I remember the first time I saw someone wrap their luggage in plastic at the airport.
I had a few pressing questions. What purpose does that serve? How long has this been happening? And—for the love of god—how long does it take to cut through all that tightly wrapped plastic?
The answers are pretty straightforward.
Plastic wrap is usually about security. It’s designed to keep the luggage safe, along with what’s inside. It’s been going on for around twenty years. And, apparently, it doesn’t take too long to undo as long as you’re handy with a sharp implement.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I’ve asked many of the hard-hitting questions about plastic-wrapping luggage. Here’s everything I’ve uncovered, including why you should wrap your luggage, why you might not need to, and other ways that you can keep your luggage secure.
Why you should consider luggage wrapping
These are the main reasons to wrap your luggage:
- Your bag has a non-traditional shape and/or many straps. If you’re luggage has a lot of moving parts, then plastic wrap can prevent damage during handling. This is particularly relevant for backpackers, as they usually have straps, belts, pockets, and other dangling parts. Plastic wrap helps you ensure nothing gets caught, snagged, or torn.
- Your bag might get wet. Every airport is different—and not all are designed to handle inclement weather. If you’re heading to a very rainy destination and are worried about the contents of your bag getting soaked, then plastic wrap can protect your goods from the elements. Usually, this is a consideration when you’re traveling to/from a small regional airport that doesn’t have as much cover for luggage transport.
- Slight security benefits. The main reason most travelers plastic-wrap their luggage is to prevent any sneaky fingers from rummaging around inside. But plastic wrap is a very loose solution to this problem. Those who want to get into your luggage are going to find a way around that plastic wrap, plain and simple. So if it gives you peace of mind to wrap your luggage in plastic, then go for it—but a simple lock works better in securing your goods.
Why you might not need to wrap your luggage
These are the main reasons wrapping luggage isn’t absolutely necessary:
- It won’t change anything for the TSA. The TSA will not treat your bag any differently whether it’s wrapped in plastic or not. If they want to get inside the bag, they’ll cut through the plastic easily. From a security perspective, it also doesn’t change what the X-ray shows them is inside your luggage.
- It’s a hassle to unwrap. As mentioned above, if someone really wants to get past that plastic wrap—they will. Still, it’s going to take a very sharp blade and a good amount of patience to cut through it. Some people have had to bust out hair dryers and Velcro to help loosen the plastic wrap around their luggage.
- A TSA-approved lock provides the same degree of safety. A small TSA-approved luggage lock does a better job of protecting your luggage against thieves than plastic wrap. Although I guess there’s no teeny-tiny key to lose with plastic wrap.
Other luggage safety tips
There are dozens of luggage safety tips that can help you avoid plastic-wrapping in the first place. Here are the most actionable tips:
- Invest in a quality piece of luggage that suits your needs. The stronger and more flexible your luggage is, the easier it is to manage—for you, for security, for luggage handlers. The better you know (and trust) your luggage, the less uncertainty you’ll face when the plastic wrappers descend.
- Look for luggage that has other features, like charging banks. It’s worth mentioning here that some pieces of luggage are really advanced. Not only do they come with built-in locks (and alarms, in some cases), but they might also include charging banks, specialized shoe storage, and even geo-locators.
- Add a luggage tracker. If you don’t have access to a cutting-edge piece of luggage with a built-in geo-locator, don’t fret. You aren’t alone. But if you’re someone who worries about losing luggage, then consider installing a tracker. Use one of Samsung or Apple’s products, like the AirTag.
- Carry spare zip-ties for disaster. Zip-ties come in handy far more often than they should. I’ve jerry-rigged a few busted pieces of luggage with zip-ties in my day. They didn’t save my luggage—but they did get me through to my next destination where I could buy a good replacement.