The Most Lawless Place in the Airport Is Baggage Claim
It's the only spot in the airport where everyone's using the "honor system."
If you've ever rushed to baggage claim after a flight due to the intrusive thought of having your luggage stolen, trust me, you're not alone—I've been there myself, and I can assure you that so have many other people.
A recent video by TikTok user @arina.maks, which went viral on the platform with more than 3.2 million views as of Tuesday, sums it up quite well: "The fact [that] they control the rest of the procedures, but this thing [is] just left up to fate," reads the caption, as the video pans on an airport's carousel with a few bags on it, waiting to be picked up. As the TikToker points out with actual text on the video itself, this might be the only place on earth where an "honor system" actually works—especially if we consider that some airport arrivals are open to literally anyone, not only travelers.
And who, really, agreed on following the "rules?" No one does, we just do it. If we have to be honest, nobody is really checking if you're picking up your bag instead of someone else's. The only risk you incur is that of being caught by the actual bag owner, who might see you strolling away with all of their belongings.
According to the most recent Air Travel Consumer Report by the Department of Transportation, bags get mishandled (which includes getting lost, stolen, and delayed, among other things) more frequently than one might expect. In August of this year, the department observed that an average of 6.4 bags in 1,000 were reported mishandled, which is a slightly higher rate than the same time last year (6.1 in 1,000).
If that sounds like a small percentage, you might want to consider that some larger planes covering long-haul routes carry up to 400 people. In some international airports, planes of that size come and go pretty frequently every day, which means that reaching 1,000 arriving passengers doesn't take long at all.
While there seems to not be an actual rule in place to prevent someone from grabbing your bags, there are some useful tips you can follow to improve your odds. SFPD's Airport Bureau, which has a special team focusing on baggage theft, told the San Francisco Standard that placing a smart tracker like an Apple AirTag in your luggage can be very helpful in case of bag loss or theft. Additionally, you might want to consider rushing to baggage claim as soon as you get off the flight—the earlier you're there, the less time your luggage will remain unattended.
However, some travelers believe there is no need for you to go through the hustle. Who would even want somebody else's luggage and clothes without seeing them first, anyway? "I honestly don't want anyone else's 30 pairs of underwear for a two day trip and 100 pairs of socks," reads one comment under the aforementioned TikTok. Another user, instead, is all about logistics: "Everyone in baggage claim is too exhausted to steal."
But sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry. Making your bag super-recognizable (with a personalized cover, strap, or band, for example) helps, too. That way, if someone grabs your luggage, it will be much easier for you to spot them as well—but get ready for a potential chase-down.
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