Wrapped Christmas presents in luggage

[M2DD's]

Flying southwest over Christmas. Can I have our presents wrapped in our checked in luggage or will they be opened?
TIA

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

They may be opened.... they may be "borrowed" Do not put valuables in your checked luggage. Assume a thief will assume your "wrapped" gifts could be valuable. UPS is a much safer bet!

 

[backyardponder]

My guess the possibility of them being opened is quite low. When TSA opens a bag they put a form in the bag stating it has been opened. In my experience, my bags are opened about 5% of the time. When they open a bag, I doubt they check everything.

Just in case, however, I'd take some extra wrapping paper with you.

 

[tkldisney]

I doubt if they'll open, just don't have real valuable presents in them. Ship them UPS to your resort if thats an option.

 

[verticalchaos]

Or don't wrap them ahead of time and put them in your carry-on luggage. Wrap them (or use gift bags) when you get there.

 

[mousefan1972]

I am flying SW to WDW on Saturday and shipped our wrapped presents via UPS. The $12 cost was well worth the peace of mind.

 

[tjmw2727]

My guess the possibility of them being opened is quite low. When TSA opens a bag they put a form in the bag stating it has been opened. In my experience, my bags are opened about 5% of the time. When they open a bag, I doubt they check everything.

Just in case, however, I'd take some extra wrapping paper with you.

Unfortunately that isn't always the case. I have a way to tell if my bags are opened and the TSA note only appears about 60% of the time.

IMHO you should NEVER pack anything of value in your checked bag, wrapped or otherwise. The baggage handlers and TSA can open your bags and potentially "help themselves" to some content.

I would either carryon the unwrapped items and wrap them at the destination or ship them as mentioned previously.

 

[Alexander]

I shipped two huge boxes the other day. It was $53, but $9 of that was for extra insurance. It is soooo much worth the piece of mind that they won't be available for anyone at the airport to steal.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have a way to tell if my bags are opened and the TSA note only appears about 60% of the time.

This is a good reminder. TSA is not the only one who might be opening your bag.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It is soooo much worth the piece of mind that they won't be available for anyone at the airport to steal.

Except for the shipping company employees and any other airport employees around when your packages are sent via air to Disney!



OP - The TSA advises you to leave gifts unwrapped. However, chances are low that if you wrap your presents and check them that they will be opened.

 

[E&BMom]

We always carry our presents in our carryon. I just precut the paper ahead of time for each present and then pack the tape. ( I put a number on the paper and the corresponding present so I know which piece of paper goes with which present) It's easy and I don't need to worry about it getting lost or stolen.

 

[Brian Noble]

Except for the shipping company employees and any other airport employees around when your packages are sent via air to Disney!

There's a difference between shipping material and checked luggage, though. Shipped packages, once opened, are generally obviously opened unless the thief was unusually careful. Luggage can be opened and closed quickly without leaving visible "Hey, someone broke into this!" evidence for the most part. What's more, if a box shows up clearly damaged, the recipient can refuse acceptance, pinning the blame squarely on the shipper. What's more, some airlines also have specific exclusions of liability for "valuable" items. True, insuring such items when shipping is not free, but you can at least reduce your own risk of loss.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Airlines have no liablity for electronics, jewerly and other "valuables" that they have specifically excluded. UPS will insure whatever you send so if it doesn't get there you have recourse. Small price to pay IMHO.

I have never had UPS steal, have rarely heard of issues. Baggage handlers and the TSA... not such a good rep!