Yeah, it boggles my mind as well. Anyone could walk off with some random piece of luggage and no one would really notice. I guess people don’t do this because it’s probably not worth it, unless you find a Tumi suitcase and maybe there might be something expensive inside.
Probably because all the attendant can do is make a request (just like receipt checkers at stores). What are they going to do if someone refuses to show a tag stub, kick them out?
Although I guess they could condition entrance into the baggage claim area on showing the stub. That would at least stop non-passengers from getting to the bags (although it might be costly, and would probably require infrastructure changes).
My late wife and I used to travel with a scooter. Given a choice we flew Southwest because they let her ride the scooter to the door of the plane, where someone would take it to the cargo space, and then it would be brought to the door when we arrived at our destination.
One time we had to use another airline which required her to check it at the ticket counter (and then provided a wheelchair to take her to the plane). When we went to baggage claim the disassembled scooter was just sitting a bit away from the carousel. While I was putting it back together and then taking it away no one asked me for any proof that it was mine. I guess it’s a good thing no one thought it was worth stealing.
google “airport luggage thief” first link showed someone who stole 1000 pieces of luggage from Phoenix airport.
I remember times where the baggage claim area was surrounded by a fence and there was someone matching claim tags with luggage. But people protested because it was a slow process. Maybe they could set up an automated system like the self check-out aisles in grocery stores
Then my home (destination) address is on it. Yes, that means I change the tag; it takes all of 30 seconds.
I learned it the hard way. Despite the airline’s system, I did spend one trip buying new stuff because they sent my bag back home, rather than to my destination. It took them two days to find it at my home airport, and was likely to take another 2 or 3 to get it back out to me. I don’t really trust their system, since it was a failure of their system that lost my bag in the first place!
I tend to agree. I think an organized ring of home burglars would be rare thing. For someone intelligent enough to organize it, it wouldn’t be worth the time. Used home goods? Why bother? Most homes have neighbors and other family members around that a burglar would still have to case the joint. I’d bet the majority of home burglaries are spontaneous crimes of opportunity.
Organized crime rings are more apt to go after more worthwhile targets like brand new retail goods or cash.
Same reason why there’s not a whole lot of people stealing luggage from airports. Nobody wants other people’s crap.