If you’ve ever stored your luggage with a hotel, you probably know the nagging question: Is my bag safe? And if not, how do you prevent luggage theft?
Two recent cases come to mind from our advocacy files. One involves one of my readers, Lauren Labadie, who stored three bags at a hotel in Marseille, France. She only received two back — bizarrely, from a male hotel worker who was wearing her blouse. (You remember that one, don’t you? I can’t forget it.)
The other is a case handled by fellow consumer advocate Chris Chmura. A man entrusted $7,000 worth of his personal belongings to a San Francisco hotel. Then an employee reportedly gave his bag to a thief who claimed he had lost his claim check.
Both cases ended the same. Despite the involvement of law enforcement and seasoned consumer advocates, the guests received far less compensation than they deserved. The reason: Federal, state and local laws limit the liability of innkeepers.
“Problems like misplaced bags, theft, or damage can happen,” says John Rose, chief risk and security officer for ALTOUR, a global travel management company. But he says they are relatively uncommon, even during one of the busiest times for travel.
Are hotel luggage thefts on the rise?
I asked several security experts about the theft of stored luggage.
Hotels don’t track and report thefts from secure storage areas in a systematic way. But they agreed that travelers are paying closer attention to this problem — and asking hard questions before they hand over their valuables.
I haven’t seen a noticeable uptick in consumer advocacy cases involving luggage theft. But, like the security pros, I’ve heard more people talking about this issue. So, let’s talk about it. (Related: How an Irish luxury luggage manufacturer became sustainable.)
If you’re worried you might be a victim, stop reading this story and buy a tracker like an AirTag. Slip it into your luggage so that you’ll always know where it is. But you have other options for keeping your valuables safe, including luggage storage services and some pro tips for keeping your belongings from falling into the wrong hands.
How safe are luggage storage services? Here’s what you need to know
Luggage storage services offer a way to lighten your load, and to protect your valuables with security guarantees.
For example:
- Bounce has a program called BounceShield Protection that may compensate you for the value of any lost, stolen, or damaged Items up to $10,000 for each bag.
- LuggageHero offers protection that covers up to $3,000 in case of theft or damage. The company also conducts background checks on its partner locations to ensure a safe environment for bags.
- Nannybag, another luggage storage service, offers 10,000 euros of protection for certain losses.
Restrictions apply, of course. For example, Nannybag’s protection only covers a limited range of incidents, including material damage to luggage and its contents, breakage, loss, and theft that may occur to the stored luggage. In other words, you can’t file a claim if you missed a flight because you had to go to the police station to file a report.
How can you prevent hotel luggage theft?
There are ways to ensure your luggage is in good hands when you store it at a hotel.
1. Use the right luggage
“First, use sturdy, easily recognizable luggage — something with bright straps or tags so it’s less likely to get taken by mistake,” says Russ Johnson, the CEO of Linx Legal, and an experienced traveler. “Before checking in, remove anything valuable and place it in your carry-on.”
2. Inspect the storage area
Before you hand over your luggage, make sure the area is secure. “The storage area should be locked at all times,” says Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. “If the storage door is propped open or accessible to non-staff, consider alternative arrangements.”
3. Make sure there’s a secure system
The hotel should offer you a claim check, instead of just letting you claim your luggage by identifying it in a room. “The hotel should have some sort of claim ticket system for identifying you and your luggage,” notes travel advisor Brandi Taylor. “Even better is when your name is written on the luggage tag, and then the hotel representative asks to see a form of ID when you pick it up, along with the claim tag.”
4. Document your belongings
This is an important step, and often overlooked. “Take photos or make a list of valuable items in your luggage before checking it in,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection. At a minimum, take a picture of your luggage. But if you want to be extra careful, open your bag and take a picture of the contents.
5. Make sure you have insurance
Jeremy Murchland, president of Seven Corners Travel Insurance, says travelers often forget that travel insurance can help when someone steals your belongings from a secure holding area. “If something goes missing when your bags are checked with your hotel, your coverage could reimburse you to replace that item.” he says. (Just remember to file a police report; your travel insurance company will need it.)
Is there a safer way to store luggage?
Are there better options than checking luggage at the hotel? Yes, says Markus Feller, CEO of Like Magic, a hotel guest and operations platform. Look for properties specializing in luggage storage that offer cardless entry systems: mobile keys and automated PIN-based locks.
“Unlike your traditional keycards, which can be easily lost or cloned, mobile keys generate unique, time-sensitive codes directly onto the guest’s smartphone that expire after check-out,” he says “That significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access.” (Here is our best guide to finding the best luggage for your next trip.)
Context is everything when it comes to luggage security. For example, I recently spent a few days in Doha, Qatar. I needed to store my luggage before my next flight and entrusted it to a hotel that had very little security. I could walk into the storage area and take whatever I wanted.
Was I worried? Not really. Doha is one of the safest places on Earth. In the unlikely event that someone tries to steal your luggage, there’s a good chance it will be quickly retrieved. I wasn’t concerned for a minute. In other places, not so much.
But perhaps the best way to ensure your luggage stays safe is to keep it with you. (I know, I know. Thanks, Captain Obvious!) But it’s often overlooked. Pack lightly and put your valuables in wearable luggage like a ScotteVest travel jacket, and you won’t have to worry about someone pilfering your luggage. Because there will be nothing to pilfer.
Loading ...About this story
The idea for this article came to me when I was sitting in the hotel lobby of the Oryx Airport Hotel in Doha, Qatar, and saw how trusting guests were with their luggage. I followed up by looking through our files on airport luggage theft and noticed a trend. And that’s why you’re reading this now. This article was written by Christopher Elliott, edited by Andy Smith and his team, illustrated by Dustin Elliott and produced by Avinash Srivastava with help from Mel Smith and our incredible advocacy team.
Over to you. Have you ever had your luggage stolen at a hotel? Do you feel safe leaving your luggage at a hotel? Our comments are open. Keep scrolling to access them.
