How to secure your luggage and valuables while traveling (complete guide)

Traveling means freedom and discovery, but it also comes with risks. Lost suitcases at airports, stolen backpacks on trains, or personal data exposed on luggage tags... any of these can ruin a trip.

This guide walks through the best ways to protect your luggage and valuables, from traditional methods to modern solutions like secure QR code tags.

Why securing your luggage matters

• Mishandling still happens: SITA reported 7.6 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers in 2022. The rate improved to 6.9 in 2023 and 6.3 in 2024 as airlines invested in tech and automation. source
• Real money at stake: Airlines spend roughly $2 billion each year dealing with delayed or lost items. source
• Data exposure is a risk: In 2025, unprotected “lost and found” databases exposed more than 820,000 records with IDs and contact details. source
• International flights are riskier: Travelers on international routes are about five times more likely to have bags mishandled than on domestic flights. source

Traditional methods of protection

TSA locks and padlocks

Built-in TSA locks deter casual tampering but won’t stop a determined thief.

Paper luggage tags

They help reunite bags and owners, but your name, phone, and address are visible to anyone who sees the tag.

Airport plastic wrapping

Adds a tamper-evident layer, but it’s costly over multiple trips and creates extra waste.

Modern alternatives: hide your data, stay secure

GPS and Bluetooth trackers (AirTag, Tile, etc.)

Trackers let you see where your bag is in near real time from your phone.
Pros: quick location cues in airports or taxis.
Cons: depend on battery and network coverage; they do not replace any ID requirements set by airlines or authorities. Some airlines even integrate tracker data into support workflows. source

Secure QR code tags

Link a QR tag to a secure profile so finders can contact you without seeing your personal details. You decide what to share (for example a relay email) and get notified when someone scans the code. Unlike paper tags, your details are not displayed in plain sight.

RFID-protected wallets and pouches

These reduce the risk of contactless skimming for passports and payment cards. Low cost, easy to use.

Practical tips: best combinations

• Checked luggage: TSA lock + secure QR code tag + GPS/Bluetooth tracker.
• Carry-on: RFID pouch for passports/cards + a discreet pocket for valuables.
• High-value items (jewelry, laptops, cameras): keep them with you; avoid placing them in checked bags.

Best practices for peace of mind

• Photograph your bags before the trip to support any claim.
• Keep encrypted digital copies of key documents.
• Avoid printing your full home address on external tags.
• If you’re flying internationally (higher mishandling risk), double up: tracker + privacy-preserving tag. source
• Know your rights: on most international itineraries under the Montreal Convention, compensation for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage is capped at 1,519 SDR per passenger for incidents on or after December 28, 2024 (up from 1,288 SDR). source

A note on airline performance (context)

For a sense of scale, a 2024 analysis of U.S. carriers put mishandling rates for some large airlines in the ~0.7% range (about 7 in 1,000 bags). Rates vary by carrier, route mix, and connections. source

Conclusion

No single tool is perfect. The safest strategy is to combine methods: a basic physical deterrent (TSA lock), a privacy-preserving contact method (secure QR tag), and a way to locate your bag (tracker). Together they cut risk, protect your data, and speed up recovery if something goes wrong. source

That’s the idea behind qroco.app: a secure alternative to paper luggage tags that lets you control what you share and when, while making it easier for the finder to reach you without exposing your personal information.