When you’re in an airport lounge, do you leave your bags unattended at any point? If so, under what circumstances? I think it’s an interesting topic, because I imagine it’s something many people do without even thinking about it… but maybe that’s fine?
Continue reading: Do You Leave Bags Unattended In Airport Lounges? What’s The Right Approach?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I've always really appreciated the lounges that have secure storage so I can just lock it up and not worry about it. Wish more places did this.
I'll admit, I've left my bags when taking a shower. I would just bring a set of clothes while I leave my bags in a corner somewhere.
I am generally happy to leave my bag briefly if I can see it (e.g., if I can see it from the buffet) but not if I’m leaving the room (e.g. to go to the restroom).
If it do leave it to go to the buffet, I will always take my passport and wallet with me, and I’ll make sure I haven’t left anything “tempting” out, such as a phone on charge. I will often drape a coat over my bag to conceal zips/pockets.
If there is a friendly looking person sat opposite/next to me, I will sometimes ask them if they wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on my bag while I go to the buffet.
Line of sight is my rule and watch like a hawk. If the lounge is uncomfortably crowded, I'll choose to forgo the visit anyway. Items of importance are always on my person.
Depends where. In the developed world like Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan etc no issue.
In the third world such as the United States absolutely not.
You do need to be careful.
Someone I know had their passport stolen in the ITA lounge in Milan Linate, after going to the bathroom.
Luckily, he found it thrown away in a bin (I guess a British passport wasn’t what the thief wanted)
Hong Kong has issues with theft from airline passengers. I’m also aware of someone who had her purse stolen at changi in the Sq lounge.
This is one the reasons why I usually check a bag—so that I'm not hauling my whole life through the terminal/lounges. Generally, I have a roll-aboard and a smaller tote/crossbody. I'll leave the roll-aboard at my seat and take the small bag when I go to bar/buffet.
I don't have anything of value for anyone but me in my backpack. It's basically just some spare clothes, charger, maybe some paperwork, passport, keys, occasionally snacks. Nothing worth stealing. Wallet remains in my pants at all times.
I can't imagine taking my backpack to the buffet or a toilet. Plus I use it to save the seat. But like Ben, I will take it with me to shower or when going to other part of the lounge.
Always have my ID and wallet with me - no exceptions. Will genereally leave my bags unattended but usually not for more than a couple of minutes to get food. If I'm going to be away longer such as when taking a shower, I'll take my bags with me. I trust my spidey-sense and if something feels off, I'll haul it around to everywhere.
Totally understand. Cant see why anyone would want a British passport. Probably worth even less than a US passport right now, which says a LOT.
Generally, in civilized countries such as India or Kenya, I'm happy to leave my bags unattended for a short while. In third-world countries such as the US or UK - no way! Far to many thieves there.
Bags yes, wallet never out in the open. Never heard of a theft in an airline lounge and I would think it very rare.
Well, we'll know which bags are yours, because of the 'Key' tags, right?
Did you/they go with just-'N' or the full-'Nathan' for the tag?
I left a suitcase once in a DB Lounge in a train station; an hour later I had to report to the train police station downstairs to retrieve it back.
Couldn't there be safety issues as well, especially for lounges before security such as in Singapore-Changi.
I believe it was ol' Darryl Stewart who was commenting on a very similar article back in November, 2023 when he said anyone who leaves bags unattended in a public space is a TOTAL MORON. He was right then, and guess what, STILL IS!
Any unattended bag or the like, is a serious threat to everyone’s security. It should always be treated and reported as such without exception.
Thanks AeroB13a, I know we don't agree on much, but this is completely accurate. I believe criminal charges should also be levied against people who leave their personal belongings all over the bloody place in public.
You think that's funny? I would like to take you to a lounge in New Delhi and see you leave your bag unattended (SPOILER ALERT: You won't). Now lay off with all the left-wing pandering and settle down. Oh and if not,then I suggest you head tight on over to India and STAY!
to quote Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, an employee is told that the customer's always right and, in fact, the customer is usually a moron and an a-h-- .
Eskimo, I'm not sure the joke was 'left' or 'right'... and, not to 'explain the joke,' but, anyways; I guess Brook (and BZ below) mocked xenophobia, generally (by mixing stereotypes of which countries are 'clean' and 'dirty' or 'safe' and 'unsafe', when all countries are both clean and dirty, safe and unsafe, depending on the circumstances)... oh, is mocking bigotry is 'left'?
Thanks, impersonator '1990.' It's not exactly the 'take' I would've gone with, but, sure, why not seek 'accountability' one way or another. My actual position would've been more aligned with holding those accountable at the 'top,' not just petty crimes, because I think the 'fish rots at the head' and also that someone stealing a loaf of bread to feed their family isn't warranty of the death sentence. Anyhoo...
Oh, wait, is this 'real' Eskimo, or the impersonator (guy behind @Penile)? By the way, this is O.G. 1990; my impersonator (also @Penile) is lurking, too.
Agreed, especially with similarities to the Lockerbie bombing with regard to airports having lounges before the security checkpoint.
If be cannot leave a bag unattended in a membership-only club that is supposed to be a premium experience inside the sterile area we’ve got big problems with you we’re letting into said premium lounges.
The only place I've personally seen this was one of the JAL lounges in Tokyo. I'd like to know if there are any more around the world like this.
Another acceptable option would be coin lockers and/or coat/baggage checks in the terminal, but I usually only find those landside and none airside. Would be nice if I could drop off my bags at one of these near my gate and wander the terminal for a little while.
The organ grinders monkey should note: …..
It is blatantly obvious that some who post herein are totally unaware of their responsibility for their own security. Furthermore, they appear criminally irresponsible in regard to the safety and security of others.
MAGA will never, ever, become a reality unless U.S. citizens are prepared become responsible for their own actions and learn to read the writing upon the wall. Or, to put it in simple terms …. wake-up and smell the coffee, yes?
Turkish lounge in LTFM (they poisoned the code IST) has clear lockers as in the picture, but with locks which work off one's fingerprint.
Fairly essential to use them as food is scattered all over the place at different "stations" and one often has to queue multiple times.
For short periods when going to get food, yes, I'll leave my bags. Going to the bathroom, even for a short period, generally speaking, no. Wallet and phone are always on me.
However, I also orient my bags in a way to at least prevent a casual pick up. Kind of keep them under a table/chair or otherwise requiring a little more effort to take them. Most casual theft happens out of convenience, and doing stuff to make it harder to grab will encourage most would be perps to move on to an easier target.
And please people, if you leave your laptop, make sure you lock the screen! See way too many people with it left wide open, which is too rich of a target.
Based on the complete lack of any scuffs on the plexiglass bag cubbies in the Turkish lounge MIA, those have never been used. 😛
The LH lounges at FRA have lockers (or at least the Senator ones do). They're absolutely brilliant. I think all lounges should have them.
Broadly speaking I will leave my bag "unattended" but within my field of vision in a lounge that's past security, but I always have the important things on me. If I can't do that, I'll take it with me. I will however leave my coat or something on the seat to indicate that it's taken and that I'm just away for a minute.
Experienced this in a Lufthansa lounge in Frankfurt (in 2019 - had a long layover and so left my carry-ons in the lounge storage and headed into the city for a few hours) and just the other day at the non-Schengen KLM lounge in Amsterdam. But they're definitely in the minority.
Nothing is absolute and nobody is perfect. So neither Singapore nor the Pope. However, Singapore consistently ranks in the top five in all categories in the world. Except the only category that the US consistently reigns supreme: Weaponry export. When I was in Changi Airport last December, I read about the airport cops arrested thieves for shoplifting in the airport store. The same thieves who got away from previous crime who bravely went back to the same crime scene for a second do-over. They are East Indians. It is quite foolish to raise such comparison/ comment. HK and Macau are now under China autonomy and sovereignty . No longer a separate entity. People are allowed to leave their luggage unattended in the airport lounges because not everyone is allowed in. That eliminates a high probability of theft statistic. As for AirTag, insurance, etc.. Seriously, is it not more prudent to take preventive measure than to spend time tracking down your luggage on the trip or filing paperwork with the insurance company after the trip with no warranty to get a satisfactory result?
Wicked great Curb cite and also two things can be true at the same time. The customer can be a moron and the provider a dipshit.
That's why I have a metal carry on case that is way heavier than allowed and has really strong locks. It's also not a fashion brand so it's not as desirable. Thing can take a bullet. And it has. Nobody wants to deal with that.
In the real world nothing will be done about this until a high profile or trending incident. Then airlines will lose their s*it and over react.
I always travel with 1 backpack that I keep my valuables including the expensive parts of my cameras. It doesn't leave my sight even when I get in the stale cookie line and wimpy coffee. I'm happy when I see lockers in lounges.
I never leave anything un-attended anywhere when I travel. And I have never lost anything following this practice.
Agree with BZ, no surprise that the real first world skews heavily to right-wing. We know who are the freeloaders
That all sounds okay to me except "passport" and "keys". Lost keys can be a pain. Lost passport could be a very big pain, especially whilst travelling!
We had a terrible situation at Double Tree by Hilton in Bayswater London hotel.
The front desk manager FDM, Jason Nicholas set us up for a robbery. He invited us for a drink as Lifetime Diamond, while arranging us to be robbed.
We sat on bench seats on the restaurant tables far away from the walkway, all well lite, our bags were touching us. When the drinks came we had to lean forward to get them, and he gave a signal which distracted us as to what he was doing and 30 seconds later we realized our backpack was gone.
Please be aware, Hilton does not help you one bit. It is up to the hotel, and the hotel GM did nothing, absolutely nothing and supported his FDM. What a scheme.
Now we see people at breakfast leaving their phones on tables to reserve to get food. That is foolish. Its the easiest steal for thieves to walk by and scoop it up.
Absolutely would not leave bags unattended in a lounge. In Brussels folks were checking in and let go of their bags, and were stolen.
Another hotel had signs on tables, "Thieves look like you and me, do not leave your belongings unattended".
In London, 50,000 mobile phones were stolen in hotels and on the street by thieves on motor scooters on the sidewalk. London police? forget it.
The world is not what is was. Take care and don't leave your belongings around.
When we are in Senator Lounges in FRA and MUC, they have lockable storage units.
Pretty similar to what Ben describes.
My wallet, phone, passport will always be on my person, I'll carry a small sling bag like you might a purse so that makes it easier. Keep an eye out when getting food/drink / don't leave the stuff for too long. Always take it with me if I'll be away for a while.
So the question regarding "has the bag been in your possession,..." happens at check-in. Then one goes through security, into the sterile area, as others have pointed out.
In a Club or Lounge, I will leave my bags at my seat/table while going to get a drink at the bar, or food at the buffet. I don't leave anything valuable out (don't want to tempt any honest person). If I'm going for longer (e.g. to take a shower) I'll be courteous and take my stuff.
I jointed the United Red Carpet Club back in the early 1990s, as the whole point was to be able to relax in the Club and be able to go to the bathroom without having to take laptop and roll-aboard with you.