How were your items stolen from Airline Lounges

[Reggie]

As a background I remember a few posts where people have had items, such as computers stolen from airline lounges around the world. I am curious of the circumstances where this has happened, as I often get up in the QP’s and go to the toilet, or to the bar with my computer on the table. I know wonder if I am just tempting fate. However, as I look around the QP’s I notice I am not alone.

So to my question, who here in this forum is willing to share details of their loss (theft) in the various airline lounges around the globe. Details like which lounge, what was stolen, was it secretly removed from a bag, was it left out on a table whilst using the facilities etc? This information would be very useful for me (and others I) to ensure I do not continue to push my luck.

 

[ejb]

Hi all,

Never had anything stolen but I too maybe pushing my luck as I often leave laptop/wallet/bag on table or next to chair whilst I sample the offerings of the lounge/bar.

I have never seen an incident but I guess things do go missing, although you should be able to trust the "members" of such a high class club.

ejb

 

[MDC]

I would never think of leaving things behind unless they were with someone I trusted. I'm even cautious about leaving things around when I go for another drink. That's just paranoid me though.... and work drilling it into me.

These days you don't even have to have your wallet stolen to lose your identity - just 1 minute with the contents should be enough to get all the info needed.

You may trust your fellow club members, but I sure don't. The getaway is a little too easy.

 

[tuapekastar]

If on my own I do try and get a seat visible from the bar/food areas, but when nature calls, well, I'm not normally going to lug my gear in there and back out, so I take my chances. Risky yeah, but...

 

[markis10]

Where : Melbourne QP 6PM on a thursday
Item: Toshiba Ultra Portable Notebook
Location: Business Centre under CCTV dome
How: Took call from better half as I was leaving the area to get a snack, was gone 5 mins, notebook was gone when I got back, incluidng PSU.

 

[MDC]

Where : Melbourne QP 6PM on a thursday
Item: Toshiba Ultra Portable Notebook
Location: Business Centre under CCTV dome
How: Took call from better half as I was leaving the area to get a snack, was gone 5 mins, notebook was gone when I got back, incluidng PSU.

Wow, that's not good. I hope you didn't lose too much data that wasn't backed up.

 

[Flashback]

Wow, that's not good. I hope you didn't lose too much data that wasn't backed up.

I use an offsite/online backup provider (who is based in Australia with POPs in PER, MEL, SYD); has saved my butt twice now. Once when leaving the QP as my laptop didn't sleep properly and ended up overheating/frying my drive as I didn't use it on the flight (PER-BNE) so it got quite warm enclosed in the bag/bin. The other time was when I was broken into. I was lucky that both times the backup had just run before the incident happened so I lost no data

 

[cosi]

I use an offsite/online backup provider (who is based in Australia with POPs in PER, MEL, SYD);

unbelieveable

can you recommend the back up provider?

 

[markis10]

Wow, that's not good. I hope you didn't lose too much data that wasn't backed up.

I dont store any data on the notebook thats critical so I lost nothing really, other than something to occupy myself on the next leg which was to Perth.

 

[hazel]

If on my own I do try and get a seat visible from the bar/food areas, but when nature calls, well, I'm not normally going to lug my gear in there and back out, so I take my chances. Risky yeah, but...

I was in the MEL QP recently & left my small o/n bag next to my seat for about 10 minutes - it wasn't stolen but someone took it to the service desk & I got very big telling off because 'you cannot leave a bag unattended in an airport & make sure you don't do it again'.

 

[samh004]

Where : Melbourne QP 6PM on a thursday
Item: Toshiba Ultra Portable Notebook
Location: Business Centre under CCTV dome
How: Took call from better half as I was leaving the area to get a snack, was gone 5 mins, notebook was gone when I got back, incluidng PSU.

So you were under the CCTV but it they weren't able to tell you who took it?

I guess this is what insurance is for, but airports have a lot of cameras, so you'd assume you just look for whoever left the lounge right around the time your things went missing, and the lounge should know who was in there.

As for myself, been lucky so far. I wouldn't leave my MacBook out in a busy lounge like Melbourne's QP, but in a smaller lounge, where I can see my stuff from the bar or food area, I see no worries leaving it, especially to secure my seat.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

markis10 - I'm interested to know what the staff at the QC said/did about the loss.

Was it covered under a QC club insurance policy by any chance?

Sorry for the loss - I wonder how these people get in to the lounge?

I'm just thinking out loud here - if they made everyone scan their boarding pass as they entered the lounge, a camera could, at the same time record the face against BP - which could later be used if something went missing.

Just a thought.

 

[Flashback]

markis10 - I'm interested to know what the staff at the QC said/did about the loss.

Was it covered under a QC club insurance policy by any chance?

Sorry for the loss - I wonder how these people get in to the lounge?

I would think it is like most public places, enter at own risk, etc.

And, it's simple really. Fly a lot and earn access, pay for access, or be guested in.

 

[dede]

"How was" indeed!

 

[anat0l]

A few times I have left my belongings behind to fetch a drink or more food, and I'd probably only do this if I was seated in a fairly empty/secluded part of the lounge, or if the lounge was very, very lightly patronised, or one in sight of the food/bar.

If I have to use the showers and I'm not with someone who can mind my stuff, I take everything with me. As someone who is very used to carting everything around (in high school, we didn't have lockers; in university I was only lucky to have an office due to tutoring in my fourth and fifth years, and now doing a PhD), so carrying my bag around with me to ensure my belongings are safe isn't a big deal, albeit it does make you look a bit more bulky and open to clumsiness.

There are bag racks in the AKL I QPs. I don't like to use them even though the lounge and patrons are often innocuous enough - especially the F part of the lounge. Since the racks are pretty empty most of the time, I guess I'm not alone.

 

[Febs]

Treat an airport lounge like you would any other public place, I say.

I only leave my laptop/bag unattended if it's within sight, and I'm gone for ~30sec to get a drink or snack (and even then, I'm constantly looking back to make sure it's still there).

Leaving it while in the toilet or shower? That's just asking for trouble IMO.

I also practice something I saw on a TV show many, many years ago. When in an airport toilet cubicle, don't hang your bag on the hook, or leave it on the floor near the door. Keep it close to you so no-one can do a snatch and grab.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[markis10]

markis10 - I'm interested to know what the staff at the QC said/did about the loss.

Was it covered under a QC club insurance policy by any chance?

Sorry for the loss - I wonder how these people get in to the lounge?

I'm just thinking out loud here - if they made everyone scan their boarding pass as they entered the lounge, a camera could, at the same time record the face against BP - which could later be used if something went missing.

Just a thought.

QF Club manager just took a report, called QF security who did a visual search for the laptop and that was pretty much it, apart from letting me know they had a few PCs stolen in the previous weeks as well. As for the CCTV it was not on, I think the Sydney murder was a good example of how ineffective the CCTV is in our airports.

 

[Groundfeeder]

At BNE QP I've had to take a woman's bag to the counter which she apparently left behind and recently a bloke's wallet was left on the seat across from me. Being a JP, I once again did the good deed and returned it to the counter and soon a flustered gent appeared and asked me if I'd seen his wallet!!

I always place my laptop on in my bag if leaving the seat for the required refreshments and always leave my bag on the floor away from passing traffic - not on the seat.

 

[medhead]

Treat an airport lounge like you would any other public place, I say.

I only leave my laptop/bag unattended if it's within sight, and I'm gone for ~30sec to get a drink or snack (and even then, I'm constantly looking back to make sure it's still there).

Leaving it while in the toilet or shower? That's just asking for trouble IMO.

- Febs.

+1

But I need leave my BP, ever. How many times do I see people leave BP to hold a seat.

 

[Flying Fox]

Firstly, its a shame that the world has come to stealing from others in the QP.

Secondly, leaving a wallet in plain sight unattended is crazy. You might as well leave some cash on the floor.

I think my strategy is one of risk balancing. I do leave my bag unattended but is all closed up. I would never leave anything tempting (eg mobile, laptop, wallet) unattended in plain sight.

I am happy to leave my gear unattended but unexposed to get a drink or some food. I always bring all my gear to the showers as I'm too scared that it will get stolen.