What Happens to Luggage After Check In

We are going to look at the journey your hold luggage takes once you have checked it in at the bag drop or check in gate. Understanding this helps explain why choosing a Travel Sentry-Approved lock is an important consideration when choosing your luggage for your next big trip.

What happens if something in your locked suitcase is flagged during screening and airport security needs to open it, while you’re browsing the duty free? This guide explains how to keep your luggage secure, so it doesn’t arrive on the baggage reclaim carousel wide open for everyone to see.

Check-in and baggage tagging

The airline attaches a baggage tag to a checked bag, creating a link in the system between your bag and your journey and destination. The bag then enters the airport’s baggage-handling system, where scanners, conveyor belts and automated sorting equipment help direct it toward your flight.

From this point on, much of the handling takes place behind the scenes.

Security screening

Before your checked bag is loaded onto the plane, it must undergo the required security screening. These scanners are used to identify luggage that may require further examination.

If your bag is flagged for additional inspection, authorized security agents may need to open it to search its contents. This preflight screening happens without you present, meaning, if locked, security agents need to be able to get in. This is the process for airports globally, with China and Thailand updating their procedures and legislation in 2026.

What can flag a checked bag for inspection?

Fair question! Most manual inspections are triggered by items that are either prohibited in the hold or difficult to identify on an X-ray image. Common examples include:

• Spare lithium batteries and power banks: Under International and US FAA rules, spare batteries and power banks are not allowed in checked bags because of the fire risk. Here’s some more information about why power banks can’t go in checked luggage.
• Dense electronics and cables: Tightly packed devices, chargers and cords can obscure an X-ray image, which may lead security officers to search the bag to understand what is inside.
• Aerosols, self-defense sprays and high-strength alcohol: Toiletry aerosols are allowed in limited quantities, but non-toiletry flammable aerosols such as spray paint are not and drinks over 70% alcohol by volume are banned outright. U.S. rules allow one small pepper spray in checked baggage, but international aviation regulations prohibit self-defense sprays entirely.
• Large quantities of powders or dense food: Bulk protein powder, spices or dense food items can appear as opaque masses on scanners and may need to be checked by hand.
• Tools, sharp objects and sports equipment: Items such as hiking poles and heavy tools are usually allowed in checked bags, but their shape and density can prompt a closer look. Firearms and other regulated items must be declared to the airline.

Your bag can also be opened for routine checks, which is exactly when the dual access TSA lock is the one you should be using.

If your lock cannot be opened using a secure tool, security agents may need to cut the lock or fastening off to access the suitcase, if it needs to be searched by hand. This can result in a damaged lock or suitcase greeting you at your destination, risking damage or loss of its contents.

The benefits of a Travel Sentry-Approved lock

Travel Sentry Approved locks have a dual access system, which allows authorized security officers to open the lock using a secure tool, inspect the luggage and re-lock the bag.

This means the lock can remain intact following a routine inspection at over 850 airports using the Travel Sentry system, helping reduce the risk of damage caused by forced access. At airports where the system is implemented, security agents are trained to spot the Travel Sentry Red Diamond and then using the correct tool to open the suitcase, before searching the contents and relocking the bag.

Onto the airplane

Once the necessary screening procedures have been completed, your luggage is sorted for its flight and transported to the plane and ground-handling staff load the bags into the hold.

After landing, your bag is unloaded and transferred to the airport’s arrival baggage system or, if you are getting a connection, to the next flight. Eventually, your suitcase reaches baggage reclaim and the carousel, where you can collect it and continue your onward journey.

A luggage lock may be a relatively small component of a suitcase, but it plays an important role in your overall travel experience.

How to Keep Your Luggage Safe while Traveling

Here are some steps to stay vigilant and keep your belongings safe when in the airport.

Should You Lock Your Luggage?

Some travelers think that they should not lock their hold luggage which is a misconception that dates back to the security changes immediately after 9/11. While it was once true that travelers were advised not to lock their bags, this is no longer the case. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now suggests you lock your checked baggage with TSA-accepted locks, as well as security agents in over 80 countries. 

TSA Accepted Locks

All Travel Sentry locks are recognized and accepted by security agents globally, just look for the red diamond Travel Sentry symbol when shopping for these TSA Locks.

Checked bags are screened for explosives and other dangerous items before loaded onto a plane and a further physical search can be caused by any small issue picked up at screening or your bag could be selected for a random bag search.

Airport security agents have specialist tools, provided by Travel Sentry, to access the TSA-accepted locks and luggage. They can do this efficiently without damage, setting your mind at ease and speeding up the boarding process. Non-TSA locks and luggage may be broken into during the screening process if a potentially prohibited item is detected. This may damage the luggage and make it an easy target for thieves.

What to do when traveling through an airport

Being in an airport can be extremely busy, stressful and distracting, so you must always be in control of your bags and belongings.

Here are traits thieves may look for:

• Travelers with multiple loose items
• People distracted by their phone or other devices
• Individuals away from their luggage

Being aware of these traits can help you stay vigilant. Simple awareness reduces the risk of becoming a victim.

Do not leave luggage unattended

You should always keep your luggage locked and with you when you are at the airport. If luggage is left unattended and unlocked, anyone can open your bag and place prohibited items in it without your knowledge.

It is a good idea to keep your carry-on luggage locked as your overhead locker might not be directly above you once you’ve boarded the plane. Often, if the plane is busy and hand luggage is overcrowded, your luggage will be stowed in the hold, and without a lock, it is unsafe. See our guide on Why You Should Always Consider Locking Your Carry-On.

Tactics Used by Thieves to Distract and Steal

Airport thieves often work in groups. One creates a distraction while another steals valuables. They might use spilled drinks or dropped items as diversions. Some thieves engage you in conversation to divert your attention, so watch out, an overly friendly stranger might not have good intentions. Teams often time theft with noisy announcements or boarding and these distractions help them go unnoticed.

What to Do If You Become a Victim of Airport Theft

Stay calm and assess the situation quickly, panicking can make things worse and delay necessary actions. Report the theft immediately to airport security, they can assist in locating your stolen items and filing a report.

From busy airports to baggage carousels, a little extra protection goes a long way. Choosing a TSA-accepted lock helps keep your belongings secure while allowing airport security to inspect your bag without damaging it. 

Luggage Security FAQs

Do TSA locks stop theft entirely?

TSA-accepted locks are designed to reduce the risk of tampering and damage, but no luggage lock can guarantee complete protection against a determined thief. What TSA locks do offer is a smart balance between security and practicality. They help deter opportunistic interference, keep zips closed during transit, and allow airport security to inspect your luggage using authorized tools, without cutting the lock or damaging your bag. For most travelers, this added layer of protection brings valuable peace of mind throughout the journey.

What happens if I use a non-TSA lock?

If your luggage is selected for inspection, and it’s secured with a non-TSA lock, airport security may need to force the lock open to access your bag. In many cases, this means the lock is cut off and cannot be reused, and your luggage may be left unsecured for the rest of its journey. Using a TSA-accepted lock helps avoid unnecessary damage, ensuring your bag can be opened, checked, and relocked properly before continuing to its destination.

Can TSA locks help prevent accidental opening during transit?

Yes, one often overlooked benefit of TSA-accepted locks is that they help prevent bags from accidentally opening while being handled. Luggage goes through multiple stages.

How can I make my luggage more secure alongside a TSA lock?

A TSA-accepted lock works best as part of a broader luggage security approach. Simple steps like choosing a durable suitcase, using a TSID tag, keeping valuables in your carry-on and securing external zips can all help reduce risk. When combined with a Travel Sentry-approved lock, these measures provide a more complete and reliable way to protect your belongings while traveling.

Damaged Passport on Holiday: What to do before you fly home

A damaged passport can stop you from boarding your flight home just as easily as a lost one, and it’s an easy thing to overlook. HM Passport Office treats a passport as damaged when it can no longer be accepted as proof of identity, so airlines and border offices can refuse one that is unreadable or looks tampered with.  Passports get squashed into daypacks, rained on, handed across sticky bar counters; a little wear is rarely an emergency, but water damage, torn pages or lifting laminate over the photo pages are different.

What Actually Counts as a Damaged Passport?

There’s no single global standard. A passport one airline waves through might get rejected at another’s check-in desk. That said, most immigration authorities flag the same categories of damage, and both HM Passport Office and the US State Department have specific examples of what is considered a damaged passport:

• Torn, missing or detached pages: especially the photo/data page
• Water damage: including pages that have dried but curled, wrinkled or stained
• Faded or unreadable text on the personal details page
• Peeling or lifted laminate over the photo or data page
• A damaged or non-functioning chip (the electronic chip embedded in modern passports)
• Unofficial markings: a child’s drawing, an unauthorised stamp or a sticker
• A loose, cracked or detached cover or binding

Normal, gentle wear like a soft crease in the spine or slightly fanned pages usually isn’t a problem. The line is whether the damage makes it harder to confirm your identity or suggests the document might have been tampered with. If you’re unsure, check with your airline or the issuing authority before you travel, because airlines and border offices make the call all the time.

Quick Reference: Where to Turn, by Country

	United States	United Kingdom	Canada
Who handles it	Nearest U.S. embassy/consulate abroad, or a passport acceptance facility at home	GOV.UK online with a possible appointment at the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or consulate	IRCC or nearest Canadian embassy/consulate
Key form	Form DS-11 plus a signed statement of damage	Emergency Travel Document online application	Form PPTC 203 (damage declaration)
Typical cost	~$165 (more if expedited)	£125 for an Emergency Travel Document (non-refundable)	Passport fee + declaration (no extra charge for the form)
Typical timeframe	Several weeks standard; 2–3 weeks expedited; same-day possible at regional agencies	Usually ready 2 working days after approval	Varies; urgent/express service at some offices

	Australia	Elsewhere
Who handles it	Australian Passport Office or nearest embassy/consulate	Search “[your country] emergency passport abroad,” or contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The process below still applies
Key form	Form B-11 (damaged passport declaration)	Your national equivalent, usually a short declaration of how the document was damaged
Typical cost	AU$265 (varies by location)	Varies, always confirm current figures with your official source before budgeting
Typical timeframe	At least 6 weeks standard; emergency passports issued faster	Varies, ask about emergency or limited-validity options if you need to travel soon

Important: Do not throw away your damaged passport. Keep it with you, as you may be asked to surrender it when you collect your emergency document. Fees and processing times change and vary by location.

What to Do the Moment You Notice a damaged passport 

1. Stop using the passport as your primary ID for travel. Don’t try to tape, glue or otherwise repair it yourself as a self-repaired passport is typically treated as tampered with, which can be worse than damaged.
2. Photograph the damage and the full data page, and pull up any backup copies (a photo on your phone, a scan in your email, a photocopy in your luggage).Note how and when the damage happened, as a replacement application may ask you to explain it.
3. Contact your nearest embassy, high commission or consulate. This is the place to go for your emergency travel documents. Ask two things: is the passport still usable for your remaining journey, and what’s the fastest path to a replacement or emergency document?
4. Check your onward requirements. Some countries deny entry over damage a departure country would have let you board with, so confirm requirements for every remaining leg, not just the one in front of you. GOV.UK advises checking that your emergency document will be accepted in each country you plan to leave, enter or travel through and whether you need a visa. Do this for the whole route, not just your next flight.
5. Contact your airline before you head to the airport . A quick call or app message can tell you whether they’ll accept the passport as-is and gives you time to sort out a temporary document if not.
6. Keep every receipt and reference number. Travel insurance often covers emergency document fees and related costs (missed connections, extra accommodation) so you’ll need the paperwork to claim.

How to protect your passport while you travel

Before you travel

• Register your trip with your government’s travel program before you leave as it makes it faster for your embassy to reach and assist you if something goes wrong.
• Carry a passport photocopy and a photo of the data page, stored separately from the passport itself, so you’re not starting from nothing if it’s damaged, lost or stolen.
• Renew a bit early if your passport already looks tired. Many countries let you renew before expiry once the document shows wear, which is far less stressful than doing it as an emergency from abroad.

Where to keep your passport on Holiday

• No safe in the room, or it’s broken? Lock your passport and other documents inside your luggage secured with a Travel Sentry approved lock or padlock a cupboard or drawer in the room if one’s available.
• Store your passport in a hotel safe rather than a daypack or nightstand. Beyond cutting the risk of damage or theft, many insurers apply a reasonable care clause and can decline a claim if a valuable document wasn’t secured, so this protects your ability to claim later, too.

What to do if your passport gets wet

If a passport gets wet, let it air-dry flat rather than using heat. Once dry check it carefully as curling or stiffened pages that have no visible tearing can still be enough for an airline to flag your passport as damaged and therefore unsuitable for travel. 

Avoid a lost or damaged passport with a TSA lock

Travel days are when a passport is most likely to be squashed, damaged, or lost, so keep it in a bag on your person rather than one that goes in the hold. Our guide to inflight theft on overnight flights covers what else you should keep close.

If you do check a bag, use it for backup copies of your documents and secure it with a TSA-accepted lock. This makes opportunistic access harder in a busy terminal or on a crowded transfer, and security officers can open it with a master key during inspection without cutting the lock off and damaging your bag. Our secure lock helps guard against loss and theft, but to prevent water damage, keep your passport flat and dry as well.

Damaged Passports Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still fly with a slightly damaged passport?

It depends entirely on the airline and destination; there’s no universal threshold. Some carriers accept light wear; others have denied boarding over tears as small as one centimetre. If in doubt, don’t assume; call your airline or embassy first.

What damage is allowed on a passport?

Normal wear and tear such as a minor crease, folded pages and light scuffing is understandable, but damage that makes your details hard to read or the document look tampered with is not. Water damage that distorts information or sticks pages together, tears and holes, or lifting laminate over the photo page suggest you need a replacement passport. Don’t try to repair a passport at home, as this may also be considered tampering. Airlines and border officers make the final call on the appearance of your passport, so always check beforehand if you’re unsure.

Will my damaged passport be returned to me?

Often yes, marked or clipped as cancelled, but not always, as some replacement processes retain the damaged document. Check with the office handling your replacement if you want it back as a keepsake or for insurance purposes.

Does travel insurance cover a damaged passport?

Some policies do, but don’t assume it. Many insurers apply a “reasonable care” clause and will decline a damage claim, not just a theft claim, if the passport wasn’t stored securely, such as in a hotel safe. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer directly before you travel.

What’s the difference between a replacement passport and an emergency travel document?

A replacement passport is a full, standard passport. An emergency travel document, sometimes called a limited-validity or provisional passport, is a temporary, faster-to-issue document valid only for one specific journey, meant to get you home or to your next stop rather than serve as a long-term travel document.

Can water damage really be a problem if the passport still looks readable?

Yes. Curling, stiffened, or wrinkled pages from moisture can be enough for an airline or border official to flag a passport, even without visible ink smudging or torn pages.

Flight Cancellation Compensation: What Are Your Rights?

When your flight is canceled, you’re entitled to a choice between a refund or a new flight, in addition to food, drink, clear communication and often a hotel while you wait; that’s the baseline almost everywhere worldwide.

Understanding your full flight cancellation rights matters, though, because some regions will also offer you cash compensation on top of that. And exactly what you’re owed heavily depends on where you’re flying from, where you’re flying to and which airline is operating the flight. It’s worth knowing your flight cancellation compensation rules before you’re standing at a gate agent’s desk accepting less than your due.

What Happens When Your Flight Is Canceled

Airlines generally must do three things when they cancel a flight, no matter where you are:

Tell you why

Most regulators require a clear reason for the cancellation, since that reason often determines what you’re owed.

Give you a choice

You should be offered either a full refund or a new flight to your destination, not just whichever one is cheaper for the airline.

Look after you while you wait

If you’re stuck at the airport, the airline is generally responsible for looking after you, providing a clear reason why the flight is canceled, food, drink and a hotel if a replacement flight can’t be facilitated.

Beyond that, the details and especially whether you get flight cancellation compensation on top, vary a lot by region:

How Much Flight Cancellation Compensation You Could Get by Country

UK

If you got less than 14 days’ notice and the cancellation was the airline’s fault, compensation ranges from £110 to £520 per person, based on flight distance and how late your replacement flight gets you there. The £110 floor reflects the 50% reduction airlines can apply when your replacement flight lands within 2 hours (short haul), 3 hours (medium-haul) or 4 hours (long-haul) of your original arrival time.

EU

Similar structure, different currency: €250 for flights under 1,500 km, €400 for medium-haul and €600 for anything over 3,500 km, again only if you had less than 14 days’ notice and the airline was responsible. The same reduction rule applies here too: land close enough to your original scheduled time on the replacement flight, and the airline can pay half.

Canada

Large airlines (two million-plus passengers a year) owe CA$400 to CA$1,000 depending on how late you arrive; smaller airlines owe CA$125 to CA$500. This only applies if the disruption was within the airline’s control and you got 14 days’ notice or less.

US

No fixed payout; you’re guaranteed a refund if you decide not to travel, but any meals or hotel are down to the individual airline’s own policy, not the law.

Australia

No dedicated law, your leverage is the Australian Consumer Law’s general “reasonable time” guarantee, plus whatever your airline’s own policy promises. The ACCC doesn’t handle individual complaints, so persistent cases go through a state tribunal.

China

With no government-mandated compensation formula, CAAC’s Provisions on the Administration of Flight Regularity require every airline to publish its own delay and cancellation terms but leave the amount up to the carrier. As one example (not a legal requirement), Air China’s published terms offer around RMB 400 (USD 60) per passenger for an airline-fault delay of 8 hours or more; figures vary by carrier.

How to claim flight cancellation compensation?

The process of filing for your claim works roughly the same way across every region covered above:

File with the airline directly first

Go through the airline’s official claims or customer relations channel, not a gate agent. Reference to your booking number and the reason you were given for the cancellation.

Attach your evidence:

The cancellation notice, your boarding pass and receipts for anything you paid for yourself (meals, calls, accommodation).

Give the airline a reasonable window to respond

Most national schemes expect a few weeks before you escalate.

Escalate if the airline refuses or stalls

If the airline refuses, stalls, or you disagree with the amount of compensation, you are able to escalate to your national aviation regulator or complaint body: CAA-approved ADR (UK), National Enforcement Body (EU), the CTA (Canada), DOT (US), your state consumer tribunal (Australia) or the CAAC hotline (China).

You can do all of this yourself for free. Compensation claims companies file on your behalf for a cut of the payout, often 25–50%.

When Airlines Do Not Have to Pay Compensation for a flight cancellation

If something outside the airline’s control caused your cancellation, you’ll still get looked after, a refund or rebooking, plus care if you’re stuck, but you probably won’t get cash on top.

You’re unlikely to get cash compensation if the cause was:

• Extreme weather
• An air traffic control failure or restriction like the NATS system failure on 8 September 2026, which grounded roughly 200 UK flights in a single day, is a recent example. Affected passengers kept their right to a refund, rebooking and care, but not fixed cash compensation
• A security threat or political instability
• A strike by workers who aren’t employed by the airline (airport staff, air traffic controllers)

When you’re more likely to get cash compensation

You are more likely to get cash compensation if the cause was:

• A technical or mechanical fault, including one found during routine maintenance
• Crew scheduling or staffing shortfalls
• The airline’s own staff going on strike

If your airline just says “operational reasons” and won’t explain further, you’re entitled to a specific one.

Outside the UK, EU, and Canada, this distinction works differently:

• US: the cause doesn’t affect your refund which you get either way, regardless of why the flight was canceled. It only affects whether you’re offered free meals or a hotel, which comes down to the airline’s own goodwill, not the law.
• Australia: there’s no official list of causes at all. Whether you get anything beyond a refund is judged case-by-case under the “reasonable time” guarantee.
• China: the cause dictates who pays for your meals and hotel, not whether you get cash, since there’s no cash compensation scheme to begin with.

What should I do if my flight is canceled?

Realizing your flight has been canceled is a stressful moment and it’s easy to panic. Knowing your flight cancellation rights means you don’t have to panic as there are things you can do:

Get the reason in writing

Get the cancellation reason in writing with a screenshot of the app notification or a photo of the departure board works.

Decide refund or rebooking

Before you accept anything, decide whether you require a rebooking or would prefer a refund. Once you choose one, you typically can’t switch back.

Don’t accept a voucher under pressure

If you’d rather have your money back, don’t feel pressured into accepting a voucher. You’re normally allowed to insist on a refund to your original payment method.

Keep every receipt

If you end up arranging your own meals, calls or a hotel because the airline couldn’t, it is important to keep your receipts. Reasonable, necessary expenses are usually reimbursable later.

Note the response time you were told

Note the given response time, especially if it’s close to a 14-day or 12-hour threshold, since notice timing is often what compensation relies on.

File your claim promptly

Time limits vary a lot by region, from around a year to several years, so it’s worth checking the specific deadline for your situation rather than assuming you have plenty of time.

Don’t Forget

Before you leave the airport, make sure you’ve got:

• Your booking confirmation and any cancellation notice
• Receipts for anything you paid for yourself (food, calls, hotel, transport)
• The exact time you were notified of the cancellation
• Whether your ticket was bought directly from the airline or through a third-party agent (this affects who owes you the refund)
• A secure way to carry your travel documents and valuables if you’re stuck overnight – a locked bag gives you one less thing to worry about while you wait

Keep your bag secure while you wait

An overnight delay is stressful enough without also worrying about the security of your belongings. If you’re stuck at the airport or rerouted to an unexpected layover, a TSA- accepted lock means you can hand it over for a gate check without adding is my stuff safe to the list of mental worries. It also means TSA officers can screen your bag without cutting the lock off, so you’re not left with a broken zip on top of everything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get compensation if my flight was cancelled because of bad weather?

Almost never. Weather is treated as an “extraordinary circumstance” (or “outside the airline’s control” in Canada) across every system covered here, which typically rules out cash compensation. You’re usually still owed a refund or rebooking and often care while you wait. In China, the same weather exception instead decides who pays for your food and accommodation, since there’s no cash compensation scheme to rule you out of.

What if I’ve already left the airport when I find out?

You’re generally still entitled to a refund or rebooking. If you’re not at your original departure point (say, a connecting airport), most rules require the airline to also get you back to where you started, at no extra cost, if you no longer want to continue your trip.

Does travel insurance cover the same things as these regulations?

No, they’re complementary. Airline obligations cover the flight itself (refund, rebooking, sometimes compensation). Travel insurance typically covers costs regulation doesn’t touch, like non-refundable hotel bookings or prepaid tours you miss.

Do these rules apply if I booked through a travel agent or online travel agency?

Usually yes for the airline’s own obligations (refund, rebooking, care, compensation). But depending on who’s the “merchant of record” for your payment, you may need to go through the agent rather than the airline to receive a refund. This is worth checking before you assume the airline owes you directly.

What if my connecting flight is affected by someone else’s cancellation upstream?

You’re generally covered under the rules of the airline operating your cancelled leg, and your compensation (where applicable) is usually based on your total delay reaching your destination, not just the affected segment.