Suvarnabhumi Airport is investigating after a passenger reported that belongings valued at around 600,000 baht were missing from a checked suitcase following a flight from Bangkok to Krabi.

The passenger said on social media that they travelled on Thai VietJet flight VZ342 from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Krabi on August 21. On arrival, they reportedly found that the suitcase appeared to have been opened and damaged, with valuables missing.

For foreign visitors and residents using domestic connections from Bangkok, the case is a reminder to keep high-value items, travel documents, medication and electronics in cabin baggage where airline rules allow.

Airport reviews baggage-handling records

Suvarnabhumi Airport said on August 22 that it had opened an inquiry and was working with Thai VietJet, the airline's ground-handling provider and other relevant agencies to establish what happened.

Airport officials examined system records and CCTV footage covering the suitcase's route through Suvarnabhumi's baggage-handling system. The airport said its review found no irregularities during the period when the bag was under its responsibility.

According to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the suitcase passed through its Explosives Detection System, (EDS), and received a "CLEAR" status. This meant no dangerous objects or explosives were detected and the bag did not require a manual security inspection.

The bag was then sent to the baggage sorting area, where Pattaya Aviation Company Limited handled loading on behalf of Thai VietJet.

Thai VietJet contacts passenger

Thai VietJet has contacted the passenger and will continue to assist them while further checks are carried out under the relevant procedures, the airport said.

Video courtesy of Suvarnabhumi Airport

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24 August 2026

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About 10 years ago, my wife and I travelled to Singapore. She took some gold with her. On the way back to Surabum we stupidly forgot to repack it onto our carryon. Didn't find it gone until we got home . Our fault, and hard lesson learned.

600k baht value in a checked in suitcase? Congrats! Definitely the winner of dumb nut 2026!

Well, if they didn’t take photos of what was in the suitcase and have all of the receipts, then they are not going to get 💩. Obviously theft can happen anywhere, but you must be able to prove what exactly was stolen and the recent receipts of the “stolen “ items.

Something just sounds fishy. But you never know. I would never put anything that valuable out of my sight.

4 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Something just sounds fishy.

If you watch the video, the suitcase was tracked part if not all of its travels trhough BKK

There was an announcement just a couple or so weeks ago that, in Thailand, the owner of the bag no longer has to be present when the bag is opened for inspection ...

21 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

There was an announcement just a couple or so weeks ago that, in Thailand, the owner of the bag no longer has to be present when the bag is opened for inspection ...

Effective October 16th.

21 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

There was an announcement just a couple or so weeks ago that, in Thailand, the owner of the bag no longer has to be present when the bag is opened for inspection ...

For years, I often find an adhesive label on my bags indicating that security at Swampy opened it for inspection. They may have just announced it, but it's certainly not a new policy.

At other airports around the world, I've occasionally found a small card inside my bag indicating it's been opened for inspection. So neither is it specific to any particular airport. If they see something hinky on the x-ray (or other scanner), they open it. I'm in favor of that...

Edited August 24Aug 24 by impulse

19 minutes ago, impulse said:

For years, I often find an adhesive label on my bags indicating that security at Swampy opened it for inspection. They may have just announced it, but it's certainly not a new policy.

At other airports around the world, I've occasionally found a small card inside my bag indicating it's been opened for inspection. So neither is it specific to any particular airport. If they see something hinky on the x-ray (or other scanner), they open it. I'm in favor of that...

Hinky or kinky. They routinely confiscate vibrators from incoming bags if they show up on the x-rays. Apparently they are illegal here in Thailand despite being on open sale along Sukhumvit Rd at night lol

2 minutes ago, banyanman said:

Hinky or kinky. They routinely confiscate vibrators from incoming bags if they show up on the x-rays. Apparently they are illegal here in Thailand despite being on open sale along Sukhumvit Rd at night lol

I think most of what they find are cigarette lighters and batteries, which are (wisely) not allowed in checked bags any more. You may be okay if you take the battery out of your Steely Dan. But a lot of them have batteries that can't be removed. They need to go in your carry on.

I ran into a guy recently on the ARL, going back to Swampy to retrieve his luggage that was held up because he accidentally left a lighter in it. That was his claim anyway. What a PITA.

On an aside, I accidentally left $2000 USD traveling money in my checked bag a few years back. I was pleasantly surprised when it was still there on arrival at BKK.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by impulse

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

600k baht value in a checked in suitcase? Congrats! Definitely the winner of dumb nut 2026!

More to the story... insurance claim or compensation..

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

There was an announcement just a couple or so weeks ago that, in Thailand, the owner of the bag no longer has to be present when the bag is opened for inspection ...

Exactly. Seems we're going back to the old days in SEA.

What moron puts valuables in their checked luggage?

Sounds like the unattended baggage checks have started.

2 hours ago, chuang said:

More to the story... insurance claim or compensation..

I was thinking the same, 600,000 baht baggage on a cheap Thai VietJet flight. No mention of what was inside it, just that the suitcase was missing.

2 hours ago, riverhigh said:

I was thinking the same, 600,000 baht baggage on a cheap Thai VietJet flight. No mention of what was inside it, just that the suitcase was missing.

Ehhhh the suitcase was not missing. It is alleged it was the contents. 🙈

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

600,000 baht were missing from a checked suitcase following a flight from Bangkok to Krabi

That's only a 12 hour, 800km drive.

Perhaps take the journey in a limousine, 10k baht, includes a special friend to share the back seat 😀

3 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

Sounds like the unattended baggage checks have started.

We can expect more stories like this in the future.

600KThai B..... wowee what did they have?. New trend is commencing .. gold necless chains no longer pay out .. insurance job !! is my guess.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

That's only a 12 hour, 800km drive.

Perhaps take the journey in a limousine, 10k baht, includes a special friend to share the back seat 😀

Do they really offer this kind of ride in Thailand? 😂

Last May I flew to the States and back. I check my suitcase. On arrival in the US, one lock was broken on my brand new suitcase. I didn't pack anything of value luckily.

One my return to Thailand, the other lock was broken as well.

Someone wanted in there both trips. I flew business class, so I am betting it was singled out for that. In BKK, my bag was one of the last ones off the plane. Usually that are some of the first when you fly Business class.

There was another story recently that bags at BKK could be opened without the owner being present - apparently that was a new development.

Hmmm, maybe all his called medicinal marijuana was taken. His rabbi will be very upset.

16 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

There was another story recently that bags at BKK could be opened without the owner being present - apparently that was a new development.

Yes, and this is the result. 🙂

21 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Perhaps take the journey in a limousine, 10k baht, includes a special friend to share the back seat 😀

Thats a great deal, best I acan find on google is Bt.9500.00 for basic car.

20 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Thats a great deal, best I acan find on google is Bt.9500.00 for basic car.

Ha, ha, I added the 'special friend' comment for a laugh.

SOP in USofA i think especially when they see int'l tag:

NB my last inspection when I packed a Lodge cast iron skillet. Also kept plenty of these TSA approved padlocks.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by JerryM

52 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes, and this is the result. 🙂

No it isn't.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40069379

25 minutes ago, JerryM said:

SOP in USofA i think especially when they see int'l tag:

NB my last inspection when I packed a Lodge cast iron skillet. Also kept plenty of these TSA approved padlocks.

Yep, I got one of those. Picked up my bag and wondered why it wasn't locked. Inside was this, and under the tape is my smashed lock - nice of them to return it.

Not hard to just take anything small and valuable with you in your carry-on luggage. Asking for it now if you leave anything worth a lot in the main check-in baggage.

Also, now that they can open your luggage without you present (which is becoming true in more places all the time), it is generally recommended that you lock your luggage with a TSA-approved lock (has a red diamond logo on it), so that the authorised security people can unlock it but not destroy the lock or your luggage in the process.

In addition, makes your luggage look more legit and some random moron baggage handler working at the airport can't just rumage through it. Guess it give you a little recourse as only some will have a universal master key for it... so narrows down the suspects. Not perfect obviously, but better than the alternatives, I guess.