Occasionally on baggage carrousels I see luggage come out encased in heavy plastic bags. Does anyone have a source for these, or so they just come with really expensive luggage?

Unfortunately, I think those things only come with Louis Vuitton bags.

They have some machine at MCO that encases bags in that stuf..at least they used to! I have not figured out what it is or what it is supposed to do!

Hi all,

Because Indonesia has started sending Australians to prison for hundreds of years on drug charges people have begun wrapping their suitcases in plastic to prevent contraband being placed in their luggage.

20 for marijuana possession!! absolutely unbelievable!

I have seen machines to have luggage encased in plastic at several European airports, but I don't understand it. If you're not even supposed to lock your luggage, why can you laminate it? Don't they still have the right to open the luggage for a search?

The machines wrap the bags up in tons of plastic similar to tough cling-film. the point is that it protects the exterior of your bag, stops people tampering with them, stops the luggage handlers nicking stuff (not uncommon), but can still be quickly removed by customs for a check without damaging your bag, unlike a lock. If your suitcase is locked and customs want a look they will cut the bag.

So if customs unwraps the bag to inspect contents, do they then re-wrap the suitcase?

Rethinking above - do you wrap the bag -after- the initial security inspection, then it goes thru the flight to destination, then customs might unwrap it, but at that point you've arrived so no need to further wrap... is that how it works?

Depending on the airport, security inspection can be prior to check-in; at others, after you've checked-in and done out of your sight. What I find confusing is that I've seen these "plastic gift wrap" machines at may US airports and there is no uniformity in procedure from one airport to another. At some these machines are located before check-in/security or after check-in when you personally bring your bags to the security check area.

I'm certain that if Security wanted to inspect your bag (open it), this plastic would make no difference - they'd do what they have to do. Otherwise, they can certainly see thru the plastic when it's xrayed. Also, it seems to me that those who choose to plastic wrap their belongings - want to protect them from damage (scratches, lost wheels, straps, or water (when ramp personnel forget to cover up when the skies open).

The fee to wrap up is about USD$5/bag.

When my luggage was soaked through after sitting outside in pouring rain, I wished I had wrapped mine in plastic!

Tupperware could make a fortune with a luggage sized container. I can see everyone now, standing in the airport giving their luggage a final "burp".

ROFL