An interesting report from our friends at View From The Wing. A 29‑year‑old Delta Air Lines passenger Joseph Johnson went straight from the Salt Lake City airport Sky Club to jail after reportedly stealing another passenger’s backpack from the lounge and then trying to seize a police officer’s gun when confronted over the theft. As he left the Sky Club, he took off with the backpack – containing about $4,000 in contents.
Airport officers located and confronted him. The man was pushing his bag into them and trying to walk away, and they handcuffed the man. As he was being restrain, he tried to grab one of the holstered gun of one officer, yanking it until the officer’s belt lifted. Net Net, he ended up going to jail!
This begs the question on would you leave your bag unattended in an airport?
Main Part of Airport
I was brought up to always keep my bags with me when I was in an airport for this very reason. At a gate, there are a whole slew of people walking by, either arriving from another destination or departing to another location. There is plenty of opportunity for someone to just pick up one of your bags and leave. Not many people would notice that someone else’s bag is being taken.
Recommendation: Do not leave you bags unattended in the main part of an airport.
Airport Lounge
Airport lounges tend to be more exclusive and limit the number of people that come in and out. There will not be as many people wondering by that could just pick up one of your bags and proceed on their way. I am not sure how many people would intervene on your behalf even if they realized that a bag was being stolen. But at most, there may be 100 or so people in a lounge at any time.
Some lounges have an area to store luggage when you come in so that they do not interfere with the flow of the lounge. At some lounges, it is common practice to leave a large carryon to indicate to others that that space is occupied by another patron. It also becomes unmanageable if everyone brings their carryon up to the buffet or bar.
I typically travel with a carryon and a small knapsack. I keep my clothes and other things in the carryon. My electronics (like computer, tablet and kindle) are kept in my knapsack. I tend to care more about the stuff in my knapsack than in my carryon. As a result, I take my knapsack with me wherever I go (whether to the bathroom or to get food).
My thought process is that not too many people are getting that excited to steal my clothes but a computer and iPad is much more attractive.
Recommendation: You should keep your bags insight but at an airport lounge, it is safe to leave a carryon alone while you are using one or more of the features of the lounge. I would recommend that you keep your electronics in a small bag with you at all times.
Travelling can be stressful. As you prepare for your trip, you should think of ways to reduce your stress. Having your items stolen is high on my list of things that could ruin a trip. You should keep your things with you as much as possible.