You see travelers wrapping their luggage in plastic and think it must provide added protection. However, is that really the case? And is it worth the money? You can check out Bags Brothers or read on to find out the real deal about this airport service. Some parts are good, but other aspects leave a lot to be desired.
Why Wrap Your Luggage in Plastic?
Among the claims by plastic wrap service companies in the US is that it helps prevent damage and theft due to the thick and tamper-proof film that protects literally everything. It has been said to withstand weather conditions, protect general wear, resist tear, and deter thieves’ sticky fingers.
Deter Theft
Some airports have tight security while others don’t. Some travelers take the extra mile to secure their luggage; others don’t. The lack of security and the presence of careless passengers can make an airport a hunting ground for thieves.
Often, these thieves take the form of airport workers who steal an item or three while rummaging through travelers’ suitcases. A shrink wrap wrapping tends to make these troublemakers think twice about messing with your luggage for fear of increasing their chances of getting caught. Not to mention, shrink wraps get wrapped so tightly they’d be almost impossible to remove without anyone noticing.
Protection
And we mean all kinds of protection. Plastic wraps don’t only function as a thief deterrent, but they also protect from general wear and tear, weather damage, and aesthetic damage (hello, RIMOWA and LV investments). Keep your backpacks and suitcases sealed tightly in plastic wrap to ensure they arrive at your destination in as good a condition as when they were shipped to it.
Damage Prevention
If you’re traveling with expensive items, seriously consider a plastic wrap service. Golf clubs, tennis rackets, wheelchairs, and collapsible bicycles don’t typically come in a case strong enough to protect from potential travel damage. Consider having them wrapped in plastic for your peace of mind.
Smuggling
You’d do well not to rule anything out, smuggling included. If it can happen to some people, it can happen to you. Plastic wrap takes your luggage out of the running to potentially store smuggled goods. Where these things are concerned, don’t settle for close calls. Take yourself as far away from the possibility spectrum as possible.
Peace of Mind
Anything that significantly reduces your chances of experiencing the above travel headaches should help provide peace of mind. As if traveling wasn’t stressful enough, you may have to deal with the potential challenges of not taking added protective measures when doing so. Ensure this isn’t the case by using a protective wrap service for additional luggage security.
Some of us could be anxious about our luggage the entire flight. It may only be when we see it roll out of the carousel do we feel a sense of relief. That’s totally understandable, given that mishandling luggage reports are not a rarity in the transportation industry. It’s not uncommon for luggage to end up lost, damaged, or mislaid. Luckily, plastic wrap services and other countermeasures have been set to reduce the occurrence of these unfortunate circumstances.
Why Shouldn’t You Wrap Your Luggage in Plastic?
Though not as common, here are some reasons why having your luggage wrapped in plastic could be to your disadvantage:
Random Luggage Checks
Since the 9/11 events that have been forever etched into history, the TSA has heightened air travel security by leaps and bounds. That means those random luggage checks that used to give us headaches have become even more headache-inducing in the interest of national security.
Plastic wraps will no longer get in the way of these routine inspections, as airport workers would be happy to remove them for the safety of everyone. However, the good news is that the complimentary rewrap is now a service offered by major companies if a TSA inspection occurs.
Environmental Concern
Truth be told, this should be a commonplace concern with the state of the world today. Concern for the environment means minimizing plastic use. This may be news to most of you, but most of the plastic manufactured is still in existence.
Most plastic wrap companies in airports across the US claim to use non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials. Of course, companies aren’t normally known for their truthfulness, so take their claims with a grain of salt. If you insist on using their wrap service, at least make sure to reuse the plastic until you can no longer.
If Not Plastic Wrap, Then What?
If you decide to give the plastic wrap a hard pass, that’s okay too! After all, nothing should rank higher in importance than our planet. Besides, there’s an effective and environmentally safe alternative in the form of a luggage glove. It provides all the benefits of a sealed wrap without the drawbacks.
