Holidays - taking bags to airport before return flight early - good idea?

meer53

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I haven't had a package holiday in over 12 years, I have always booked independantly, flights, hotel, car hire etc.

On the day of departure, If I cannot get the hotel room or apartment as a late checkout, I put my bags in the car and then when ready travel to the airport. At the airport the bags do not leave my side until they are on the baggage drop/check in desk and on the way to security check. Normally though I gear my flights up to be late morning, early afternoon, so not having to fly in the night time.

I will not trust anyone prior to check in with my cases or hand luggage. When we used to go on package holidays and where picked up by coach, I would have a smoke outside the coach until the luggage doors closed and we were ready to set off. My luggage always has valuables in them such as hi fi,etc.

None of our holidays to Florida have been packages. We've booked everything separately, but Virgin still have the early check in desks whether you're on a package or not. Would you not trust Virgin with your luggage ? Do you stay with your car all the time before you get to the airport ? It's exactly the same as checking in at the airport except you're checking in before you get there, surely it's safer for your luggage to be checked in and on it's way rather than leaving it in your car ?

shaun_from_Africa

Do you leave your bags in your hotel room? Do you know how easy it is for someone to get into your room and out again with you being none the wiser?

But if someone had tampered with your bags in your hotel room, you would at least have the opportunity to inspect them before handing them over to the airline staff.
However, if you had left them with a 3rd party, the first time you may be made aware of anything being added or removed from your baggage is when you get pulled by HMCE at your destination.

Another point to bear in mind is that in the event of something being stolen after your bags had been handed to the travel company, your insurance policy may have a clause stating that theft is only covered it the goods were stolen from a locked or secure area.

I use the Virgin early dropoff in Orlando on a regular basis, and for $10 per person I think it's a wonderful system. (It's $10 per person, but free if you are upper class or a virgin holidays passenger).
I drop off my baggage and collect my boarding pass at 8am, then don't have to worry about dragging luggage about all day, and simply turn up at the airport shortly before my flight, with no queueing to drop off bags or check in.

rustyboy21

copa_feela wrote: »

Do you leave your bags in your hotel room? Do you know how easy it is for someone to get into your room and out again with you being none the wiser?

As already mentioned, I try to get my flights so they are late morning, early afternoon. We like being able to have a bit of a lie in and also use the late checkout, for actually packing our cases.

If we do leave our room, the cases are locked, security sealed with freight seals a friend gets for me, so I would know if they had been tampered with.

I feel that it is more secure ( for me) that my cases do not leave my side if possible, rather than check them in with the tour operator downstairs, who more than likely throws them on the back of a transit van, who then goes to the airport with them. Maybe stopping off on the way to grab a bite to eat and then possibly left hanging around for a while with no one looking after them in the airport, until they are passed to security. There is more chance of theft/smuggling from your cases from this procedure.

The departure day, to me is the end of my holidays, it's not a day to get sh*t faced and end up covered in sand. We chill out and get breakfast or a lunch somewhere if departure is later in the afternoon.

Also, if you check in at the hotel and something happens with your cases, eg lost,damaged, things robbed from them, who is actually responsible for them? Is it covered under the airlines charter or do you have to claim back from your insurer?. Do they guarantee they are safe?

I am amazed how many people are ok with leaving their cases with what ( to me ) seems a very unsecure procedure.

shaun_from_Africa

If we do leave our room, the cases are locked, security sealed with freight seals a friend gets for me, so I would know if they had been tampered with.

Snap.
I use "calibration void if removed" stickers, which are impossible to remove without breaking them.

davidlizard

I have seen piles of cases at Kos airport in the entrance hall when returning home from holidays in Greece and wondered what they were all there for.

I am guessing now that these have been collected by package tour operators as described in this thread.

I wonder how many people would hand their cases over if they knew this is where they were left. A quick look at last years insurance policy indicates I would not be covered if my bag was lost or damaged in such circumstances.

rustyboy21

meer53 wrote: »

None of our holidays to Florida have been packages. We've booked everything separately, but Virgin still have the early check in desks whether you're on a package or not. Would you not trust Virgin with your luggage ? Do you stay with your car all the time before you get to the airport ? It's exactly the same as checking in at the airport except you're checking in before you get there, surely it's safer for your luggage to be checked in and on it's way rather than leaving it in your car ?

I always get a medium/large sized car, so the luggage is out of sight in the boot. If we go out for a meal, we take the car normally so it is in view of us.

Maybe the check in and chill works for some people, wouldn't for me. I have tended to get more cautious with people the older I get ! If I haven't had a nice enough holiday by the time day of departure comes round, what is a few hours going to do?

meer53

I've never locked a suitcase, ever.

But then i would never put anything valuable in one anyway. If someone wants to steal my clothes, then fine ! Says a lot about my fashion sense as i've never had anything taken !

Anything valuable i keep in my hand luggage, camera, phone, ipod etc. The only jewellery i take is what i wear, i can live without my expensive stuff for 2 or 3 weeks.

sunflower_2

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I wouldn't trust anyone with my suitcases , wouldn't leave them from my sight ! Whats to stop someone putting a kilo of Cocaine in your suitcase whilst your not with them?

Also what has happened to the check in staff asking the question'' Have you left your bags unattended, has anyone given you something to carry for them, could your bags have been tampered with?'' etc

yet we are happy to leave them in a hotel "holding area" for the day???

you cant tell me everyone checks through their cases when they collect them from said holding area prior to checking in at the airport??

and why would someone plant a kilo of cocaine in your suitcase??? either they really hate you (& warn the authorities) or they really love you ??:o

:A

meer53

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I always get a medium/large sized car, so the luggage is out of sight in the boot. If we go out for a meal, we take the car normally so it is in view of us.

Maybe the check in and chill works for some people, wouldn't for me. I have tended to get more cautious with people the older I get ! If I haven't had a nice enough holiday by the time day of departure comes round, what is a few hours going to do?

I agree, the last day is usually a pain, all you want to do is get on the plane for home.

Typically our flights were usually 6pm ish so not so bad, the check in thing works for me as it's just one other thing sorted for the day. With having young kids it was a boon, they were normally ratty as hell by the time we got to the airport so no queueing with the bags was a big bonus.

melanzana

Hi everyone, my very first post, but long time lurker!

In my view, people want cheaper everything these days. So if the Tour Operator can shave costs by doing the cases to the airport gig early, that is great!

Honestly, one should research and research, and if it suits you, go for it, whether by price or convenience.

I would be happy as hell to have my bags taken away and minded for me early, and all I have to do is make sure my hand luggage has all I need! And the price is right too....