How safe are airport lockers?
Apr 15th, 2003, 06:59 PM
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How safe are airport lockers?
Hi, everybody!<BR><BR>I'm studying at Cambridge for 5 weeks this summer, and at the end, I'm going to Italy for a relaxing week before heading home. It's beginning to look like I'll need my laptop in Cambridge for note-taking and exams (they're written law exams, and my handwriting is atrocious), as we won't have access to our college computer lab. <BR><BR>My question is this: How safe would it be to stash my laptop in an airport locker in either London or Rome while I take my week's vacation? Would I be nuts to trust that my computer would still be there when I get back? I know that, theoretically, I'd be the only person with a key, but I'm still not sure how prudent putting $1800 worth of computer in one of those things would be. <BR><BR>Thanks in advance!
Apr 15th, 2003, 07:05 PM
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I don't think there are lockers anymore in airports overseas..........due to heightened security. I know there are none in London Gatwick anymore, and have heard this seems to be the case in others. I believe there are some "holding rooms", or something like that, that you could possibly leave your things.
Apr 15th, 2003, 07:10 PM
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Oh no! In that case, does anyone know how secure these holding rooms are? I could possibly stash my computer at a friend's flat in Cambridge, but a) that would mean coming all the way back to Cambridge to get my computer before flying home, and b) there's a chance my friend will be away when I come back to get the computer. Argh!
Apr 15th, 2003, 07:38 PM
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You will not find actual lockers in many, if any, airports in Europe. But most have safe "left luggage" facilities. You leave it with an attendant. Would be just as safe as in a locker. <BR><BR>Or you could take your lap top w/ you and leave it in the hotel safe (be sure to ask if the places you are staying have safes - not all do).
Apr 15th, 2003, 07:46 PM
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The left luggage facilities at all major UK airports and train stations are operated by a company called Excess Baggage, see http://www.excess-baggage.com/airport.asp . I suppose they could be a fly by night outfit that hires employees without doing security checks, but that seems highly unlikely. The few times I have used them, I have had nothing stolen or damaged.
Apr 16th, 2003, 09:48 AM
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Thanks for all the help, guys. I checked out Excess Baggage. I'm guessing, since they must have won a contract to be the only provider of that service in Gatwick and Heathrow, that they're legit. I'll do a search to see if anyone else has used those guys in the past. Thanks again!
Apr 16th, 2003, 12:41 PM
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Luggage storage (manned & X-rayed) at Rome's FCO Airport has reopened. It's at the far end of Terminal C Arrivals and cost 3.5e/day.<BR> It was closed post 9-11 and was still closed in Mar'02 but was open when I was there in Mar'03.<BR>Regards, Walter
Apr 17th, 2003, 03:45 PM
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Oh, thank you, Walter! I was just about to ask if either airport in Rome had such a service.<BR><BR>I'd ship it home, but I'm paranoid about it somehow getting "lost" in transit. Although a buddy just told me he shipped his from London a couple of times without incident. I'll keep that option in mind.
