The first was when I collected my luggage, I put small padlocks on every zipper or opening, they were all gone.

The second was a frisk search later, conducted by 2 woman at the same time, one works the left side the other the right, they don't do It properly anyway so it was pointless, never seen woman frisking men before, not that I was complaining they were attractive and it was a nice welcome back to the LOS at the time.

Has anyone seen or experienced this.

it was a nice welcome back to the LOS at the time.

How long ago was this?

it was a nice welcome back to the LOS at the time.

How long ago was this?

I was about 18 months, just curious as to wether it still goes on and if others experienced this.

I was kind of stunned as it's usually done by men.

What was your routing? Carrier?

Locks do get removed by security - departing the U.S. that would be CPB. Best to not even use them. Or they get snapped off in normal handling.

You can probably request a male pat down if you are uncomfortable with a female. Here in Asia it is not unusual to have women doing this. UA does a secondary at the gate, here ex-BKK, with mostly female security personnel.

Edited May 30, 201313 yr by lomatopo

What was your routing? Carrier? Locks do get removed by security - departing the U.S. that would be CPB. Best to not even use them. Or they get snapped off in normal handling. You can probably request a male pat down if you are uncomfortable with a female. Here in Asia it is not unusual to have women doing this. UA does a secondary at the gate, here ex-BKK, with mostly female security personnel.

was coming from Rome, not uncomfortable with the pat down at all just surprised.

I guess having the locks on the bag looked suspicious.

I will add it's an awesome airport, I travel a great deal around the world and it's a fine Airport in my opinion, far better then Rome's disgraceful excuse for an Airport.

18 months is a very long time in Bangkok .....

18 months is a very long time in Bangkok .....

18 months ago, I'm presently in Australia and will be back 2 BKK in a few months.

Back and forth.

back and forth every 2 years or so.

guess thaivisa is almost like being here huh?

back and forth every 2 years or so.

guess thaivisa is almost like being here huh?

not quite i'm there a lot more then that, I have been since that incident.

Came back from a trip to Europe about 6 weeks ago and yes two padlocks were missing.

I didn't notice anything wss missing although i can't remember exactly how many pairs of dirty underwear I had.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 30, 201313 yr by petedk

To the OP ... yes, I do the padlock thing on the zippers also ... and I've had them tampered with before ... sometimes they come through with those electrician ties on them.

Last time leaving Swampy (earlier this year), I this sticker attached ...

Anyone else has this?

.

.

Breaking into a locked, zipped suitcase with the humble pen ...

That lady I was buying my suitcases from (the same style as in the video) alerted me to this.

Apparently, there is one expensive brand where this trick (don't remember which as it was about double what I could afford), due to the zipper style, this can't be done.

Just a heads up ...

.

Just buy a Samsonite with no zipper and combination lock,problem solved!

I wish it was that simple ... these basic locks simply deter the honest thieves.

Combination locks are also easy to detect the combination.

But, agreed, the hard case (Samsonite) style they are a less easy target then the fabric suitcase.

.

Off-topic posts and the replies to them have been removed, a total of 12 posts. This post is about these events on arrival at Bangkok airport:

1. locks missing on bags
2. frisk search after collection of bags

2 women doing frisk search why complain ?

This has never happened to me. I've always come from the UK btw. Never been searched either. Maybe it's just a routine check. As long as you have nothing to hide nothing to worry about IMO.

About a year ago, I flew from Manchester to Doha, Doha to BKK. I had little padlocks on all my luggage. As I left the airplane, I was met security and they escorted me to the security suite just off the baggage claim. There was 3 more men, there and 2 women and a drug dog.

I was asked if this was my luggage, I replied "Yes".

The security asked if I had packed the bags myself and could they anyone had interfered with the luggage. I said, I packed my bag and it has not left my sight until it was checked in.

The dog was going mad around one of the suitcases. Wagging its tail, barking and generally acting like it had found something. It had not.

The emptied the suitcases and tore it apart, but there was nothing there.

They asked me the purpose of my visit and I said pleasure. They then made me repack the suitcase and escorted me to the immigration desk, where my photo was taken as usual and then the security guard, said thank you for your co-operation, its a false alarm.

Never got an apology and never had a problem again.

2 women doing frisk search why complain ?

Don't despair OP - most guys on this board have to pay to have 2 women touch them at the same time...

What was your routing? Carrier? Locks do get removed by security - departing the U.S. that would be CPB. Best to not even use them. Or they get snapped off in normal handling. You can probably request a male pat down if you are uncomfortable with a female. Here in Asia it is not unusual to have women doing this. UA does a secondary at the gate, here ex-BKK, with mostly female security personnel.

was coming from Rome, not uncomfortable with the pat down at all just surprised.

I guess having the locks on the bag looked suspicious.

I will add it's an awesome airport, I travel a great deal around the world and it's a fine Airport in my opinion, far better then Rome's disgraceful excuse for an Airport.

Why should having locks on your suitcase look suspicious ??? whenever I travel I always make sure that my luggage is locked and the key is in my pocket so that I can open it for inspection at my destination if asked to !

Shrink wrap your luggage, most Airports do this now. saves a lot of trouble,

You need to use locks marked TSA. They have a seperate keyhole and only airport bag checkers have a key for it. Apparently....If not they will just cut them off if they want to have a look in your bags.

Edited May 31, 201313 yr by Bung

Theives, who want to get in your luggage will break the zipper. customs will cut the padlock.

I stopped using padlocks many years ago, I don't put anything of value in my bags, just clothes.

Everything else in hand luggage.

You need to use locks marked TSA. They have a seperate keyhole and only airport bag checkers have a key for it. Apparently....If not they will just cut them off if they want to have a look in your bags.

People put locks on their bags because they believe it is so easy for someone to put illegal narcotics in your bag and use your bag to smuggle the dope to another country.

I have no way of knowing just how easy this is or how often it happens, if ever. But I don't take chances, especially when the penalties are high and the law enforcement in parts of Asia is, ahem, different.

I either use separate TSA locks or TSA locks that are built into the suitcase - there is one brand that designs this into a suitcase that is made of aluminum. And the case is sealed when shut properly and so impossible to even cut the case or otherwise hide the drugs in another compartment in the case. As the suitcase lasts for years, I bought one - it even doubles as a "safe" in those hotels where safes don't exist. You just make sure that there is other stuff in the case so that it is heavy - the thief would have to carry out the entire case or make a huge amount of noise trying to break open the locks. Not impossible but enough to make him/her seek out a softer target

You need to use locks marked TSA. They have a seperate keyhole and only airport bag checkers have a key for it.

I understood the TSA lock requirement was ONLY for luggage passing through American controlled airports.

As for only airport bag checkers having keys - please spend a few minutes on YouTube to have an education in padlock "picking" - TSA locks are as secure as a plastic zip-loc.

2 women doing frisk search why complain ?

That'd cost you 1500 baht where I go!

2 women doing frisk search why complain ?

I didn't see where he was complaining.

But on the subject (locks removed) if it's done anywhere in the world you can bet your bottom $$$$$ that it will be here.....

To the OP ... yes, I do the padlock thing on the zippers also ... and I've had them tampered with before ... sometimes they come through with those electrician ties on them.

Last time leaving Swampy (earlier this year), I this sticker attached ...

LR P5310009.JPG

Anyone else has this?

.

Many times and a similar sticker leaving Brisbane arriving in Bangkok. Best thing going I think...security checked going on the plane....any dodgy sh!t a ala Corby...wasn't mine if you know what I mean

it was a nice welcome back to the LOS at the time.

How long ago was this?

I was about 18 months, just curious as to wether it still goes on and if others experienced this.

I was kind of stunned as it's usually done by men.

That's why its called security....they check things...dunno why the men comment is relevant

I've had my bags opened and searched by Thai Customs in Phuket when I flew from the USA. Two old coots with nothing better to do it seemed. When they found my yellow Royal Thai shirt, they waied me and apologized. We aren't allowed to check locked bags in the USA. And everything, including your body is X-rayed before you board a flight.

2 women doing frisk search why complain ?

That'd cost you 1500 baht where I go!

Now that is funny but very true

Clearly, I'm the only one who has his bag 'Glad wrapped' at the airport ? You know immediately if it has been tampered with.