You know the dangers of thieves in crowded international markets and on public transit, but do you ever think about crooks on airplanes? Most travelers don’t, but that probably will change with the news this week of the arrest of an Air France flight attendant.
According to various news sources, French police arrested the woman on suspicions that she stole tens of thousands of dollars in cash and valuables over the past year. According to the New York Times, she reportedly confessed to “stealing from sleeping travelers” during international flights. The Guardian, a British newspaper, says that on one flight from Tokyo to Paris five passengers had more than $5,000 of foreign currency stolen. London’s Mirror says the flight attendant admitted to 26 thefts.
While many may consider these isolated incidents related to this particular flight attendant, the New York Times also reports that there were 142 Air France flights on which passengers reported thefts just this year. Certainly mile-high thievery is not limited to the French carrier—it is an issue for most airlines.
What can you do to protect yourself? Here are some tips.
First, if you do have valuables in your carry-on bag, don’t put the bag in the overhead bin. Keep it at your feet or put the valuables in a smaller bag that you can keep near you. If you have larger items like laptops, DVD players, etc. that won’t fit comfortably at your feet, put them in a carry-on that can be locked.
Be sure to keep any cash, credit cards, or passports on your person, such as with a neck or waist “safe.” Never leave it in a carry-on. Also, don’t put valuables like watches or rings in the seatback. Sometimes people do this so that they will be more comfortable while they sleep but never consider that others might see where they stashed their valuables.
Finally, and most importantly, just be aware that thefts on planes occur and use common sense. Don’t have a false sense of security because your valuables are “just overhead” in the bin. As we saw with the Air France attendant, “just overhead” is just far enough away to disappear.