PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES AND YOURSELF IN-FLIGHT

In-flight theft of sleeping and /or unknowing passengers has been going on for years. The people who steal can be anyone on board.

However, many people believe these incidents are rare. Or are they? They are only made public when an arrest happens. So who really knows how often they occur? Better be safe than sorry …

• Before boarding, don’t allow your items to clear the X-ray scanner before you go through the metal detector. Wait until you are ready to walk through the machine before releasing your items. FACT: more items go missing in the security line than any other place at the airport.
• Lock your carry-on bag so it cannot be accessed while you’re sleeping.
• Mark you bag with a ribbon or sticker or anything that makes it stand out from the rest; thus making a mix-up less likely. This stops the intentional, or unintentional, opening of your property.
• When you get to your seat, place your carry-on in the overhead compartment across from your seat, not over it. This allows you to see anyone trying to get to your valuables.

Essentially, there are only four things you need to carry with you on the plane. They are:

1. your ID passport if travelling internationally
2. a credit card
3. a cell phone
4. essential prescription medications

No matter what else is stolen, these are the things you cannot replace quickly and easily, and that you will need to get you out of pretty much any problem on landing.

Regarding protecting yourself from in-flight harassment or abuse, consider the following:

Should a fellow passenger become verbally or physically inappropriate or threatening, you must:

• Alert a flight attendant. If you’re trapped in a window seat, use the call button and loudly object to what’s happening, thus alerting others around you to the fact that there’s a problem.
• Request a new seat. Separating yourself from the perpetrator is a top priority.
• Make sure the pilot knows. Reporting the incident to the pilot is how law enforcement will, upon landing, be informed and ready to assist.
• Contact the airline. While your number one priority as a victim is to deal with the immediate situation and speak to law enforcement, it’s also imperative to follow up with the airline to ensure the incident is documented internally.
• Airlines addressing the lack of effective in-flight protocols regarding verbal and /or physical assaults, is an imperative.