my bags after a domestic flight from Karachi to Islamabad ..later in the week i came back to Karachi from lahore(i went to lahore by road).. but coz of confusion of Islamabad fligt tags my bags instead went to Islamabad instead of karachi..
@Doctor: it’s the airline’s duty to remove the tag when you check in your luggage and they apply the old tag. You could complain that the airline staff didn’t know what they were doing
* later on while getting new passport i found out that they had even removed my file from both passport office and id card office
*****
MQM?
It is raining again..
See the Pic here
http://merinazmen.blogspot.com/
@Balma must be some human trafficker gang smuggling people out on stolen passports.. (by changing the pic etc) … i think with newer computerized passport it’d be hard ..
@ Topic
I know how it feels, I have suffered 3 times and then 1992 onwards and after 9/11 I travel LITE (LIGHT) with a Puller which I can stow in the cabin – and IF AT ALL needed, I travel with HARD CASE of very highly un-usual color which is – Emergency Orange – since then my luggage never missed a transfer let alone be opened or stolen.
So if any of you see such a color on your next arrival at Karachi airport – A BALD Wrinkled Old Jawan picking it up, thats me.
On a serious note
There are no exemption of luggage theft at airports. – Even at the places where Theft is punished by Slashing the wrist, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dahran, Taif, IN KSA, lost luggage reports are higher then Pakistan Domestic circuit.
Karachi Airport International Arrival is no exception.
There are no ways to control it –
Soft cases are the most attractive pieces which are 97% commonly BLACK, and very conveniently be dropped to disguse within dark belt area from where those are loaded.
However, all International airports in Middle East have shrink wrapping service available., once the luggage is through the customs & security before the check-in
In europe – Airports, like Copenhagen, Amesterdam, Zurich, Stockholm, Berlin, Bonn, and Frankfurt, the luggage is messed up on transfer, as it is all automated and human element is only responsible to monitor movement of luggage belt.
Theft from you trolley or while waiting for taxi is other story, which is again a Common feature at Most GERMAN airports.
MY suggestion to avoid “theft” of luggage when travelling –
Travel Light, Put up some distinguished marks on your bags visible from distance and — last but least stay close to check-in counter till you loose sight of your luggage.
NEVER, leave your luggage unattended,if at all necessary (like going to rest area) take it all the way in.
Airline never pays more then US$ 400.00 no matter what declaration you make, whatever verified receipts you produce. GONE is GONE
“ornaments to … books“.
Atleast they’re reading!
Sowwie, i know it’s NOT even funny :)
@ Topic again – for transferrng passengers
When you are to change flights, make sure you book your luggage. Booked upto destination at your departure airport. At every transit point put up your luggage tags to the check-in counter ask the attendent to verify that your luggage is transferred, asking that IS YOUR RIGHT, Airline cannot decline to verify, be it same airline or an Alliance connecting airline.
Incase your connecting flight is “waiting for you” ensure that you demand luggage transfer, right at the gate of plane you are leaving, and before boarding the connection.
Mostly single mothers with kids travelling to Pakistan lose the Pramps which are sometimes US$ 500 alone. – The only way to protect that is keep pramp along, and fold it only at the boarding gate, take the Tag, Demand the pramp at connecting airport by showing the TAG, and at the BELT when you reach destination, from airline. NEVER check-in the Pramp, it is not a luggage, it is a Child transport at airport terminals which you need.
– Connections in Middle east, when travelling across atlantic & europe are the safe for luggage. However – People coming from North America & Canada, Specially at Dubai – you need to be careful, if your flight connection is less then 60 minutes of your arrival.
– Via Pacific- Hong Kong is notorious, you never get missed luggage, if airlines are different for connectons.
– Singapore & Malaysia are well managed, even if luggage miss the flight, you get it at destination within 72 hours.
all said out of QTR century Travel experience, since i started school in AM_RAYKA (as general aslam baig says) :D till aug 5th 2007, when i last landed at JT
@Jamal, beta ‘pramp’ kuch naheen hota – saheen lafz ‘pram’ ya ‘stroller’ hai.
every one will be eligible for free complimentary wifi connection in janat ;)
You must check out my drive to the airport man
http://www.vidpk.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7100777c7190b76d2823
Tania, your beard is bit too much for my taste. Also, why were you driving in the middle of the lane.
use a female Nick and advertise your site.. innovative…
@Doctor
“every one will be eligible for free complimentary wifi connection in janat ;)
AMEEN to that!
What do i hafta do to get a laptop? ;D