Personal Security and Air Travel
Air travellers today can spend hours at the airport, wandering around aimlessly often carrying their bags and chattels around with them from gate to gate, shuffling bags while in the bathroom, buying and eating food, and just sitting around and waiting.
It seams that the more time travellers have to spend at airports, the more travellers’ worry about there personal security is an issue. The following are some tips to help minimize the risk of you losing your valuable belongings while travelling.
Travelers’ Personal Security – Packing
Never forget security begins at home. When time comes to pack your belongings, try to place your most valuable items in your carry-on luggage so that it will always be close to you. This way you can always keep an eye on it and be aware of anyone trying to steal or tamper with it.
If you or part of your travelling party plans on taking jewellery, this might mean wearing your most valuable pieces on the flight. Large diamond ear studs are fine to wear with everyday travel clothing; others will assume they are cubic zirconium, or rhinestones. Necklaces and bracelets can be worn under clothing that masks the neck and wrists. Make sure that the clasps and hooks are in good repair, you do not want to accidentally lose your jewellery while walking through the t! erminal.
What you don’t wear should be packed in a handbag or fanny pack. Caution should be taken when using backpacks – as would-be thieves can open a backpack and remove valuable items without you ever knowing that personal security was breached.
Travelers’ Personal Security – Cash
Every traveler needs some cash at the airport for tips, newspapers, meals, and sundries. However, no traveler should carry more cash than absolutely necessary. Usually about $20 to $30 in fives, tens, and ones will meet the traveler’s need for cash at the airport. Every modern airport has an ATM. If you need cash at your destination, use the airport ATM after you arrive at your final stop. Carrying, and flashing, large amounts of cash create an irresistible temptation for thieves.
Travelers’ Personal Security – Shopping
When travelling the best security advice is to travel with a companion, this means that there is who can watch your belongings for you while you shop, eat, and use the restroom and visa versa. If you find yourself travelling alone, rent a locker to keep your belongings while waiting for your flight to board. Even if you need to rent two or more lockers, you will find that it is a lot easier to carry a small key around instead of lugging all your belongings around the airport.
Travelers’ Personal Security – Security Check
In fact the places most travellers lose things is, ironically, while they pass through security. Whenever you pass through the metal detector and you belongings are X-rayed be cognizant of how many trays you have left your belongings in, and be sure you collect the same number and have checked that all your belongings are still there, before leaving the security area.