In airports why do travellers wrap their case in clingfilm?

[S0CKS]

I have recently travelled home from my trip and every time I go abroad I always see people wrapping their cases in clingfilm? To the point they have a company doing it? And this has been in various parts of the world.

Its interested me as to why people do this? (Dh and I sadly have had many a airport conversation about it)

Im wondering if certain countries require it for safety or something? Or why it happens?

It's to stop the spread of bedbugs.

I’ve done it because on the way there the suitcase was so badly damaged by the airline/airports that things were falling out (I was too cheap to fork out for another suitcase on holiday so bought actual cling film from a supermarket to wrap it up for the way back).

it is to make sure nothing is put IN your luggage

This too, I've watched too many episodes of Banged Up Abroad .

I always wondered this too and thought there was more to it then simply protecting the bag as at the end of the day it is just a bit of clingfilm. Would a lock on the suitcase not have the same affect re; thieves.

To hinder the sniffer dogs

If they can smell stuff up people's bums I don't think a few layers of cling film with present much of a challenge

I've had to do it when my bag was damaged on the outward journey. It was the only way I could use it on the way home without stuff spilling out. (I wasn't in a location where I could easily buy a new suitcase).

I had mine done once or twice as I didn't want my new cases scratched.
The novelty soon wore off though.

I’ve been seeing this for well over 10 years I think. I’d always assumed certain airlines or destinations required it. Have flown in and out of India African countries Far East and never been required to do it makes sense that it is perhaps a choice thing. Hmm at criminal bar and have represented many accused of importations - can’t for the life
Of me see how cling film affects things one way or another in that scenario.

Jeez.

I need to get out more.

I haven't been at an airport for fifteen years.

Honestly, it is (or was originally) to stop drug smugglers from putting drugs into unsuspecting passengers' luggage.

But it’s hard to even think of a scenario where it would prevent this - I’ve run so many defences regarding drugs in suitcases and can’t see it myself.

I work for well known luggage brand and I thought it was always to protect the suitcase from scuffs and scraps in the hold (some suitcases costs a LOT!) but its actually designed for people travelling to corrupt countries, to deter airport staff (or anyone that comes into contact with the case) from opening it or tampering with it.

It also stops your clothes getting soaked when the baggage handlers throw your bag in a puddle!

You don't pick the bag up from the carousel if the cling film has been damaged - therefore you avoid inadvertently smuggling the drugs through customs..

You've obviously never had stuff stollen in transit. I have it's not nice.

Surely it would be easily damaged though? The cling film I mean

Our suitcases were both broken into at Heathrow this year. Nothing taken but damaged the zips. I may clingwrap in future.

To stop it being stolen: It doesn't need to be fort knox. Just enough that a thief moves onto an easier bag.

Weather: In many parts of the world it rains very heavily and bags are transported and sometimes left in the open air.

Security: to stop people putting stuff in, as pp say.

Safety: to stop loose straps getting torn off and/or any fragile cases getting busted open.

Surely it would be easily damaged though? The cling film I mean
It's not like the stuff you get at Asda to cover your leftover dinner.

It's industrial film - the kind used to wrap pallets of goods for shops etc. And its wound round a bunch of times. It's also that sort of stretchy which is very hard to tear!

The official explanation:
www.luggage-point.co.uk/bag-wrapping/

I've only done it once but it was when we were transitting through Johannesburg where there is a well documented problem with cases being broken into. Our airline (South African Airways so their own flagship carrier!) recommended everyone wrap their bags, especially if they had a layover at Jo'burg. We had 4 hours to kill there, so plenty of time for prying fingers to work open a zip.

I would do it, depending on where I am going.

Never had to yet however but I keep it in mind for that one or two trips that may need it.

sock
Bloody hell, £10 per bag?

I can understand the cling film as possible protection from someone putting drugs in a case, it would clearly be tampered with if anything were found. But from a having things stolen point of view, surely it attracts a thief's view?

I’ve not seen this but will look into to now.. I recently flew out of Heathrow with locked cases.. but I returned from Denver and they wouldn’t let me have the locks on the cases. Apparently they like to randomly check in suitcases once they’ve gone through to baggage too.
I was most unhappy about this (worrying about my shopping going missing!)

I have a friend whose bags spent 24 hours in transit in a layover on the way to somewhere hot and when she finally regained her bag and opened it her swimming costume was damp, the case was full of sand and her toiletries had been used. And half a pack of cough sweets eaten.