Best Airport in Australia

[dajop]

but as I said, my main concern is any unwelcome additions to the contents of my bag.

You worried because you've been photographed with some known drug barons recently? :wink:

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[tuapekastar]

but as I said, my main concern is any unwelcome additions to the contents of my bag.

You worried because you've been photographed with some known drug barons recently? :wink:

Sorry couldn't resist.

No, dajop, I'm worried because I've been photographed with a girl called Janette, or Janelle, or Schanette, or something like that... :shock:

Johnk, I've checked out luggageseal site and they (the tags) look very efficient. But I think the problem, and this applies to ties/tags and locks, is that we the owners can tell if they've been tampered with or removed completely from the bags, but how do we convince Mr Customs Man of this? He has no way of knowing that we secured all pockets before the trip, he only sees what is presented to him.

Mal, your comments re TA locks make sense. People can tell they've been tampered with (though you need to be very careful that people are not put in a position to believe that you the traveller are the one who did the tampering, for whatever reason).

I think it comes down to making the inside of your luggage as inaccessible to people as possible. On my SIN trip (no TSA) I'll probably just padlock evey pocket with whatever locks I can lay my hands on. On my RTW (via LOTFAP) I'll either use TSA locks or the luggage security ties. Probably.

I find it very frustrating that on one hand you are asked all the security questions (did you pack the bag yourself, has anyone else had access to it etc.), and if found with >15g of heroi_ in certain countries, you swing, and on the other hand the admin of one (significant) country (LOTFAP) is saying. "lock your bag boy, and we'll break it open!!"

Maybe the sensible option is to just tailor our security arrangements to whichever country/region we are visiting.

BTW, I'm really not as paranoid as I sound, it's just that inconsistencies as highlighted above really annoy me. Which, I guess, is why I struggle to adopt a "standard" practice when it comes to luggage security.

 

[JohnK]

Johnk, I've checked out luggageseal site and they (the tags) look very efficient. But I think the problem, and this applies to ties/tags and locks, is that we the owners can tell if they've been tampered with or removed completely from the bags, but how do we convince Mr Customs Man of this? He has no way of knowing that we secured all pockets before the trip, he only sees what is presented to him.

Quite right. But you can only hope that with unique security seals no one would be silly enough to touch your luggage. :?

When collecting luggage if any tampering is visible do not touch luggage but alert security/customs. Security surveilance should prove that you did not do anything at baggage claim. Hopefully the weight of the luggage has been confirmed and recorded on ticket/e-ticket by check-in staff. If any variation in weight then it is proof that tampering has occurred between check-in and baggage claim.

Ideal situation would be a photo of the luggage with security seals, ID of the security seals verified by outbound security or check-in staff. If only............

Maybe I am too naive.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't see the point in using TSA-approved locks. I am unable to believe that the bad people don't already have an endless supply of TSA-approved lock keys.

But if you use the TSA keys, then the "red flag" is visible that the lock has been tampered with. This means to investigate further...

That doesnt help if "the baddies" remove said lock and replace it with a new one.

 

[NM]

But if you use the TSA keys, then the "red flag" is visible that the lock has been tampered with. This means to investigate further...

That doesn't help if "the baddies" remove said lock and replace it with a new one.

And of course it is most likely that the TSA will have opened it anyway, so how do you know if it was opened officially (the bad guys) or unofficially (the very bad guys)?

The TSA leave a note in the top of your bag to say they have opened it and inspected it. But again, its just a photocopied piece of paper. I am sure the bad guys know this and also have a supply of those pieces of paper to insert into the bag to make it look like the red flag was triggered by a TSA inspection.

I still go with the "make mine less of a target than the next one" theory.

 

[Yada Yada]

It's probably safer to just stay at home. No wait... I live near Cronulla.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

But if you use the TSA keys, then the "red flag" is visible that the lock has been tampered with. This means to investigate further...

That doesn't help if "the baddies" remove said lock and replace it with a new one.

And of course it is most likely that the TSA will have opened it anyway, so how do you know if it was opened officially (the bad guys) or unofficially (the very bad guys)?

The TSA leave a note in the top of your bag to say they have opened it and inspected it. But again, its just a photocopied piece of paper. I am sure the bad guys know this and also have a supply of those pieces of paper to insert into the bag to make it look like the red flag was triggered by a TSA inspection.

I still go with the "make mine less of a target than the next one" theory.

Further, the TSA does NOT always leave a piece of paper if they open the bags up.

 

[markis10]

Once got paged at sydney because my luggage was vibrating, had to go down into the "innards" to prove it was just my battery operated shaver getting excited so I am glad it ws not sealed!

As for best airports, I think Brisbane baggage handlers need to go to Singapore to see how to do their job, I have had to wait 40 minutes after clearing customs to see the first bag come off the belt, thats just BS when you are tired and grumpy after the redeye from HKG or SIN.

 

[JohnK]

It's probably safer to just stay at home. No wait... I live near Cronulla.

At least you only get them on weekends........

Where I live I get them everyday. Driving into the city on Canterbury Road yesterday evening 5 police cars flew past me in the opposite direction. Can only guess where they were going..... http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76953

I'll continue taking my chances going overseas.

 

[Yada Yada]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76953
I'll continue taking my chances going overseas.

It's really out of control, isn't it.

I booked my boss (from SIN) into Rydges Hotel at Cronulla last week for his visit late January. It's right across the road from Northies pub. He reads the Straits Times so I can imagine he will be calling soon asking for a change.

I see from that news report that the PM might be a bit embarrassed about local race riots when he arrives in Malaysia. I wonder who is to blame?

Back OT... thanks for the link the luggage seal website. Think I'll give then a try for my trip in January.

 

[NM]

Once got paged at sydney because my luggage was vibrating, had to go down into the "innards" to prove it was just my battery operated shaver getting excited so I am glad it ws not sealed!

At least it was only a battery operated shaver that was vibrating. Could have been very embarrassing if it was some other batter operated device that was vibrating away (as was reported in the media a little while back).

 

[tuapekastar]

I ended up buying a pack of "Tamper Tell" security "seals" or "ties", which are uniquely numbered so that in theory if someone removes then replaces with another one, you should be able to tell this has happened, unless they also just happen to have tie number 123456 on hand. Think for SIN trip I'll use my normal padlock on main bag compartment, and these ties on the (unoccupied) outside zip-up pockets.

I guess no one method is failsafe but I think the NM theory of making things more difficult/less attractive to ne'er-do-wells is the best policy.

For anyone else in MEL who may be interested, I got these (about $12 for pack of 20) from "Bakpakka" at Chadstone. They had a couple of different types of "ties" and a reasonably extensive range of padlocks, TSA and non-TSA, key and combination, mostly in the $15 - $20 range.

They also have stores in MEL city (Elizabeth St) and Southland.

Website is (not surprisingly) www.bakpakka.com.au, though they don't have detailed product lists here for "accessories"

 

[Yada Yada]

I ended up buying a pack of "Tamper Tell" security "seals" or "ties", which are uniquely numbered so that in theory if someone removes then replaces with another one, you should be able to tell this has happened, unless they also just happen to have tie number 123456 on hand. Think for SIN trip I'll use my normal padlock on main bag compartment, and these ties on the (unoccupied) outside zip-up pockets.

Thanks - I'll check these out too.

...and Southland.

Ploise... that's Fountaingate. :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

I ended up buying a pack of "Tamper Tell" security "seals" or "ties", which are uniquely numbered so that in theory if someone removes then replaces with another one, you should be able to tell this has happened, unless they also just happen to have tie number 123456 on hand.

Good to see that you bought the security seals.

I think you and your luggage will feel a lot safer now.

I am guessing that the bad guys would not have copies of all possible security seals.

 

[aasz1978]

I hate to burst the bubble but....

Since when this topic becomes about luggage security?

 

[Dave Noble]

I hate to burst the bubble but....

Since when this topic becomes about luggage security?

It switch to paranoia about checked luggage several posts ago

Dave

 

[NM]

I hate to burst the bubble but....

Since when this topic becomes about luggage security?

Actually it was you who posted this back on December 7th.

One of these days, you would be quite silly to use Sydney Airport if you can avoid it, not only because their exorbitant charges (understandable if their airport is like Changi, Singapore) but because of two words.

Schapelle Corby

So in summary, you'll pay top prices for an airport which doesn't guarantee your belongings safety from being tampered.

I vote Melbourne Airport.

And since then it has not been the same again :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[JohnK]

I hate to burst the bubble but....

Since when this topic becomes about luggage security?

All topics eventually go off topic.

Topic headings are really misleading, we should just have one long open discussion topic.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry, Adelaide does not count as an Int'l airport and Hobart is not really part of Australia.

Does the new ADL airport count as an international airport now? It would certainly be on par with Perth and in my opinion much better than Cairns.

Having been through there 4 times in the last month it has grown on me. That new feeling is still around and the setup is quite nice.

Also for those living on the east coast it is an ideal connection to Perth and Darwin.

It is a shame that QF can only see fit to have 1 international flight 3 days a week.

 

[markis10]

Sorry, Adelaide does not count as an Int'l airport and Hobart is not really part of Australia.

Does the new ADL airport count as an international airport now? It would certainly be on par with Perth and in my opinion much better than Cairns.

Having been through there 4 times in the last month it has grown on me. That new feeling is still around and the setup is quite nice.

Also for those living on the east coast it is an ideal connection to Perth and Darwin.

It is a shame that QF can only see fit to have 1 international flight 3 days a week.

Frequency is key so I would say no, after all Perth has more SIN flights offering connections to Europe and no need to transit Darwin!