Managing baggage in transit at OR Johannesburg airport, to prevent theft and tampering
I have an 8 hour wait for an international transfer at Johannesburg airport and will be changing airlines. I am very concerned about the stories of theft and tampering of luggage at this airport.
How can I collect and recheck my bag when I am in transit? Then what do I do with the bag for that long? I want to plastic wrap the bag but am told that Australian airports do not have this service, is this true and can I do it myself at home before I leave?
Best Answer
At your source port, you can ask for it NOT to be checked all the way through. Just be open and honest and state that you're concerned about its security.
Make sure you can exit transit in Johannesburg though (have the right visa etc). Because the security may well be outside the transit area, and you may need to go through customs to get to it.
Alternatively you can do what I did in Kazakhstan when I realised my bag was not checked through, and I had no visa - I asked a friendly assistant, who kindly went out to the luggage hall, found my bag, and checked it in again for me. All went smoothly, thank goodness.
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Do bags get stolen at airports?
According to the Department of Transportation, luggage theft is a common problem. U.S. airlines reported more than three mishandled bags for every thousand in March. More than 1 million bags were stolen in 2018. It resulted in $1.2 billion in missing valuables.Why is baggage claim outside of security?
Baggage claim is not inside the sterile area. Not at any airport in the USA. If you have access to your checked bags, you are already outside the security area. Generally, the TSA will not permit you to remain in the sterile area of most airports overnight.What is not allowed in checked baggage for domestic flights?
Banned items- Explosive and incendiary materials.
- Flammable items.
- Gasses and pressure containers.
- Matches.
- Oxidizers and organic peroxides.
- Poisons.
- Infectious materials.
- Corrosives.
What is allowed in checked baggage for international flights?
Checked LuggageMost airlines will allow you to check one bag and have one carry-on bag. There is normally a maximum weight limit of 50 pounds per checked bag as well as a size restriction. The most common maximum size bag allowed is 62 linear (total) inches. A common size bag for checking through is: 27" x 21" x 14".How to Stop Airport Luggage Thieves
More answers regarding managing baggage in transit at OR Johannesburg airport, to prevent theft and tampering
Answer 2
I've traveled through Johannesburg many times on international connections and have always checked my bag through without incident and have many friends and colleagues who have done the same without problems. That being said, Johannesburg airport did have a reputation for bagging pilfering.
If you want to re-check your bag in Johannesburg, you will need to tell the check-in agent at your point of departure to tag the bag only to Johannesburg. After arriving in Johannesburg, you will need to go through passport control (instead of international connections) pick up your bag and clear customs. Then you will need to return to the departure hall and re-check your bag with the connecting airline. Immigration formalities in Johannesburg are relatively quick, but I wouldn't attempt this with less than two hours between flights.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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