You've packed, the itinerary's sorted and you're ready to fly. But once your suitcase disappears behind the check-in counter, it goes through conveyor belts, sorting systems, baggage carts, the hold and the carousel — on every flight.
We repair the bags that come off those carousels cracked, dented and missing wheels. A few simple steps before you leave home cut the odds of your bag being one of them.
Should you wrap your luggage?
You've probably seen the wrapping stations at Changi. For a fee, they wrap your case tightly in layers of plastic film. Is it worth it?
What wrapping does well
- Protects the finish. Film takes the scuffs instead of the shell. Worth it for a glossy hard-shell case.
- Deters tampering. It isn't theft-proof, but a wrapped bag is harder to open quietly.
- Holds a tired case together. If a zip is unreliable, wrapping keeps it shut for the trip. (Then get the zip looked at.)
- Keeps out rain. Bags can sit on the tarmac in a tropical downpour. Film keeps the water out.
The downsides
- The cost adds up. Paying per bag, both ways, gets expensive for a family.
- Security may cut it off. If your bag is picked for a manual check, the wrap is cut away — and you're paying again, or flying unwrapped.
- Plastic waste. It's single-use by design.
- Another queue. At peak times the wrapping stations have their own wait.
Wrapping at home
You can do the same job at home with a roll of stretch film — the same material the airport stations use — for much less, and skip the queue.
- Stand the case upright with the handle down.
- Start at the bottom and wrap horizontally, overlapping each pass by about half the film's width.
- Work upwards, keeping the film tight but not so tight it squeezes the case out of shape.
- Three or four layers is plenty.
- Leave the wheels and handles free — you'll still need to roll and lift it.
- Tear and tuck the end so it doesn't unravel.
After a couple of goes, it takes about two minutes.
Use a TSA-accepted lock
Wrapped or not, lock your checked bag — with a TSA-accepted lock.
These locks have a mechanism that lets US security officers (and screening staff at other airports that use the same keys) open and relock your bag without breaking the lock. With a standard lock, a bag that needs a manual check may have its lock cut off.
The main types
- Built-in combination locks. Part of the case itself. Most mid-range hard-shell luggage has one.
- TSA padlocks. Clip through the zip pulls. Good for bags without a built-in lock.
- TSA cable locks. Flexible, and handy for backpacks and duffels.
A jammed lock or a combination that won't set doesn't mean replacing the case. We reset, repair or replace TSA locks as a routine job — see our repair services page.
More ways to protect your bag
- Use a luggage cover. A fabric or neoprene cover protects the shell from scratches and can be reused every trip.
- Keep valuables with you. Electronics, jewellery, documents and medication go in your carry-on.
- Remove old bag tags. Old barcodes can confuse automated sorting and send a bag the wrong way.
- Make it easy to spot. A bright tag, strap or cover helps you find it fast and makes it less likely someone takes it by mistake.
- Photograph the bag and its contents. A quick photo before you close it gives you evidence if you need to make a claim.
Packing for Southeast Asia
- Pack for humidity. Light, breathable fabrics; leave the heavy layers at home.
- Bring a dry bag or waterproof pouch for sudden rain.
- Leave room to bring things home. Pack to about 70–80% on the way out.
- Use packing cubes. They compress clothes and make repacking faster.
- Check your airline's allowance. Budget carriers in the region often have tighter weight limits. Our guide to cabin luggage for budget airlines covers the main ones.
Five-minute pre-trip check
A quick look before each trip catches most problems while they're still small.
- Wheels: roll it across the floor. Do all of them spin freely, without wobble or grinding?
- Handle: extend and retract it fully. Does it lock at each height? Does it rattle?
- Zips: run them all the way round. Any snags, stiff spots or teeth that don't close?
- Lock: does the combination open and close smoothly? Can you still set the code?
- Shell: any cracks, dents or soft spots? A small crack can open up under load in the hold.
- Inside: any tears in the lining, straps or divider?
- Hinges and frame: does the lid close evenly and stay open when you want it to?
If something doesn't look right, fix it before the trip rather than on the road. For more on what to look for, see 5 signs your luggage needs repair.
If your bag arrives damaged
- Report it before you leave the airport. Go to your airline's baggage services counter in the arrivals hall. It's far easier to settle a claim that was logged on the spot.
- Get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). The counter will fill one in. Keep your copy and the reference number.
- Photograph the damage from several angles, and keep your boarding pass and bag tag.
- Follow up in writing if needed. Under the Montreal Convention, which covers most international flights, you have 7 days from receiving the bag to send the airline a written complaint about damage. Check your airline's own terms too.
- Check your travel insurance, which may also cover the damage.
Chiang Kong is an appointed repair partner for more than 40 airlines at Changi Airport, so your airline may already send its repairs to us. Our step-by-step Changi claim guide walks through the whole process, and the claims page explains how airline repairs with us work.
Start with a case that can be repaired
No case is immune to a hard landing, so it's worth buying one that's easy to fix: wheels, handles and locks that are screwed on rather than moulded in, a polycarbonate shell that flexes rather than splits, and a brand whose parts are still available years later. If you're shopping for one, have a look at our own Lumière range.
Before you fly
Lock playing up, wheel wobbling, or damage from the last trip? Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what we see. Or walk in to any of our workshops for a free quote — find your nearest one and today's hours on the workshops page.